Hotel Sunshine Kinugawa — Hotel in Nikko

Loved everything about this hotel. We booked this as a couple in the hope of having a relaxed stop off after travelling Tokyo, in the hopes of using the private onsens and getting a massage. There was a bit of worry when nothing mentioned a massage at all, but they do have a massage facility. Most of the front desk and restaurant staff had very good English. The style of the hotel was like a high end but traditional 1990's hotel back in the day, but I still think it was brilliant. The food was good at the buffet restaurant (with most, not all, things labelled for those with dietary requirements), plenty to choose from and free unlimited soft drinks, you can also pay somewhere in the region of ¥1700 and ¥2000 for all you can drink beers in 60 or 90 mins. There was a souvenir shop, cold drink/tea shop, massage, public and private (extra cost) onsen, pick up and drop off shuttle to the train station, free WiFi, vending machines for soft and alcoholic beverages etc.

The room view was incredible, we had a really nice outlook on to the forest and mountain ranges of Nikko, which there is a chair and seats to sit at and admire the view. Kettle, water, fridge and tea supplied in the room. The futons were a bit hard for my liking, but they did supply another futon mattress, which my other half had... what I did like is they provided a long 4-socket extension lead so you could charge your phone while on the futon or at the table and still be able to use it.

Massage was great, would definitely recommend one, we both had an all over body massage for an hour which was very good and at a good price of ¥8800 (I think, cheaper than the UK anyway). Both enjoyed it and recommend, shame there's only one masseuse in the week as you can't have a couples massage, but they do have another at weekends apparently. The massages vary in types (all over body, feet, shoulders etc) and durations (20, 40, 60, 80 mins).

The onsens were really good, the indoor one had a bit of a loud pump unfortunately so it made it a bit less relaxing when we went, but we used the outdoor one the following night and that was extremely peaceful. Would highly recommend using them.

Overall, staff brilliant, facilities very good, rooms traditional and lovely, food excellent, views incredible, value great. A well deserved 5...

I can't recommend this hotel. If I were to visit Kinugawa again, I would stay someplace else. We stayed here as a couple for 2 nights in summer of '23, and our view of the hotel was mixed. Some aspects are great, but there are HUGE downsides that outweigh them. I've summarized the positives and negatives. Breakfast was fine, not great. Also, how is this a 4 star hotel? Re-rate it to 3 stars please...

POSITIVE: The location - the hotel is right next to the Kinugawa River and Kinutateiwaotsuri Bridge, which also has a short trail to a viewing platform. Perfect for a small outing. The station is 10 minutes walking distance, and from there you can get to all kinds of trails and nature sights further into the mountains. The view - we were lucky enough to get a room on floor 12 and in the direction of the river, which made for a spectacular view, and I believe regardless of direction the view from high floors will be great. Most rooms have a balcony to enjoy this view. Spacious, Japanese style rooms - we were surprised at how big our room was. Several adjoining rooms, all covered in tatami mats. An entrance, an eating space, a living room/bedroom, and a little alcove by the big windows with a view. All very spacious and with a traditional Japanese feel. Onsen - the onsen facilities are actually quite nice, with both inside and outside baths. Fragrant strawberry shampoo as well. But would've been nice with a resting area to rehydrate afterwards.

NEGATIVE: Smoke - our room (and judging by the reviews, many rooms) smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. So did the corridor, the elevator, and the lobby. This is obviously a huge negative. Dated facilties - the rooms, lobby, and other facilities give the feeling that it's been a long time since renovations were made. There's noticeable wear and tear everywhere you look. Same with the decor. What they're obviously going for is "quaint", but what they achieve is "tacky". Amenities - very few amenities are available in your room. They instead need to be picked up in the lobby. Incl. shampoo. There are vending machines for drinks, but not for alcohol. This means you either have to pay dearly for room service, or visit a nearby market or 7/11 to get a...

First, a message for my fellow tattooed folks- yes, there is a sign in the public onsen here that says no tattoos. But I didn’t have a problem, as we were here on weekdays and went in the morning (and perhaps because I am a woman). I still took the hand towel they give you (lots of) into the onsen and draped it over the shoulder of mine with the biggest and longest tattoo. Second, the hotel doesn’t smell like smoke anymore, at least not that we could tell. They banned smoking in the rooms in the spring of 2024 and have taken great pains to air out the rooms. The doors are left open when nobody is staying in a room, and I couldn’t smell anything but the tatami mats. I’m pretty reactive to cigarette smells, but the 6th floor was safe. Sunshine really grew on me, which is good because you’ll be stuck there at night. (Things close down early in the town- you’re supposed to be onsen-ing and then relaxing.) We loved the buffet breakfasts (my kids mostly stuck to the croissants, though). Yes, like most of Kinugawa, it’s clear that the hotel needs renovation. But despite that need, it is meticulously clean. And the outdoor onsen is really amazing. The view from the hotel rooms is equally amazing. And you haven’t lived until you’ve sipped a cappuccino with your feet in an outdoor footbath. Kinugawa needs some revitalization, but we still loved it. P.S. the buffet dinner is also great, but at 4000 yen per person, we skipped it after the first night- my kids just don’t eat enough to make it worthwhile. If you choose to do that, remember the bit about everything in town closing by 5 pm and stock up...