Hotel Natural Garden Nikko

The outdoor pool was really nice, and the onsen was pleasant too, though there was mold on the ceiling. The rooms feel quite old and the place seems like it may have been nice a few years ago, but it isn't being kept up now. The receptionist wasn't polite. Our room door wouldn't open because the lock was old. When we asked him to help, he eventually got it open and nearly laughed at us.

The building was very quiet, which was nice if you want to get away from the busy town. Rooms are bigger than the usual Japanese hotel room, but the smoke smell made them hard to stay in. There's a smoking room in the lobby that isn't airtight, so the smell gets through the whole building. The laundry area smelled moldy too, and the springy beds may not suit you if you have a bad back. The baths were nice, although the water was a bit chlorinated and left our skin rough. Service and concierge were five stars for us. The staff were very accommodating, went out of their way to help, and spoke English well.

The building, rooms and furniture made it seem like the hotel's heyday was back in the late 80s or 90s. The restaurant wasn't operating, and the onsen was maybe a 4 out of 10. There was quite a bit of mold on the ceiling in the women's section. We booked three nights in October 2025 through trip.com after seeing the photos and thinking it looked like a good choice. The location is okay, on the main road between Nikko and Lake Chuzenji, with bus stops right in front for both directions. We were greeted by friendly Nepali staff. They spoke English, which many Japanese people don't. We can't give the place more than two stars because the value for money wasn't okay. Other places in Nikko may cost more, but they offer better service and quality.

The staff were all friendly, and the foreign staff understood and spoke English fluently, which helped us a lot. The place has an old-fashioned feel from the 1980s or 1990s, but it felt warm and relaxing. To me, the hotel is like an old waiter who serves you gently.