Kinugawa Park Hotels Park Cottage

The manager was dismissive and disdainful when we tried to talk with them, and the staff’s treatment of guests felt discriminatory and deeply offensive. The luggage storage service was also a joke. They say they offer it, but only until 3:00 p.m., which is unreasonable and very inconvenient for travelers. We were four petite women with 29-inch suitcases and had to haul them up and down several staircases for nearly 15 minutes. Nobody offered to help. There was an elevator, but staff refused to let us use it and insisted we take the stairs. It felt humiliating and discriminatory. The hot spring we were shown was small, old, and poorly maintained, nothing like the beautiful modern photos online. The building itself smelled musty, the air was damp, and the facilities were outdated. It was extremely old and poorly maintained, and looked completely different from the promotional photos, which felt seriously misleading and deceptive. This was a nightmare, the worst hotel experience I’ve had in all my years of traveling. If I could give a negative rating, I would. Dishonest advertising, terrible service, and discriminatory behavior. I strongly urge travelers not to be fooled by the photos and to avoid this place at all costs.

The staff were very nice and eager to help us. I can’t complain about the maze-like walk from reception to the cottage, which I suppose is part of the experience. But the cottage itself was in very poor condition, despite looking cute in the Booking app photos. There was mold in the bathroom and bedroom near the window, dust on the bedside tables, and cobwebs in the corners. At least the sheets seemed clean. There was no AC, just old heating and ventilation with a really dusty filter. We’d just arrived for two nights in the cottages at the Parks Hotel in Nikko, and I can’t speak to the rooms in the main building. I don’t recommend the cottages at the Kinugawa Park Hôtels in Nikko.

My only regret is that we didn’t stay a few more days. The place has a nice feel, and the spa is luxurious. The onsen is superb, with great atmosphere and style. Our traditional room was spacious, spotless, and convenient. The staff struggled with English, but they were kind and dedicated, so everything went well.

The location is handy, close to the station, bars, restaurants, and local 7-Eleven. The welcome from staff was warm and personal, a 10/10. We stayed in the American Casual Cottage. The rooms and facilities are worn and could use renovation. The cottages need a proper cleanup and fresh paint outside, and the onsen areas could use renovations too. There are two onsen areas that rotate through the day for male and female bathers. Inside, though, the rooms are spacious, clean, quiet, and have amazing valley views. Decent value for money.