Nikko Garden Hotel

The area around it seems to have fallen on hard times, but it has a charm of its own. We really enjoyed staying here, and the staff were very helpful in making the visit even better. Our room was large and beautiful, with an Onsen looking out over the river and forest. The staff were friendly, and there was a great choice of welcome drinks and snacks. Thank you.

This turned out to be a real hidden gem, a lovely surprise on our Japan trip with a family of four. I booked it by chance on Booking.com because it was fairly close to Ski Resort Hunter Mountain Shiobara. The room had an onsen hot tub, and there was a free-flowing selection of local sweets in many varieties, Haagendazs ice cream, Japanese wine, bear, coffee, tea, and Japanese tea. Dinner was an eight-course fine dining meal that blew me away: wagyu, truffle, caviar, sashimi, smoked duck, and more, with drinks and alcohol also available freely. The dining service was top class. They carefully introduced each dish, checked on us often, and chatted casually. My husband called it a steal. Breakfast began with freshly baked croissants, followed by yogurt, bacon, egg, and potato gratin arranged on the plate like a work of art. Thanks to the wonderful hotel staff and waiters and waitresses!

I’m glad I chose to stay here. I spent one night as a couple in May on vacation. There was a small issue at check-in, but the staff helped me a lot. The room was spacious, the view gorgeous, and everything felt just right. Staff told me to shut the windows and doors in the evening to keep bugs from getting inside, and they were right. Make sure you close them at night. I’d seen Japanese reviews saying dinner was bad and not filling, but it exceeded my expectations. The foreign staff member spoke both Japanese and English and did a great job. The food was delicious, and with all the food and drinks, I was full before I could get to sweets. If I’m back in the area, I’d stay here again. Thank you for having me as a guest before I leave Japan for good.

We seriously considered staying an extra night, but couldn’t make it work, so we’ll have to come back another time. We’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels over the years, and this was the best experience we’ve ever had. The private open-air bath overlooking the river felt surreal, and everything was immaculately prepared, from the room to the food. We found ourselves complimenting something about the hotel every hour. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially since we speak so little Japanese. We hope the hotel gets to welcome many more happy guests.