Hotel berhampiran Kinugawa Okashi no Shiro, Nikko

This is my third trip/adventure to Japan. I would say as a solo traveler this has to be one of the very best places I have ever stayed in when travelling around Japan. I came to Nikko np to explore the vast array of hiking trails, all of which I did, had breathtaking views and a poetic, truly majestic Japanese feel to them. I rented a car from Nasushiobara (Shinkansen) and drove across to Kinugawa. On arrival I was greeted by a host of the hotel staff, welcoming me and helping me with parking and my bags. I checked in with ease and with some broken English and Japanese on my part was led to a beautiful traditional Japanese style room overlooking the river. The service throughout was world class and made me feel both very comfortable, at home, but also special. I stayed 3 nights with half board (breakfast and dinner), both truly amazing and served with grace and politeness. On the first evening’s dinner one of the serving staff took the time to speak with me and allowed me to share some of my recent experiences/photos etc whilst preparing dinner - this was most welcome, especially as I had been travelling alone for over a week. The location of the onsen hotel is about 60 mins drive to some of the most sought after walks in the np. Very easy to access by car and excellent roads. The accommodation itself is a mix between very traditional Japanese resort and original/boutique Ryokan. The private and public onsen’s are fantastic and a well deserved rest-bite after a long days hiking! Having been to some of the most popular ryokan’s in Japan; Iwaso, Claska etc, this came as a very nice surprise and at an affordable rate without any compromise. If in the area, I would highly recommend staying…

Room is huge compared to most Japanese hotel rooms. Modern styling, particularly loved the layout of the room. Tv was a great size and quality but disappointedly didn’t have any smart tv apps you can log into. It does have movie and other satellite channels. Bed was huge and super comfortable, 2 pillows on each side and a good weight duvet. We stayed for 2 nights and loved our stay.

You’ll need taxi or car to go to Rakuten Stay if you bring suitcase, as Nikko don’t have a well pedestrian walk and it’s a bit hard if you pull your luggage by yourself. The check-in process quiet confusing as there’s no reception and the easiest way is to call the Rakuten Stay straight away and ask room number and door passcode and you can do the check-in process inside your room. The room is really nice and it’s huge, we even get our own onsen which is really nice. The price also not that expensive, compare to hotel room if you’re more than 2 people. Overall really enjoy my stay despite the confusing check-in, but the help center really assist me patiently

Arrived at Hotel and parked the rental car in the car park for free. Staff were very efficient and check in was very quick. Japan is still very Covid conscious and masks are worn everywhere. We were advised that there were were facilities for making Tea/ coffee in the room and that we should take any provisions required (for free) from the table arranged in the lobby i.e. tea / coffee / toothbrushes..etc. Room was lovely and spacious with a comfortable bed and lovely en-suite- lovely deep bath (shower fixings would be low for taller individuals). They had an evening bar and Onsen (natural hot water spring separate for males and females). They had a restaurant that provided an extensive buffet menu for breakfast - very tasty, and they had a select menu for the evenings and what we tried was very tasty also. The staff in the Hotel and restaurant were most friendly and encouraged me when I attempted some Japanese words. A very lovely start to our holiday in Japan - Thank you for your hospitality, we would happily stay here again

This place was a mix of good and bad. Our room had a good view and the location was excellent to the train station. It had a microwave which was good as restaurants close up early here. The bad, cleanliness not up to Japanese standards. Had a balcony, but you couldn't get out to it. We arrived before check in time and got charged 1000 yen to leave our luggage till check in time. A bit pricey for what it was.

My wife and I booked the Nikko Station Hotel II for April 13 - 15 as a non refundable reservation. This week, the US State Dept issued a Level 4 warning for all US citizens to avoid international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of their normal policy, the Nikko Station Hotel II made an exception due to the COVID-19 pandemic and issued a full refund. We will reschedule our trip to Japan after the pandemic passes and WILL DEFINITELY rebook at the Nikko Station Hotel II, as they have shown excellent customer service in a difficult time!

The hotel is more like a museum :). You can admire every room and every thing :) You will see a table lamp at the reception, which has been standing there since 1907, in the lobby you will see photographs of people who stayed at this hotel - Indira Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Koch, Edward Prince of Wales and many other. The restaurant has very beautiful dishes. And the table for dinner was set using 11 cutlery :) The staff is very attentive and polite. I would especially like to thank Sabita for her help. The room itself is fairly basic (but not modern) the beds are very comfortable and the bathroom has everything you need for a short stay. Rooms are not cleaned daily and towels are not changed unless specifically requested. The location of the hotel is very convenient, a three-minute walk from Nikko Park - UNESCO heritage. Currently, one wing of the hotel is being renovated.

I adore the Ritz Carlton brand - whether in Paris, SG, Dubai or HK - you are guaranteed an experience that is captivating. Unfortunately this is not the case in Nikko. I am not a hotel guest. But since I am in lake Chuzenji & have heard so much raves about the hotel, I thought I would drop by the admire the beauty & splendour of the Ritz in lovely Nikko. I didn’t have a restaurant reservation, but being low season in Nikko, I wouldn’t think it will be a problem to get a table for 2 for lunch? Unfortunately, I was wrong. So wrong. I was told the hotel is booked out the whole day for dining in Lakehouse? I enquired - how about any other restaurants? No, Mam. Non available. I can wait - it’s already 1.30pm, surely a table will open up pretty quickly in very quiet Nikko at the moment? The lady replied - that’s the thing - we are booked out the whole day, just for today. Well deeply, I cannot stop rolling my eyes. Fine, I don’t need to be captivated with the splendid of Ritz by Lake Chuzenji given the arrogance & lackadaisical service, just because I am not a hotel guest? Worse was this conversation did not take place in the warm hotel lobby. I was standing at the hotel entrance in cold winter afternoon. Thanks you Ritz, for the very very very cold reception. The pure ignorance & discrimination for non-hotel guest.I am truly enlightened.

コロナ禍、本当に久々の外出ということもあり、少し高めでもと露天風呂付きのお部屋を予約しました。 露天風呂→こちらの温泉が皆さん良いということでしたのでお部屋の露天風呂にも当然温泉と思いましたが普通の水道水でした。残念…。勿論、網戸などない場所なのでバスタブは虫だらけでした。 ベッド→という名で掲載されていますが、お部屋の角が少し高くなっているところにせんべい布団が引いてあるだけです。硬すぎて身体が痛くて良く眠れませんでした。 寝具？シーツ？もお洗濯の生乾き臭で残念です。 コロナ禍で仕方ないとは思いますが、連泊してもタオルの交換があるくらいで、ベッドメイキングのし直しはなかったです。 お部屋はすごく寒かったです。 料理→季節や地元のものを期待していたのに、カニとエビばかり。カニは冷凍してあったものと想像します、ですので、変な硬さがあり身もほぐせず半分も食べずに諦めました。アレルギーの確認がないので、甲殻類アレルギーの方はお料理絶対確認したほうが良いと思います…。 食品テーブル調理用の燃料が小さくて、しゃぶしゃぶ、豚肉が出てきたのですが途中で火が消えて諦めました。あと5分くらい調理出来るサイズだとよいのでは？ 朝食は和風です。コロナ禍ということもあり、バイキングは難しいと思いますがせめて和朝食か洋朝食くらいは選べると良いのにと思います。 そして、フロントの男性スタッフがフロントらしくない所作と思いました。わたしたちの名前を予約リストから見つけられず、本当にうちで予約していますか？と聞かれました。女性は丁寧でした。 いうことで、コロナ禍なのでサービスが制限されるのは仕方ないと思いますが値段とサービス内容が合っていないと思いました。

家族旅行で訪問。 部屋は狭い方のお部屋だったが『今回はグレードアップした』とフロントにオベッカを使われる。 古い外国人が好きそうな古民家+日本の山奥に伝わる伝説系の天狗や狸や風神雷神みたいなのが沢山あり旅館自体もやや薄暗いぼんやりとした雰囲気を出している。 部屋にトイレ、風呂は無い。 気をつけないといけないのが、お手洗いも水しか出ないし、蛇口から排水口が狭いので手を洗うが限界だろう。 共同トイレ、共同風呂というシステムで、1階にある共同お風呂は普通の銭湯くらいの広さで大きめの湯船ひとつのみ。露天はあるが5人くらいの広さかと。 共同風呂では洗体出来るが貸切風呂はそれができないので、マナーとしては共同風呂で頭と体を洗ってから貸切風呂が良いだろう。 こういったところから外国人観光客向けなのかなと思った。 食事はバイキングで幼児以下の子供向けの食べ物はほとんど無いのでファミリー利用の場合はそこそこ大人向けの食事が出来ない子供のために自前で持ってくか、鬼怒川のコンビニなどで食事を買っておく必要がある。 大人の食事は美味しいがなぜかスタッフが食事を急かす。朝はラストオーダー的な時間が過ぎると容赦なく食事が下げられていくので、早めに行く必要がある。あと、夕飯時は すぐお皿をとりにくるので鬱陶しさはある。 貸切風呂は3300円/1組を払うと24時間入り放題。６箇所あるのでだいたいどこかしら入れる。そしてリピーターのために貸切風呂は次回も無料になる。 以上を踏まえると、子供が小さいファミリーには全く向かない。せめて中学生くらいにはなってた方が良いだろう。 あとは夫婦のみでゆっくりしたい人、外国人観光客、カップル、あとは年配の女性だけの旅行者なら満足度はあるかなと思う。 個人的には部屋にトイレと風呂があればかなり良いところだと思うけど、何せ鬼怒川温泉駅前から車で約60分山登りするので結構大変だから、なかなか行くのは難しいと思う。 周辺は何もないが逆に空いてるので自然を散策したりするのは良いと思う。