Wanosato is located in the heart of Gifu prefecture, close to Hida-Takayama.
The name "Takayama" means "tall mountain".
There's something magical about taking the train through the mountains of Hida-Takayama and catering your first glimpse of the Wanosato's quaint and majestic 160 year-old minka (house of the people) with "Gassho-zukuri" roof construction, which literally means 'praying hands style'.
Tucked away in the forest, a short walk from the main building are the minka with their lichen-covered thatched roof and earthen walls, camouflaging them into a backdrop of a tale from old Japan.
The love of nature instilled by Japan's religious beliefs, an abundance of forests has lead Wanosato to become a well-known hot spring destination and nature retreat.
Wanosato is relatively young compared to its architecture, but it defies its youth with its preserved heritage, great taste, creativity and friendliness of its staff.
The atmosphere inside the centuries-old minka is intriguing; exposed wood beams, comfortable futon and fine linen, hardwood floors, a mix of eclectic elements, unique furniture, all result in an establishment with lots of character.
Expect to indulge in Wansato's local foods including "sansai" (mountain vegetables), "wasakana" (river fish) as well as Hida beef and locally distilled sake.
Hidden are the rewards in this exquisite escape into natural beauty and discovery.
During your stay you'll enjoy gracious accommodations, deliciously healthy and deservedly honored Wanosato cuisine with unlimited fresh mountain air.
Reflecting the majesty of the mountains, the Gassho-zukuri of Wanosato has preserved a place in time.
Despite the variations between the villa's lodgings they derive their beauty from the stateliness of heavy timbers and other natural materials used in a manner perfected over centuries.
The interior with yawning ceilings, four and five meters high give the guest, room to breath and stretch their spirits.
The raised area in the center of the main room includes a built in hearth called "Irori".
Used for heating in the winter, adds a nice rustic flare.
The room contains a large bathroom, changing area with powerful heaters and a separated rotenburo (wooden bathtub) also accompanied with a shower.
Reminiscent of the homes of the past that beckoned weary travelers hundreds of years ago, the pulse and the heart of the Wanosato rejuvenate tired and troubled spirits.
With Wanosato's elegant surroundings, the main complex welcomes with warmth and intimacy that flows through each and every bedroom; the traditional compliments of a Japanese ryokan, comfort and relax the guest in a warm embrace.
The view from every vantage point will often just stop what you're doing, to relish a previous moment and ponder the next.
The raised area in the center of the main room includes a built in hearth, called "Irori".
There is something to be said while dining behind the private walls of "Shunkei-nuri" or red lacquered wood that took priceless years to prepare the gold and red hues that emanate and shimmer in the candlelight.
The style of food had to compliment the magnificence of the accommodation.
To do so the freshest ingredients are chosen starting with sansai (mountain vegetables) that grow naturally in the surrounding mountains, wasakana (river fish), and including the choicest Hida Japanese beef, considered by many to be the "foie gras" of all beef.
These distinctive flavors and aromas can also be enjoyed in the main dining room on the first floor while overlooking the banks of the river.
Local beer and sake charm the meals as sake from the mountainous regions of Japan like Wanosato seem to jibe with the original cuisine of the region.
Every effort is made to make things right and the chefs use the seasons to create a menu that can be enjoyed, making the most of the natural flavors of their ingredients.
08.00h - 08.30h/09.00h
18.00h - 19.00h
The unassuming beauty of Wanosato's main structure comes from the use of natural building materials and traditional techniques over hundreds of years.
Here in the lobby with its earthen floor and other natural elements one can feel the deep understanding and appreciation of wood in Japan.
The timbers are rendered shiny and dark over time by soot from the large hearth that is the core of life for the guests and staff that stay and work here.
This cozy designated area where guests are greeted under the vaulted beauty of the large uncut timbers, and where guests also depart from, but are never said good-bye to, is truly a unique aspect of life at the inn.
Guests are invited to sit by an open built-in hearth called and "irori" where the fire blazes from the early hours on into the night.
Stories are told, dreams are remembered and the laughs and smiles shared by the newly acquainted keep the communal room warm and alive.
It is a place to simply relax, relish in conversation and enjoy the unique drinks that are offered in the evening sip by indulgent sip.
The gracious spirit and energy created here flows naturally to all corners of Wanosato calming and welcoming the guest to revisit night after night.
Wanosato has been blessed with the waters of the Miagawa River, and the natural underground spring in which its healing waters are incorporated into a part of each guests stay.
No bottles of water are found here as staff and guests alike are at ease to drink from the tap, for these are the very mountains that shed these naturally filtered tears.
Wanosato offers mountain charm as the land prevails with intensity offering first class pampering; it captures the spirit and ambience of the magnificent mountain landscape, elevating the guest to an unprecedented level.
The intoxicating purity of oxygen inspires clarity of thought and renews strength of purpose.
There is something magical about taking the train through the beautiful mountains of Takayama and catching your first glimpse of Wanosato’s quaint and majestic 160-year-old minka traditional farmhouse with its beautiful thatched roof.
Tucked away in the forest, a short walk from the main building, are more minka with their lichen-covered thatched roofs and earthen walls, looking like they are appearing straight out of a tale of ancient Japan.
The Japanese people’s love of nature, along with the country’s abundant forests, have resulted in Wanosato becoming a well-known hot spring and nature retreat.
After dinner, guests are invited to sit by an open built-in hearth called an iori, where you can enjoy the unique local beverages that are offered in the evening.
A UNESCO world heritage site, it boasts nearly 20 gassho-zukuri thatched roof farmhouses, many of which remain private residences, although a few are now restaurants and museums.
It is the largest of its kind in the region. The ground floor spaces were designed to entertain visiting dignitaries, while the spacious upper floors now display tools and household items used for farming and raising silkworms.
Take a local Sarubobo bus to Matsuri-no-Mori Museum where you can see the floats used in the famous Takayama festival, which have been restored by skilled artisans.
It is famous for its historical shops and merchants’ homes with their distinctive latticed bay windows and linked eaves that date from the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). Visitors can fully enjoy the quiet, idyllic atmosphere.
Set in the mountainous Hida region, Takayama has retained a traditional atmosphere like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town.
The Takayama Jinya building was a public office for 274 years, from 1695 to 1969. It was fully restored to revive the Edo period atmosphere, and now pine trees and gravel lanes contrast pleasantly with the beautiful white walls.
This is a great place to communicate with the friendly locals, as well as shop for local crafts and farm products such as vegetables, pickles and flowers (open daily 6:00h ~ 12:00h).
WANOSATO
1682 IchinomiyamachiTakayamaGifu Prefecture 509-3505Japan