This may be the most underrated gem in Nikko!
I stumbled across this as I was walking to the Tamozawa Imperial Villa and was instantly drawn in by the mesmerizing garden from the street.
The staff is extremely kind and explained about the history of the house in English. There is an eight-minute video with English subtitles that walks you through the house’s history and the beginnings of the Kanaya hotel. You can also view vintage china, menus, and mentions of the hotel and restaurant in various English language publications.
You are then free to explore the house at leisure, finishing up with a stroll through the fantastic gardens.
Honestly, this was one of the highlights of my trip and not even something that had originally been on my list! Definitely a must-visit the next time you are in Nikko.
The Kanaya Hotel cottage Inn bakery is right next-door and offers wonderful light lunches and baked goods as well.
Beautiful! It was closed when I went so I wasn’t able to see the inside but the outside was very beautiful and worth checking out. It’s particularly lovely amongst the fall foliage if you happen to be there that time of year. Lovely area to walk around and explore!
It’s a place where you can learn the fascinating story of a female foreign traveler, a young smart Japanese guy, the beginning of developing hotels oriented for foreign guests, and visit the place where such famous persons like the President USA Grant and Albert Einstein stayed. Or you can just enjoy serenity and calmness of an old traditional samurai house.
We stopped here for lunch. The service was welcoming and English was no barrier of communication. We had the sandwich burger and pork curry - both was delicious and very filling! I had the "premium grape juice" which was a Nikko made non alcoholic drink. It was absolutely addictive and sweet. It was a tasty addition to the meal.