When Japan's Sakoku - the policy of isolationism - ended in 1854, foreign visitors began to trickle into Japan, enchanted by the promise of discovering a land and culture of honor and mysticism. It was during this time that Kanaya Zenichiro, a gagaku Imperial Court musician, met with an American medical and Christian missionary named Dr. James C. Hepburn. Dr. Hepburn would encourage Zenichiro to seize the opportunities before him and establish a lodging business to take advantage of Nikko's popularity with foreign travelers. Zenichiro agreed, and in 1873 he converted his home into what became the Kanaya Cottage Inn.

Success easily followed the endeavors of the Kanayas, and in 1893, twenty years after opening the inn, he would move the business to a more central location in Hatsuishi. This would become the Nikko Kanaya Hotel that is recognized today as Japan's oldest Western-style hotel, boasting over 150 years of history.

Aside from the main property, the Kanaya brand would again expand in 1940, building a lakeside property named the Nikko Kanko Hotel. They would later rename this as the Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel in 1965.

Design and Architecture

Nikko Kanaya Hotel proudly wears its heritage as Japan's oldest Western-style hotel. Its exterior and interior architecture blend traditional Japanese styles alongside stalwart Western aesthetics, making use of various construction methods and designs that bring out the best of both. In their modern iterations, the guestrooms of Nikko Kanaya wear a stylistic mix of traditional compositions, such as the use of windows that look like shoji screens and classic rolling bamboo blinds called sudare. Other areas of the hotel also display this eclectic fusion of East and West, such as the deck and balcony banisters, called tesuri, that line the halls.

Main Dining Room

Guests should look forward to dining at Nikko Kanaya's Main dining hall. Relish the flavors of delectable French cuisine, traditional regional specialties, and Kanaya Hotel's historic signature dishes such as the Taisho Korokke and 100-Year Old Curry.

Opening hours: 7:30 am - 9:30 am (Breakfast); 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (Lunch); 6 pm - 8 pm (Dinner)

Craft Lounge

Sweet and savory delights await at the Craft Lounge, where guests can recharge with delicious teas and desserts. They also offer the hotel's signature dishes like the 100-Year Old Curry, whose recipes have been passed down for generations.

Opening hours: 9:30 am - 5 pm

Bar Dacite

Boasting a selection of over 200 malt whiskies, Bar Dacite provides a sanctuary for adults where they can hang back and relax while enjoying the company of friends and the soothing melodies of jazz music.

Opening hours: 5 pm - 10:30 pm

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

For over a century, Nikko and its surrounding mountains and forests have been a paradise that attracts travelers from all over the world. From beautiful woodlands hiding rivers and waterfalls, to breathtaking mountains and lakes that inspire poetry to paintings, you're certain to have a full itinerary for your trip here.

For lovers of the outdoors, be sure to visit Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai. Both are scenic and sacred locations, beloved by natives and foreigners for their incredible natural beauty. Cruise boats are even available for bookings at the lake, letting travelers take in the sights while refreshing their bodies with crisp mountain air. Also found around the area are the Waterfalls of Okunikko, three picturesque cascades hidden away amidst the gorges and woodlands of the mountains.

Those looking for cultural immersion can instead visit the various temples and shrines of Nikko. Most famous are those listed in the Shrines and Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage. Of these, the grandest is Nikko Toshogu where the Great Unifier and first Edo Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu has been enshrined and made a divinity. There are also historic structures open to the public, such as the Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa, which can be accessed with an entrance fee. Not to be outdone, there's also the Kanaya Hotel History Museum, where the Kanaya family first opened as the Kanaya Cottage Inn and where esteemed guests such as Dr. Hepburn stayed.

Other Celebrations

Celebrating your anniversary or birthday amidst the natural beauty of Nikko sounds like a solid plan. To make sure everything goes smoothly, be sure to reach out to the management of Nikko Kanaya Hotel and collaborate with them. They might even have special packages and personalized services that are perfect for the celebration you have in mind.