The Hotel Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of the onsen town of Kinugawa in Tochigi Prefecture, I stayed at the Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa last month, a short drive from the city of Nikko. Kinugawa is a charming old town and I have not heard many people who have been here before, which makes me excited to check out the town and the ryokan I booked.

Upon arrival at Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa, there are ample parking lots which is complimentary, and no reservation is required.   

I was initially perplexed as I did not see any reception at the entrance of the property. Little did I realise that I had to take a monorail to get to the ryokan’s lobby, which is such a pleasant and unique surprise!

The last property I stayed which has a funicular in the resort is the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, though the difference here is a purely automated monorail system to bring you right to the doorstep of the ryokan’s lobby. 

My first impression of the property is how quiet and zen the whole space is.

I was greeted by the central garden, after getting off from the monorail, where the reception is on the left side.

The staff prompted me to take a seat first while they settle the check-in process.

Each Hoshino Resorts Kai property I have stayed previously has a unique theme (such as the tea theme at Hoshino Resorts Kai Enshu), and this property highlights the Mashiko-yaki ceramics famous in Tochigi, where you will find the ceramics on display at the lobby area, and in the tableware used in the restaurant, as well as your room.  

There are 48 rooms in Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa, where the rooms are split across three low blocks. My room is 319 and is located in block C, which is furthest from the lobby but nearest to the onsen bathhouse.  

The landscape of the property is well-maintained, zen and it was pretty much a joy for me to walk through it.

An interesting encounter while the staff escorted me to my room – we spotted a wild deer right at the peripheral of the resort!  

The Room I booked the Japanese-style Room TA3 which is a spacious 40㎡. Upon entering the room, the bathroom is located right near the entrance. It is a decent size standing shower-style bathroom with no bathtub. You can opt to open the window blinds at the bathroom which looks out to the outdoor balcony and greenery.  

In terms of design, it is a contemporary ryokan interior with Japanese-style tatami mat flooring living room with an adjoining bedroom with two twin low-frame beds.  

Each room offers breathtaking views of the surrounding nature, where the balcony is great if you fancy sitting outdoors to gaze at the greenery.  

A welcome rice cracker snack was placed on the living room’s table, and there are also complimentary tea bags as well as yukata in the room where you can wear it to anywhere in the property.  

The Facilities Most ryokan I have stayed in Japan so far has no gym, though you can almost always expect an onsen in the property.

The onsen here boasts an indoor and outdoor onsen pool which overlooks the greenery. My only gripe is that there is no cold tub. Once you are done with your onsen, the lounge area has a rest zone where you can help yourself to water and juice.  

The lounge area is in the lobby which overlooks the garden. Guests can help themselves to complimentary coffee and tea.  

The Restaurant There is only one restaurant on-site, which serves breakfast and dinner.

In terms of the space, you can choose the semi-private room or the counter table which overlooks the garden courtyard. 

My booking is half-board, so I had dinner and breakfast during my stay. For dinner, it is a multi-Kaiseki course which features local ingredients. Expect dishes from sashimi to a hot pot dish where I had beef.  

For breakfast, you get a Japanese-style meal featuring the Tochigi speciality “Shimotsukare”, a dish made from finely grated rainbow trout, vegetables, and soybeans cooked in miso, as well as an array of side dishes and pickles. The tableware is made from the craft traditions of Mashiko ceramics pottery. 

Rants The activities on site are quite limited, except for a complimentary sharing about Mashiko ceramics in the evening. There is also no shuttle bus service, which can be inconvenient to get to if you do not drive.  

Overall Experience I had a good time at Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa, since I just wanted to relax and do nothing. It is a tranquil ryokan setting, very well-maintained even though it is already a ten-year-old property, and that monorail ride up is memorable. If you are considering where to stay near Nikko, this is definitely one ryokan I will recommend checking out.  

Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa 
308 Kinugawaonsentaki, Nikko, Tochigi 321-2526, Japan 

For more information, check out Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa Website.

Ranted by The Ranter