hot tab outside, friendly and attentive staff, proximity to the Toshogu, excellent meals, beautiful garden, beautiful mountain view from the windows, daily tea and tea snacks in the room, clean tatami room, yukata in the room Their kaiseki style dinner is excellent. The breakfast was super, too.

bath towels are small and not plentiful. They will give you new ones every day, but there’s no free bath towels in the public bath area. We stayed there 3 days consecutively. The first day and the third day’s meals were the same. It was okay because it was breakfast. Since the area is catered for day trip tourists, most of the restaurants are not open for dinner. We had to walk back to the station area to have a dinner at the only open restaurant at that time. And taxi back to the hotel.

From the moment I arrived, I felt like I was transported into a peaceful, serene world where time slowed down, and nature was my constant companion. This was thanks in large part to the scenery from my room. The ryokan itself was beautifully traditional, with tatami mats, sliding paper doors, and a quiet, warm atmosphere that immediately put me at ease. The real highlight of my stay, however, was the meals. Both dinner and breakfast were nothing short of spectacular. Every dish was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavours that felt deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. Dinner was a delightful journey of flavours, with each course showcasing ingredients that were seasonal and locally sourced. There was always something new to try – many dishes I hadn’t experienced before – and the tastes were so distinct and fresh. The highlight was dining with breathtaking views of the fall foliage. The vibrant reds and oranges of the trees provided a stunning backdrop, and it truly felt like I was eating in harmony with nature. It wasn’t just a meal; it was an experience that brought me closer to the environment. Breakfast, too, was equally impressive. The variety of dishes, from fresh fish to pickled vegetables, rice, and miso soup, was both comforting and energizing. Every bite felt nourishing, and once again, the views of the surrounding nature added to the tranquility of the experience. It was the perfect way to start the day. The hospitality at Nikko Hoshino Yado was warm and attentive, and I felt well taken care of throughout my stay. The combination of peaceful surroundings, delicious food, and impeccable service made this ryokan a true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you’re looking for a place to relax, rejuvenate, and connect with nature, this ryokan is an absolute gem. Highly recommend!

While my stay at Nikko Hoshino Yado was overall wonderful, I feel that a small addition could have greatly enhanced the dining experience. For example, the first dinner included tofu-making instructions, which was a unique and enjoyable touch. However, I would have appreciated a brief pamphlet or guide explaining the order in which to enjoy the meal and providing more context on the seasonal and locally sourced ingredients used. Having this information would have deepened my appreciation of the dishes and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the culinary experience. A little guidance on the meal's flow and ingredients would have complemented the otherwise excellent dining and truly elevated the overall experience.

Hoshino Yado is located in an enchanting area near to the Toshogu shrine. The ryokan itself is lovely, surrounded by a beautiful garden. Our room was spacious, clean and had a breathtaking view on the mountain scenery. The kaiseki dinner and breakfast were so rich and we really enjoyed being able to taste so many different things. There's the chance to book a small private onsen for family use at a very fair price and they also offer free shuttle bus service from the train station. Last but not least, the service has been amazing: the reception staff promptly replied to all our questions and helped us organize our stay for the best, the staff at the restaurant was friendly and explained us what each dish was, our driver went above and beyond in helping us with an issue we had. Everyone was kind and professional and they made our stay special! We hope to be back one day!

This was our only ryokan stay in Japan, and we really enjoyed it. We had a japanese style room, but with western beds ! The room was large, and had everything we needed. The yukatas were a nice touch, and we wore them to the onsen and to our keiseki dinner (which was delicious). The onsen (male/female) was lovely, and looked straight out onto nature. Very clean and the facilities were great. Location is excellent. Right near the famous bridge, temples, and local bus stops right outside the hotel entrance. Its a short ride into Tobu Nikko centre, and about 45 minutes to Lake Chuzenji.

The food and drinks options were a little limited, but it wasn't a big issue.

We booked the Deluxe japanese-style with private bathroom garden view 2nd floor. It was a lovely super big room as far as Japan standards with a very nice view of the mountains. It gave us a great japanese first experience. We were provided yukatas and we tried an Onsen for the first time (way too hot for some of us westerners). The location is excellent. Right next to the Red bridge and around the corner to the Shrine/Temple complex. All within walking Overall nice experience.

It was expensive. Probably the most expensive of the whole 1 month trip. The room was very nice but the hotel is a little on the old side. The location however was worth it.

Hotel located at the top of a semi-steep driveway, close to numerous shrines/temples, bus stop to other regions at foot of driveway (meaning convenient access to Lake Chūzenji area). About a 25min walk from Tobu-Nikko Station if bus is crowded and shuttle not booked (up hill incline, but not too difficult). A little far from the supermarket and konbini, and main food area, but there are restaurants up there (early-ish close). Private onsen available at reasonable price. View from room when sunny was amazing!

Onsen experience was authentic. Amenities in the room such as daily snacks, tea, hot water, cold water and coffee were nice touches. I also really enjoyed the yukata clothing and the amenities for the onsen (it was changed daily). The location was close to a bus stop and not too far from the main station (Tobu Nikko or JR Nikko). There is also a shuttle that you could take, but it's limited so ensure to double check the time. The staff were extremely kind.

Nothing. It was perfect.

Staff were friendly and very helpful. The location was very close to nearby attractions and the nearest bus stop. The bath house was very nice and authentic. Food served during breakfast was also very good and authentic.

Even though close to the bus stop, the walk up to the hotel is a bit steep with luggage, but you can call for shuttle pick up. Hotel has a bit of a musty smell understandably due to the use of certain wood fixtures and the age of the hotel.

Conveniently located 5 minutes walking from the Shinkyo bridge and a 15 minute walk from the Toshogu Shrine and Rinnoji Temple, Hoshi no Yado is a wonderful ryokan with exceptional service and amenities. The staff communicated with me before arriving and kindly arranged a shuttle to pick us up from the train station. The dinner and breakfast were beautifully presented and delicious, and the onsen was a nice touch after a long day of hiking. The staff are a very warm and welcoming group of professionals, and even arranged a taxi to take us back to the train station early on the morning of our departure.

Nothing.

We stayed in the Deluxe Japanese-Style Room with Private Bathroom Garden View 2 floor. The room was very large and comfortable with a great view, and we enjoyed the bedding on the tatami. All the food was delicious and very visually appealing (there was also a gluten-free option which was very nice). It was great to be able to book the private onsen for my partner and I. Service was top-notch and location and grounds were superb.