Kihachikan — Hotel in Nozawaonsen

These days Kihachikan in Nozawa is no longer a restaurant as I had to explain to a bemused walk-in visitor to our living room one day. What Kihachikan (north and south wing) is now is a beautifully curated home in the centre of Nozawa Onsen that is available to rent throughout the year. Hosted by Robin and Roxy this property has been renovated to the highest standards with every detail thought through to provide you with the perfect place to stay, winter or summer. From the welcome gifts of carrot cake, home baked bread and bottles of nozawa gin to the beautifully appointed living area and en-suite bedrooms - there is nothing that will disappoint as you explore the property. We stayed a week in January this year and decided to split our evenings between eating out and dinner at home. The property is ideal for both since it is only a short walk to the majority of restaurant offerings when we opted for the former and for those evenings in, the exceptionally well equipped kitchen facilities in both North and South wings delighted the chefs in our group. ;) Our hosts (ably assisted by Emi) live offsite but were always available to help, whether it be grocery trips to the supermarket, advice on local attractions, transport booking or the latest opinion on snow conditions. This is the place to...

First & foremost, it’s imperative to note that Kihachikan has changed ownership. The new owners have completely renovated it but kept the name as a tribute to the family that ran the previous inn for generations.

The new Kihachikan is absolutely gorgeous. Robin & Roxy went to great lengths to work with local trades people and used Japanese timber exclusively, resulting in a beautiful, warm home that is authentically Nozawa Onsen.

Our recent stay at Kihachikan was exquisite. The thoughtfully appointed home comes with a fully equipped kitchen & dining area - making big, family-style dinners an absolute joy! The showers are fantastically strong and the little shower bench is much appreciated after a big day of skiing powder.

Most of all, we loved the location. Being on a quiet street within 10 minutes of walking to literally everything meant that we were able to be the first ones on the slopes, experience apres ski, nightlife, and various onsen all within a few short days. On the rare evening that we preferred some quiet, we stayed in by the stove and felt very tranquil indeed.

We cannot wait to be back and are already planning...

This is our second year staying at Kihachikan and hopefully it won't be our last! We have stayed in both South and North and they are both exquisite. The attention to detail is truly 5 star, with large and comfortable living spaces, beautiful bedding, incredible artwork everywhere you look, amazing water pressure and all the mod cons you could ever want! And just to top it off, the hosts are simply delightful and have been so helpful in organising big group dinners in local restaurants, delivering fresh bread and cakes and even taking us to the supermarket! Thanks so much Robin and Roxy, can't wait to see you...