Oku Nikko Hotel Shikisai — Hotel in Nikko

We wanted to visit Nikko, but not to stay in the touristic part. Most of the hotels were out of our budget and then I came across Shikisai. We booked for two nights, half board. First nice surprise - the hotel proposes a free shuttle to and from Nikko. A comfortable minivan picked us up and drove us 45 minutes through the mountains. The hotel is right next to the late in the national park. Upon arrival we experienced the japanese hospitality - we felt extremely welcome. The room was very comfortable, with two futons ( a third for our child was laid out during dinner), a small table and chairs - japanese style, but with a bathroom. From the room we had direct access to the forect and a small terrace. The place is known for bird watching - you have binoculars in the room and in the lobby there is a huge window with a long desk in front of it, five chairs, binoculars and bird watching books. ||As we were there two nights they proposed us to change the menu for the second night so we do not eat the same thing twice. DInners were exceptional - a real feast, japanese style, with fish, meat, starters, traditional plates like wabu if I remember the name well. More food that we could eat.||And there is the onsen - what an experience to seat in the hot bath looking at trees!||There is hiking to do and the hotel proposes a free tour of the waterfalls. We had a lovely time and my five year old...

I’m taking one star off for location and another for how cold my room was.

The hotel is nice - neat, fairly modern rooms, free booze and coffee/tea in the lobby (it’s the thing this hotel chain does), delicious food, and a good onsen. But the location isn’t great - if you have a car it won’t matter, if you don’t it’ll be either a ride on an infrequent bus (plus a schlep up the hill), or a 45 minute hike from Chuzenji station. And I don’t know if it was just my room but it was freezing (I stayed 28 January). The AC was on when I first checked in but it somehow stopped heating in the middle of the night and I could not get it back up and running. Entirely possible I couldn’t work the remote but I tried two dozen permutations and it really shouldn’t be that hard - perhaps leave some instructions for your guests to prevent this from happening.

Lastly, the info in the hotel guide book in the room was outdated - it said there was a free shuttle to Chuzenji at 8.45 am but when I asked at reception I was told it was at 9.15. I was in a rush and this was disappointing information. Furthermore, staff were hard to find in the morning, around 8am when I’d expect the front desk to be fully staffed.

I only stayed here because I was moved from their sister hotel due to a plumbing issue. I enjoyed the onsen and the dinner and breakfast , but would not stay here again, primarily given...

I have study many hotels in Nikko and finally stop at this hotel. Wondering that hotel will be ok or not while booking!!. The way to hotel must drive along the slopes which is about 48 slopes but it is very easy drive and road are split to one way up and one way down. Then when we arrived the hotel, must say it is very first impression. Friendly and helpful staffs since in front of hotel, reception, bell, waitress, Housekeeping.. all of them are over expectation. Japanese room style is very spacious with seperate toilet, bathtub. Amenities are ok but shampoo or body wash should be in the big bottle than in a small sachet. Bed are twin and it is comfortable. There is a terrace with snow and lake view. There have free flow of tea and small dessert in the room and you can enjoy all day coffee tea at lobby area. The highlight is outdoor onsen, I am so appreciated onsen in the -6 celcius and enjoy the forest view.. should not miss this part. The other special impression is the Kaiseki food, it is amazing with about 9 courses. Services from waitress in all meals are beyond expectation. Overall food taste are delicious, even it has many courses but I feel it is not too full or suffer from plenty of food. Because most of food are light, healthy and not too much portion. If have a chance to Nikko, will come...