This was one of my favorite stays on my trip. A real secret getaway. The hotel greeted me and made me feel right at home with some matcha and mochi once I arrived. The room was beautiful in the style of a traditional Japanese house with a change of a Haori or Yukata, an Onsen, and a traditional dinner and breakfast served to you. I woke up to sounds of the river and a mountain view. If you want to feel pampered and splurge a little bit, this is the booking to do on your Japan trip. Trust me, book it.

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The room was beautiful and spacious, and very traditional, with tatami floors, a green tea set and kimonos you use while you're there. The staff were all incredibly nice and helpful. Our room had a huge window with a lovely view of the forest. The onsens were excellent with multiple tubs both inside and outside. The room also had a bathroom which included a bath and shower. The location was great, near the major shrines.

Nikko Senhime Monogatari 日光千姫物語 is a traditional Japanese ryokan onsen hotel, about a 10-minute walk from Nikko’s World Heritage shrine area. The food is good, with half-board including a kaiseki dinner and breakfast, and the hotel has pleasant indoor and outdoor onsen baths. The rooms are clean and comfortable, although the building and décor feel a little dated. What struck me most was the surprisingly large number of staff, who at times seemed to outnumber the guests. The hotel also has a piano bar with a pianist performing on both evenings of our stay, yet there were no guests in the bar. It gave me the impression of a hotel designed for a much busier era, perhaps when large group and corporate travel were more common. Today, it feels slightly nostalgic — very well staffed and gracious, but operating on a scale larger than its current number of guests.

Staff helpful

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