K's House Nikko - Kinugawa Onsen Hostel

The location is beautiful, and the staff were helpful. We picked K's House- Nikko for the samurai spring festival and the tattoo-friendly onsen, and it turned out even better than we expected. The room was really comfortable, the onsen was clean and lovely, and the kitchen had plenty of supplies and good coffee. We’d happily stay again.

Kinugawa onsen felt pretty quiet when we visited in January, but we had a great time. The hostel had a lovely atmosphere, was immaculate, and the onsen was a highlight. The kitchen was excellent too, and everyone on staff was friendly and helpful. The area is a bit away from Imaichi and Nikko itself, so get the Nikko transport pass for public transport. Still, the mountains and onsen make the trip worthwhile, even for just a night, especially if you want to try the outdoor bath.

The lounge and kitchen were a lovely surprise. We spent time on the hammock and at the kotatsu, and liked the thoughtful organization, dishes, music, and big windows. The free WiFi worked well in our room, though it was slow enough in the lounge that I switched to my data. We chose K's House for its Tattoo Friendly onsen and Japanese-style room, and both were wonderful, the room and bath really made our trip. A couple of things to know: you take off outdoor shoes here, so easy-to-remove footwear helps. The location is as described, but the wider Nikko area seems better suited to cars than to people getting around on foot, unless they're hikers.

I really enjoyed my stay. The room was spacious and clean, and there was a public onsen, hammocks outside, a kitchen, and a place to relax. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the train station, and 7/11 is a 15-minute walk away.