Okunikko Konishi Hotel — Hotel in Nikko

Perfect to escape from Tokyo crowds and walk surrounded by nature.||||Let me go step by step: This hotel is NOT NEAR the temples. For those who want to be closer other properties are better.||||Konishi hotel is for nature lovers, those who want to walk around a beautiful lake, with very nice trails, and just to enjoy the priceless environment of Japanese mountains.||||We rented a car from Nikko Station to OkuNikko. There is a public bus that runs from the station and stop in the main spots along the road. One of the stops its just in front or very near to Konishi Hotel. If you want to go to the temples, and still be in Oku Nikko the only option you have is the bus, unless you have your own transportation.||||The property has its own shuttle bus that departs from Nikko station at around 2:30 pm (please check the schedule). The same shuttle will departure from the hotel to the station at 09:45 am. The shuttle doesn´t stop until Nikko station, so if you want to go to the temples you can walk back around 15 minutes up to the entrance of the compound. The ride from Nikko station to Oku Nikko takes about 1hour 20 minutes in normal conditions of traffic. If you have your own transportation feel free to explore the surroundings...||||The hotel is old, you can see it from the entrance. The middle age staff speak English, so for basic communication is ok. The rooms are comfortable, a mixed of Japanese and western style. The bathroom is small. (My room was in 3rd floor). Yukatas, are provided, and you can use them for dinner and breakfast as most Japanese do.||||The property has a public onsen and private one. The private one can be used by couples or friends. They set time for 45 minutes bath per room (around 25USD). For those who can stand the hot water of Japanese ofuro, is perfect. For me ... :-) it was rough 5 minutes before I felt boiled. Anyway is a great experience and if you don´t want to be naked in front other people, this is the perfect place. ||||The food was very good and fresh. They have two kind of menus (English written) which you can combine. Be sure to tell them in case you have any allergy or other medical condition that requires special care with food.||||The food is served from 6pm. The dishes has good size. As we felt full we just went for a walk outside. Perfectly safe to walk in the semi darkness of the street.||||The breakfast was ok. Western and Japanese selections were available.||||I gave 4 out of 5 mainly because the rooms are clean, big, the nature in fantastic in the area and the food is delicious. Yes, it is old, and yes it needs a renewal but if you stay just for a night like me and my friends, the place is perfect. ||||Rates are high, as in every onsen in Japan. For those in a budget I recommend to stay in Tokyo and to make a day...

NOTE: This hotel is not in the Nikko city centre, but if you want to explore the real Nikko (lakes, waterfalls, beautiful scenery), you can consider staying for one day or two in Lake Chuzenji and also the Yumoto Onsen area. ||||It snowed when we arrived at this hotel in late January. We stayed in Nikko Lakeside Hotel near Lake Chuzenji the night before, and then took the Tobu bus to Yumoto Onsen (around 40 minutes from Lake Chuzenji OR around 80 minutes from JR/Tobu Nikko train station). Not a short bus ride, but it was worth coming all the way to Yumoto Onsen. Very quiet and peaceful and snowy on a winter day, we were surprised to discover a rather small family-friendly ski area near the hotel. We spent the afternoon skiing on some very gentle slopes - it seems like the area was quite popular with school ski trips and you could see lots of schoolkids in the day. We then went back to the hotel to enjoy the onsen - there was an outdoor section where you could sit in the snow and enjoy soaking in the hot spring water! : )||||Dinner (Japanese haute cuisine) was so delicious - the beef was so juicy with so much flavour. Other dishes are typical Japanese dishes - if you don't like some of them, just leave it on the plate and you don't have to feel bad. Breakfast was of Japanese style - soft-boiled egg, grilled fish, rice, miso soup, tofu and some pickles. Nothing special. ||||It was snowing heavily when we checked out the next morning - and the hotel staff was so helpful that they arranged a minibus to take us to the Yumoto bus station (3 minutes from the hotel, but would be tricky to walk there in...

NOTE: This hotel is not in the Nikko city centre, but if you want to explore the real Nikko (lakes, waterfalls, beautiful scenery), you can consider staying for one day or two in Lake Chuzenji and also the Yumoto Onsen area. ||||It snowed when we arrived at this hotel in late January. We stayed in Nikko Lakeside Hotel near Lake Chuzenji the night before, and then took the Tobu bus to Yumoto Onsen (around 40 minutes from Lake Chuzenji OR around 80 minutes from JR/Tobu Nikko train station). Not a short bus ride, but it was worth coming all the way to Yumoto Onsen. Very quiet and peaceful and snowy on a winter day, we were surprised to discover a rather small family-friendly ski area near the hotel. We spent the afternoon skiing on some very gentle slopes - it seems like the area was quite popular with school ski trips and you could see lots of schoolkids in the day. We then went back to the hotel to enjoy the onsen - there was an outdoor section where you could sit in the snow and enjoy soaking in the hot spring water! : )||||Dinner (Japanese haute cuisine) was so delicious - the beef was so juicy with so much flavour. Other dishes are typical Japanese dishes - if you don't like some of them, just leave it on the plate and you don't have to feel bad. Breakfast was of Japanese style - soft-boiled egg, grilled fish, rice, miso soup, tofu and some pickles. Nothing special. ||||It was snowing heavily when we checked out the next morning - and the hotel staff was so helpful that they arranged a minibus to take us to the Yumoto bus station (3 minutes from the hotel, but would be tricky to walk there in...