Wanosato (Japanese: Nihon no Yado Hida Takayama Wanosato) is a Japanese inn in the mountains of Ichinomiya, south of central Takayama, Gifu. Its main building is a 160-year-old wealthy farmer’s house moved to the site, with a large irori hearth, and the grounds run down to the clear Miyagawa River. The inn says it received a Michelin Key in 2024. Before you book, three things matter: it is not in town, so plan on the inn’s station shuttle or a car; preschool children cannot stay; and both meals are served in dining rooms, not in your room.
Where is Wanosato in Takayama, and how do you get there?
The inn describes itself as a “hidden village” south of the city, below the sacred mountain Kuraiyama, with Mount Norikura as borrowed scenery. In other words, it is a countryside stay, not a base for walking the old town. For the rest of Takayama, see our Takayama map guide.
Is there a shuttle from Takayama Station?
Yes. The inn runs a shuttle between the west exit (Hakusan exit) of JR Takayama Station and the inn, about 20 minutes each way, and it must be booked in advance. A staff member waits outside the ticket gate holding a “Wanosato” sign. Return runs leave the inn at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00. The Japanese and English pages list the station departure times and the booking deadline differently, so confirm both with the inn when you reserve.
How long is the trip from Tokyo or Osaka?
The access chart shows Tokyo to Nagoya by Nozomi in about 1 hour 40 minutes, then the Limited Express Hida to Takayama in about 2 hours 20 minutes. From Tokyo you can also take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama (fastest 2 hours 8 minutes) and the Hida from there (about 1 hour 30 minutes). From Shin-Osaka, Nagoya is about 50 minutes by Nozomi.
Can I drive there in winter?
The FAQ says snow tires are required in winter because of snow and ice, and recommends the station shuttle instead. The official pages do not mention parking, so ask when you book.
Wanosato at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1682 Ichinomiya-cho, Takayama, Gifu 509-3505 |
| Phone | +81-577-53-2321 (9:00–18:00 Japan time) |
| info@wanosato.com | |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–17:00 / 11:00 |
| Hot spring | Hida Kuraiyama Onsen, source on the grounds, no outdoor bath |
| Meals | Wagokoro kaiseki dinner and Japanese breakfast, in dining rooms |
| Children | Elementary age and up, detached rooms only |
| Accessibility | No elevator; not barrier-free |
From the official site, read October 13, 2026.
Which rooms does Wanosato offer?
The rooms page lists detached buildings and rooms in the main house. Every room has its own hinoki or stone bath; the inn renewed the baths in the detached rooms as stone baths in 2025.
| Room | Where | Guests | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenryo (Japanese and Western rooms, terrace, Shunkei lacquer) | Detached | 1–4 | 108 m² |
| Garyu (120-year-old farmhouse, the only room with an irori) | Detached | 1–4 | 110 m² |
| Kariyasu / Kuraiyama (gassho-zukuri, ondol heated room) | Detached | 1–4 | 80 m² |
| Ichinomiya (three rooms above the river) | Main building, 1st floor | 1–4 | 83 m² |
| Miyanoma (highest room in the main building) | Main building, 2nd floor | 1–3 | 60 m² |
| Hida (two rooms with a wide view) | Main building, 2nd floor | 1–3 | 48 m² |
From the official rooms pages, read October 13, 2026.
Rooms come with yukata, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner and body soap; buckwheat or feather pillows, humidifiers and heaters are available on request. Only Tenryo is described as having a Western-style room; the pages do not say which rooms have beds.
The hot-spring baths at Wanosato
Gifu Prefecture recognized the inn’s water as Hida Kuraiyama Onsen in 2010. The source is on the grounds and the water is flowing straight from the source into a rock bath built from huge boulders and an all-hinoki bath with large windows. The inn calls the water “rather hot.” Details are on the English hot-spring page.
When are the baths open?
The gender-separated baths are open 14:00–17:50 and again 6:30–10:00 the next morning. There is no outdoor bath, and day visitors cannot use the baths.
Can I use the bath privately?
Overnight guests can take a bath for private use during bath hours. It cannot be booked in advance; ask at the front desk on the day.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask. Remember that the in-room baths are heated groundwater, not hot-spring water.
Meals and the irori evening at Wanosato
What are dinner and breakfast like?
Dinner is wagokoro kaiseki, pure Japanese cuisine. Breakfast is a Japanese breakfast of Hida ingredients in the Ichiinoma hall, at 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00. Both meals are served in dining rooms, not in guest rooms. The official pages do not give the dinner time. Local sake, hot in winter and chilled in summer, is free for guests.
What happens around the irori after dinner?
After dinner, local people serve kappo-zake, sake warmed in a bamboo tube, by the hearth and tell Hida folk tales. When several groups are staying, guests share the space.
Can the inn handle food allergies?
On request, the kitchen offers a low-allergen menu without the eight major allergens: shrimp, crab, walnuts, wheat, buckwheat, eggs, milk and peanuts. Note it in the booking remarks or call. The inn says it cannot guarantee zero cross-contact. Vegetarian or halal meals are not mentioned. A birthday cake (3,740 yen) or bouquet (5,500 yen) can be ordered at least one week ahead.
Children, cancellation and taxes at Wanosato
Can children stay?
Children of elementary school age and older can stay, only in the detached rooms. Preschool children cannot stay. Child prices are on the booking page only.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official FAQ lists 10 percent of the room charge from 30 to 11 days before, 20 percent from 10 to 3 days before, 50 percent from 2 days to the day before, and 100 percent on the day, for a no-show or with no notice. See our hotel cancellation guide for how these fees work.
What taxes should I expect?
Takayama City charges an accommodation tax of 100 to 300 yen per person per night, based on the room-only rate, with an exemption for children up to the March 31 after they turn 12. The city’s bathing tax is 150 yen per person. The inn’s pages do not say whether these are in the price; see our onsen bathing tax guide.
How do I pay?
The official pages do not list payment methods. Check the booking page or ask the inn.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Wanosato
- Check-in is 15:00–17:00; contact the inn if you will be late. Arrive early and you can wait by the irori, and the inn will hold luggage.
- Book the station shuttle when you reserve and confirm the pick-up time.
- There is no elevator and the inn is not barrier-free; it also mentions that insects sometimes visit, as it sits in deep nature.
- The baths close at 17:50, so plan a soak before dinner.
- The inn has an English website and an English booking page; for anything unclear, email info@wanosato.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wanosato in central Takayama?
Does Wanosato have a real hot spring?
Can young children stay at Wanosato?
What is the cancellation policy at Wanosato?
Can I bathe at Wanosato with a tattoo?
Bottom line (2026): Wanosato is a countryside inn south of central Takayama, with its own hot-spring source, a farmhouse irori and kaiseki in dining rooms. Book the station shuttle, arrive between 15:00 and 17:00, and note that preschool children cannot stay.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Wanosato’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), rooms, hot spring, access, FAQ (Japanese), FAQ (English) and the official English booking page, and from Takayama City’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 13, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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