The other day, to celebrate my birthday, I went on an overnight trip to Kinugawa (鬼怒川), a hot spring resort in the city of Nikko (日光), Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県) (see the previous post). Kinugawa is one of the popular hot spring resorts nearby Tokyo which locates only two hours away by SPACIA, express train. Since some luxury ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) that I wanted to stay don't accept baby, I selected "Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel (鬼怒川金谷ホテル)", a branch of Nikko Kanaya Hotel (日光金谷ホテル, see the previous post) and it was a ten-strike!!
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| SPACIA |
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| Sandwich and quiche of "PAUL" and champagne "REMY" |
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| Kinugawa River |
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| Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel |
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| Entrance |
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| Lobby |
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| Lobby and main dining room (in the back) |
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| Welcoming tea and dessert |
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| Japanese room |
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| Connecting Japanese room |
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| Balcony |
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| Entrance to public hot spring |
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| Outside relaxing space |
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| Outside hot spring |
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| Nikko iroha beer |
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| Amuse |
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| Starter |
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| Steamed pine mushroom |
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| Set of local sake |
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| Glass champagne |
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| Steamed pine mushroom with Japanese rime |
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| Sashimi platter on ice plate |
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| Green tea ice cream |
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| Grilled ayu (sweet fish) |
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| Vinegared pear and salmon caviar |
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| Beef stew (Kanaya's specialty) |
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| Shabu shabu of porgy with green tea soup (specialty) |
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| Grilled Tochigi wagyu beef (specialty) |
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| Rice bowl and clear soup of freshwater clam |
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| Fresh peach sorbet |
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| Birthday plate! (with chocolate cake and fresh fruit) |
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| Night snack and Kanaya's chocolate |
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| Nearby hotels |
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| Breakfast (Japanese-style) |
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| Breakfast (Western-style) |
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| Ropeway |
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| Monkey parent and child |
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| Ryuo-kyo (fall) |
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| Ryuo-kyo |
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| Ryuo-kyo |
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| Ryuo-kyo |
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| Ryuo-kyo |
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| Fresh beer and grilled ayu (sweet fish) |
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| Soy-sauce based ramen |
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| Shaved ice using Nikko mineral water |
Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel is an ideel hybrid hotel which has both good aspects of Japanese-style ryokan and Western-style hotel. They offer not only basic service and facilities of hotel, but also ryokan service such as hot spring, Japanese room, in-room dining, free night snack, yukata (Japanese summer kimono), etc. Though we stayed at a Japanese room so that baby does not drop accidentally from the bed, but other rooms have both nice Japanese living room and beautiful bed room (please check the Kanaya's HP!).
The quality of cuisine was high. They brought the same quality of dinner of the restaurant to our room. Service was also timely and friendly. We could fully enjoy the dinner with baby in a relaxed manner. Everything was delicious, but their specialty, beef stew, shabu shabu of porgy with green tea soup and Tochigi wagyu beef steak were superb! Breakfast was also impressive. Especially, western-style one is recommendable. Their fresh bread (particularly pan de mie) is thin, chewy and tasty! Their chocolate is also can't-miss.
At hot spring resort, I usually don't want to do anything except taking a bath, eating and drinking, but seeing rich nature around Kinugawa was also fun and relaxing. Ryuo-kyo, canyon located nearby Kinugawa was beautiful. Clear air and calm atmosphere. Shaved ice which we had there using Nikko mineral water was incredible. Don't miss it!
My rating for Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel is 5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!
