Side Trips from Tokyo - Tokyo - page 280

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I prefer the older, simpler rooms because they have more character; some have antiques
and claw-foot tubs. The best (and priciest) room in the house is the corner room in the
72-year-old wing where the emperor once stayed.
1300 Kami-Hatsuishi, Nikko City, Tochigi 321-1401. & 0288/54-0001. Fax [phone]. www.kanaya-
hotel.co.jp. 70 units. ¥15,015-¥46,200 single; ¥17,325-¥51,970 double. ¥3,465-¥4,620 extra on Fri, Sat,
and eve before national holidays; ¥5,775 extra in peak season. AE, DC, MC, V. Bus: From Nikko Tobu Sta-
tion to the Shinkyo stop, a 5-min. ride. On foot: 20 min. from Nikko Tobu Station (on foot: 20 min.).
Amenities: 3 restaurants, including the Main Dining Hall; bar; small outdoor heated pool (summer only);
outdoor skating rink (in winter). In room: A/C, TV, minibar.
Inexpensive
Annex Turtle Hotori-An Owned by the super-friendly family that runs
Turtle Inn (see below), this is one of my favorite places to stay in Nikko. One dip in the
hot-spring bath overlooking the Daiyagawa River (which you can lock for privacy) will
tell you why; at night, you're lulled to sleep by the sound of the rushing waters. A simple
but spotless modern structure (all nonsmoking), it's located in a nice rural setting on a
quiet street with a few other houses; an adjoining park and playground provide plenty of
space for kids to play. All its rooms except one are Japanese style. A plentiful Western-
style breakfast costs ¥1,050 in the pleasant living area/dining room. For dinner, you can
go to the nearby Turtle Inn (not available Sun, Tues, or Thurs; reservations should be
made the day before), or buy a pizza from the freezer and microwave it yourself. There's
also a communal refrigerator where you can store food.
8-28 Takumi-cho, Nikko City, Tochigi 321-1433. & 0288/53-3663. Fax [phone]. www.turtle-nikko.
com. 11 units. ¥6,500 single; ¥12,400 double. ¥300 extra per person in peak season. Hot-spring tax ¥150
extra. Special rates for children. Winter discount available. AE, MC, V. Bus: From Nikko Station to the Sogo
Kaikan-mae stop, a 7-min. ride; then a 9-min. walk. Amenities: Hot-spring baths; computer w/free Inter-
net access at Turtle Inn. In room: A/C, TV.

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Turtle Inn This excellent, nonsmoking pension, a Japanese Inn Group member, is
located within walking distance of Toshogu Shrine in a newer two-story house on a quiet
side street beside the Daiyagawa River. The friendly owner, Mr. Fukuda, speaks English
and is very helpful in planning a sightseeing itinerary. Rooms are bright and cheerful in
both Japanese and Western styles; the five tatami rooms are without a private bathroom.
Excellent Japanese dinners (served on local Mashiko pottery) are available for ¥2,100, as
are Western breakfasts for ¥1,050. Be sure to order dinner the day before, and note that
it's not available on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday.
2-16 Takumi-cho, Nikko City, Tochigi 321-1433. & 0288/53-3168. Fax [phone]. www.turtle-nikko.
com. 10 units (3 with bathroom). ¥4,800 single without bathroom, ¥5,600 single with bathroom; ¥9,000
double without bathroom, ¥10,600 double with bathroom. ¥300 extra per person in peak season. Hot-
spring tax ¥150 extra. Special rates for children. Winter discounts available. AE, MC, V. Bus: From Nikko
Station to the Sogo Kaikan-mae stop, a 7-min. ride; then a 5-min. walk. Amenities: Hot-spring baths;
computer w/free Internet access. In room: A/C, TV, no phone.

WHERE TO DINE
Expensive
Main Dining Hall at Nikko Kanaya Hotel CONTINENTAL Even if
you don't spend the night here, the Kanaya Hotel's quaint dining hall with its wood-
carved pillars is one of the best places in town for lunch. Because it's beside the Sacred
Bridge, only a 10-minute walk from Toshogu Shrine, you can easily combine it with your
sightseeing tour. I suggest Nikko's specialty: locally caught rainbow trout available