We stayed two nights at Wanasato and it was great. The room was huge with great views on the river and a nice bathroom. The Japnese style dinners were excellent (be ready for some unusual tastes) and the service was perfect. Private access to the onsen was great. Overall a great experience. On the improvement side, the exterior of the ryokan is disappointing and the garden could be better maintained.
This is an exceptional ryokan dedicated to tradition even by the standards of a traditional ryokan. We stayed there this past April. A felllow guest who was spending six weeks travelling the country in luxury kept on using the word "authentic": a word I avoid. I can't think of a better one. The staff is attentive, and as they often cater to western tourists, are very patient. The food is excellent . We planned much of our itenrary around Wanosato and continued south on the scenic railway - I'm glad we did.