Nikko Kanaya Hotel

Whenever I visit Nikko, I choose Kanaya Hotel. This time, I made a Reservation for the Orange Suite supervised by Kaoru Kundo. True to the concept of a “vitamin Hotel that energizes you just by staying,” it was a wonderful Room that felt healing both physically and mentally. As a book lover, I was also delighted to find so many books.This time, I joined the in-house tour for the first time and had a great time. The staff’s attentive service is one of the reasons I can always relax and enjoy my stay with peace of mind.It had been a while since my last trip to Nikko, but thanks to Kanaya Hotel, it became a truly restorative getaway. I would love to stay again on my next visit to Nikko. Thank you very much.

I first learned about Nikko Kanaya Hotel decades ago, and at last I was able to visit.The moment I pushed the revolving door in the lobby and stepped inside, I was gently wrapped in the warm atmosphere of the Hotel.The evening in-house tour was wonderful. Not only did we learn about the Hotel’s history, but each decorative detail was explained, and even a bold three-story construction plan left me amazed. It truly made me feel the skill and spirit of the craftsmen of that era, when there was no heavy machinery. This was thanks to our guide—his stories were fascinating and his delivery superb. I had such a great time. He mentioned he is 80 years old, so I hope he takes good care of himself and continues sharing many more delightful stories about the Hotel.And the traditional Kanaya dinner was absolutely delicious! Lately I’ve found rich flavors a bit difficult, so I was slightly worried—but there was no need. The consommé soup had remarkable depth, and the Taisho croquette stood apart from today’s trendy béchamel crab cream croquettes; it easily exceeded what I had imagined. The sautéed rainbow trout I’d been looking forward to was soft and delicate—truly one of a kind. After dinner, my jazz-loving husband and I went to an authentic bar. By the crackling fireplace, we enjoyed records along with a delicious original non-alcoholic cocktail. Time seemed to slow down, and we could relax from the heart—it really was a perfect night.The Room was spacious enough, came with a humidifier, and the bed was comfortable—I slept soundly until morning. If I may mention one small point: perhaps because it’s sized for international guests, the bathroom felt very large, so it didn’t warm up enough with just a shower and felt a bit chilly (it may also have been seasonal). I recommend warming both the Room and bathroom with heating before taking your shower.Breakfast was excellent—the omelet I selected was beautifully made. One sip of the green smoothie made me blurt out without thinking: “Oh—this is good.” Casual conversation with one of the female staff members who kindly refilled my coffee several times is also one of my fond memories. After breakfast, as I took photos of an Akayashio azalea blooming bright pink in front of the Hotel, a staff member spoke to us and even showed us around—the pool area, skating rink, and also where Sota Fujii played his Kisei title match—which truly moved me. You can really feel how much all of the staff love this Hotel; I would absolutely like to visit again.