Kinugawa Onsen Hana No Yado Matsuya

I visited Nikko to explore the areas around Tokyo during my trip! Nikko is apparently famous for its hot springs and yuba (tofu skin) cuisine. So, I stayed at Hananoyado Mitsuya, a hot spring hotel. We booked a stay that included both dinner and breakfast. Pros: All the staff members were incredibly friendly, and the service was excellent. The food was delicious and the portions were generous! They even prepared our futons for us during dinner, and the yukata (Japanese traditional garment) were free. Among all the amenities, I loved the hot springs the most. The water temperature wasn't too hot, and the outdoor bath, in particular, was absolutely beautiful! Being in the open-air bath, surrounded by trees and nature, listening to the sounds of the nearby stream, was incredibly relaxing! My travel companion and I even booked a private hot spring for one session, which was 3300 yen for 45 minutes. They also provided free transportation to Kinugawa-Onsen Station, where we needed to catch our express train. Additionally, there were various vending machines conveniently located throughout the property. Cons: Perhaps because I visited in winter, but our room was extremely cold. Even with the heating on its highest setting, it remained chilly. I think the large size of the room might have contributed to this. Also, the internet was slow. Although the hotel had Wi-Fi, it often disconnected or had trouble connecting. Even using mobile data was slow. Aside from these points, I was very satisfied! Especially the staff's service, the hot springs, and the meals were outstanding! 👍👍

The environment is elegant, and I really liked the Western and Japanese style rooms. The spa was also very comfortable 😌... Breakfast is too early, 7:30 and 8:00 – I'm still half asleep! This is a vacation, not going to work. Can't the time be pushed back a bit? We booked dinner, but we arrived late at 7:50 PM, and dinner was gone. We had called them at 7:10 PM to let them know we were stuck in traffic, but the hotel said dinner was gone and wouldn't refund us 😏.

Affordable one-night, two-meal hot spring inn 👍👍 The inn is quiet and peaceful, perfect for rest and relaxation 👍👍 Both the breakfast and dinner were delicious and plentiful 😋😋

The hotel is actually closer to Kinugawa-Koen Station; it's a bit of a trek from Kinugawa-Onsen Station, and it's an uphill walk, so I wouldn't recommend it if you have luggage. Overall, the hotel is decent, typical for a one-night stay with two meals. Both meals were substantial, though they featured no high-end ingredients, more like refined, simple fare. The onsen (hot spring) had everything you'd expect, and the water quality was good. A unique feature is the hotel's collection of Western and Japanese dolls, which adds an artistic touch. However, for those who don't appreciate them, they might find them a bit creepy! The Kinugawa River flows right behind the hotel's garden, and the sound of the rushing water is indeed quite loud. Finally, it's not that the cleanliness was bad, but I caught four crickets in the room over one night. If they had been cockroaches, that would have been unacceptable. Perhaps it just means the local ecosystem is thriving?!