Bettei Himawari

Our room was awesome, with a bath pool set in the ceiling. The nearest 7-11 is about a ten-minute walk away, and WiFi is only available in the lobby, not in the rooms. The hotel has a very large courtyard surrounded by rooms and a canteen. The lobby and canteen have classic European decor, with classical music playing in the background.

The staff were all friendly and made me feel comfortable, and the drinks were reasonably priced. Both meals were delicious, with a good variety of ingredients. The building feels old, though maybe that's part of its charm. I'd like to come back for several nights and relax.

We were there on a family trip, and the inn had a refined feel. The floors were waxed so well that I almost felt embarrassed walking on them in shoes. The food was delicious, and having live piano music during the meal made it feel luxurious. The staff were attentive too. You need to ask the front desk whether the private hot spring baths are available. Reserving one to use privately is great, but it isn't as simple as deciding to go in right then, so the guys only went once. We'd still like to visit again.

The meals were beautiful to look at and really tasty, and the whole place felt calm and a little removed from everyday life. We stayed in the maisonette building for our first visit, and both the room and the hospitality went beyond what we expected. There seemed to be only the owner and a few staff, yet when it rained early in the morning, umbrellas were waiting outside each room for the walk to breakfast. That building has just four rooms in a row-house layout, but the concrete construction meant we didn't have to worry about disturbing or hearing others. I'd like to try another room type next time. We arrived earlier than expected and walked from Tobu Nikko Station. It was a bit far, so using the hotel pickup would have been the sensible choice.