5-Star Hotels in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

We stayed three nights in a room that included a circulating hot spring tub and buffet breakfast and buffet dinner. Staff in all areas were attentive, friendly and courteous. We chose to have buffet dinner instead of Kaiseki or course dinner as those usually include food we do not eat or prefer and don’t want to waste. The buffet had a large variety to select from which was appreciated. Various public hot springs in multiple areas of hotel were also available. It was a little distant to major tourist attractions via somewhat inconvenient public transportation which wasted some time but overall was a great stay.

The hotel is old so you definitely see how dated the facilities are but at the same time you know they are very well maintained. My room on the 3rd floor was spacious and had great view to Chuzenji lake. The sulfur onsen was great too. Staffs are professional, especially those in the dining room. They are vey attentive and quick to response to your needs.  The only downside is the location. If you want to find a lowkey hotel to relax in a remote area, Chuzenji is a perfect choice. But beware that there are only 3 shuttle bus a day. If you missed the last shuttle at 16h40 you will have to catch the last public Tobu bus at 18h and it takes like more than an hour to get to the hotel. No taxi, no uber available.

Our trip during Golden Week was to visit Nikko Toshogu Shrine and other World Heritage sites. We stayed in a corner room in the main building. The interior was beautifully maintained, in the style of a charming old-fashioned hotel, spacious, clean, and comfortable. The next day, it was bright and sunny from early morning. Through the large window, we could see fresh greenery, and snow seemed to have fallen on the distant mountains. We thoroughly enjoyed our coffee and had a wonderful time. I'd love to visit again in autumn.

Had such an amazing experience staying at Shelter Garden Nikko. From the beginning ( booking of the free shuttle service) to the entire experience, feels very pampered and well taken care of. My mom was in a wheelchair and they are ready to help my mum wherever possible. The designer of the hotel was also around during dinner time and he took the time to speak with each table explaining his design his inspiration and also shared some photos he took around the hotel. Overall very very happy with the stay. Definitely will return for another stay next time!

During the recent three-day autumn foliage season, rooms in Nikko were extremely difficult to book, especially balcony rooms with views of Nantaiyama and Chuzenji Lake. This time, I checked in at noon and requested an upgrade to a lake view room, and luckily, one became available on the 5th floor, the top floor. The balcony of the room offered a breathtaking lake view! Although the price was high, it was truly amazing! Environment: Prime location near Chuzenji Lake, with its own dedicated station. The pier, lakeside, and Kegon Falls are all within walking distance. Service: Top-notch. From check-in to introductions, turndown service, and breakfast the next day, the staff were impeccably at home! They now offer twice-daily shuttle service from Nikko Station. Truly fantastic! Facilities: Complete with all amenities, including a private onsen (hot spring), and state-of-the-art bathing and skincare facilities. Cleanliness: Spotless, and the public areas are impeccably beautiful. Staying here is like living inside an oil painting, except for the price. But this is just one example! The purpose of making money is to achieve Ritz-Carlton freedom.

The room was spacious and clean, which was great. Even though it was just a stay without meals, we were able to use the lounge in the evening for alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and snacks! However, the serving times were a bit short, so it would have been even better if there was drip coffee in the room. I would definitely like to stay here again next time.

The rooms were spacious and the views from the rooms were beautiful. There was also a hot spring, so we were able to relax. Dinner was a course meal, but the portions were just right and everything was delicious. There were many popular tourist spots in Nasu around the hotel. I would like to use this hotel again when I come to Nasu.

Our kids had a great time and made some wonderful memories. The POKO POKO area was a fantastic facility that the whole family enjoyed. If I had one suggestion, a private onsen room for families would have made the experience even better. Exploring the grounds was exciting for the kids, and they loved finding all sorts of insects like stag beetles, rhinoceros beetles, praying mantises, longhorn beetles, and frogs. Since Risonare has a lot of families, no one minded when the kids got a little noisy. We had a fun two days.

The room was clean and spacious. The hot spring was also pleasant. It was a very good stay.