Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel is the mountain sister of the Nikko Kanaya, a Western-style, log-cabin-themed hotel set in forest beside Lake Chuzenji inside Nikko National Park. It has 57 rooms, and the hotel says every guest room has a balcony or wooden deck for enjoying the lake. It is a place to slow down, with the quiet of the lake and the woods outside.
The setting defines the stay. You are by the water at about 1,270 metres, in the part of Nikko where the air is cooler and the mornings are very still, with Kegon Falls a short distance away and Okunikko and Senjogahara farther up the valley. Staying here means you can see the lake in the early morning light and after the day-trippers have left, which is when the place is at its best.
A detailed look at the hotel shows a Dining Room serving French cuisine through large windows facing oak forest, and a more casual Yukon Annex with a lakeview terrace serving retro-style curry and other dishes.
Facilities include an open-air hot-spring bath called Soraburo, in a separate building and surrounded by trees, which is the main reason to stay in the colder months. Check-in is from 3 pm with a last check-in at 8 pm, and check-out is at 11 am. Outdoor parking for fifty cars is free with no reservation, which is useful for drivers, though in winter you will need to confirm road conditions on the Irohazaka and whether your vehicle has winter tyres.
Things to know
This is a leisure hotel on a mountain lake, so you will want a car or to plan around the bus timetable, which is reduced in winter. Confirm the hotel's winter opening dates, shuttle bus schedule and breakfast details on its website before booking, as these were not stated on the page we checked. Rates vary by season, and the first half of October is its peak, with November quieter. It suits couples, nature lovers and travellers who want a night in the mountains rather than a base for the shrines.
Why stay here
- ✓57 rooms
- ✓Lake-facing balcony or deck
- ✓Open-air bath Soraburo
- ✓French dining room
- ✓Lakeview terrace cafe
- ✓Free parking for 50 cars
- ✓Forest lakeside setting
- ✓Log-cabin style
Good questions
Does every room have a lake view?+
The hotel says all guest rooms have a balcony or wooden deck for enjoying the lake. Ask about the specific room when booking.
Is there parking?+
Yes, outdoor parking for fifty cars is free and needs no reservation. In winter check road conditions and tyre requirements.
Is it open in winter?+
Confirm winter opening dates and shuttle times on the hotel's website before booking. Our check did not find them stated.
