Nikko Kanaya Hotel

The service at this hotel was truly exceptional—absolutely out of this world. We had no idea it carried such a long and iconic history, but we definitely felt it during our stay. The staff were warm, sophisticated, and incredibly attentive, which made a huge difference. While the hotel and rooms do show their age, there's a distinct charm to it all. The atmosphere was cozy, welcoming, and incredibly comfortable—like a home away from home. Some facilities may feel a bit dated, but the overall experience more than made up for it. Don’t miss the garden walk along the riverside—it was easily one of our favorite spots in all of Nikko.

This place really shows its history, and by that I mean: It's old. The floors creak above and below so it's seldom quiet. Plus, the prices for drinks (2,500-ish yen) and food (4,000-6,000 yen) would lead you to think it's the height of luxury (1920s), but I'd recommend other locations. And that doesn't mention the steep STEEP driveway you will be walking luggage up to get to the hotel. To the owners/managers: a little fresh paint, ground maintenance, and reduced cost items would go a long way.

Nikki Kanaya Hotel: Lovely, Really||Even the winter landscape here is quite inspiring, even if a little melancholic"||Propositions in Winter||Here, in Nikko, the snow is trying desperately to hold on|      to the smallest branch and hill, |the distant mountains surrounding us, |      blue and gray in the fog.||But the Buddha is unmoved,|      the stone lanterns offer no light |in the darkness, no way |      forward or back. ||There was never a road, |      only the naked branches in winter, and the soul, |not more than the wind stirring |      in the branches.||Despite the sentiments in this poem, I must say our room here is large with an amazing view of the gardens from one window, and the mountains from another. ||The town is in walking distance, and worth a trip. Lots of fine eateries and stores offering trinkets. ||Nikko is a perfect diversion in winter, especially if you are in the mood to review your internal life. It tends to send you inward, even though the landscape is everything you could hope for during the winter season. ||I highly recommend the Nikko Kanaya Hotel. This is one of the oldest western style hotels in Japan, if not the oldest, and, in fact, it manages to conjure a perfect harmony between West and Far East sensibilities.||We will stay here for a few days, before going to Kyoto, and then Tokyo. I will try to keep you updated. ||RICHARD MILAZZO|richardmilazzo.com

A classic hotel where some iconic figures, including Albert Einstein and many more, once stayed. If you're interested in history, this is a must-visit

One of my best experiences in Japan.|+ Big room (especially for Japan), our room was in the Annex, which seems refurbished|+ Great breakfast (and great breakfast), be sure to pay the small extra for the Japanese breakfast. We also had dinner here... It was exquisite|+ Fantastic garden with a nice panorama of the mountains around Nikko|+ You're just next to the area with all the temples, so the perfect spot for sightseeing||Value was very good for the price but I suspect it was because the off season

This hotel is in desperate need of a renovation! It’s 151 years old and it looks it. Some rooms may have been re-done based on other reviews I read but ours certainly wasn’t (room 70 in main building). The room is very spacious but the furniture is cheap and in poor condition. You can barely open the drawers, the bed juts out into the path to the bathroom and the bathroom has an unpleasant smell. ||Breakfast and dinner are included. Dinner is a formal western meal with small courses but with essentially no choice. Nice wine list for extra charge. Breakfast is not a buffet so allow extra time. ||The staff is very nice and the hotel has lots of interesting history but it doesn’t compensate for the state of the rooms.

I loved my stay at Nikko Kanaya. First, there is a complimentary shuttle to pick you up from the train station (only a few pick-ups so you might want to schedule your train accordingly); otherwise city bus will drop you off but you will have to walk up a slightly long driveway. You are greeted by the nicest staff; everyone was such a delight! ||I stayed in the older part of the hotel, and it is old. (I heard that they renovated one building, but pretty expensive). I had room 54 - paid $369 for 2 nights - included a western breakfast, and dinner. Great deal! My room was spacious and had beautiful views. There is a slight odor, and I thought it might be musty, but I was in a wood shop later on in my stay and recognized it to be the same smell. So there is a "woodsy" odor; the floor seemed to slightly slant, but it didn't bother me in the least. ||The breakfast is a Western style breakfast - you can order traditional Japanese breakfast 24 hours in advance, at at addt'l price; the dinner was absolutely amazing - 5 courses and just beautiful ||The history of the hotel is displayed throughout, and it is an amazing story. So many dignitaries have visited here. ||Great location - directly next to Shinkyo Bridge - I walked to the Shrines/Temple from the hotel - bus picks you up in front of the hotel if heading to Lake Chuzenji. ||I would definitely return - lovely!!

Arriving at the train station, I found out the shuttle bus for the hotel wouldn't arrive for another 45 minutes, so we opted to walk there. It takes about half an hour but going uphill in the blazing sun was a bit torturous. The driveway is also very steep, so beware if you have a lot of baggage. Hotel has a wealth of history. It hosted a lot of famous guests in the early 20th century. Modern hotels are sterile in comparison. It's an old building, so is draughty and full of ancient furniture. This may be a turnoff for some but I found it completely charming.