The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

The location is stunning, right on the shores of Lake Chuzenji, and very close to Kegon Falls. The hotel features an extensive use of wood, stone, and traditional Japanese elements. Rather than the urban luxury found at the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, it offers a quiet, understated, and high-end ryokan feel. The rooms are also quite spacious, and the lake view rooms are definitely worth choosing.

The cleanliness, environment, and hardware all live up to the hotel's tier, and the attentive service starts right from the shuttle bus. The hot spring has a unique scent, but it's still worth experiencing. The room hardware is quite new and modern. The view heavily depends on the weather, so whether it's worth paying extra for a room with a view is a matter of personal opinion. I tried both the complimentary and paid activities, and they were great. The twice-daily housekeeping is definitely top-notch. The staff's English proficiency is acceptable. The main drawbacks are the inefficiency in some processes—waiting quite a while for check-in, check-out, and modifying dining reservations—and the food quality, which falls far short of Fufu and, in my opinion, doesn't even match Hoshinoya KAI. Don't set your expectations too high for the dining.

This is truly a bucket-list hotel. The only downside is that the road leading to the hotel is a bit winding, but it is definitely worth a visit. The unique open-air hot spring is especially a must-try. It's the kind of place you'll want to return to again and again.

There was a minor hiccup with the activity experience, but everything was sorted out in the end. Overall, it was still a great stay! Also the food was yummy and most of the staff were nice

I felt completely refreshed in this extraordinary space! The meals were stunning in presentation and delicious in taste. I was extremely satisfied!

The hotel is truly flawless. From the service and environment to the hot spring facilities, everything consistently delivers the high standards of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko! We communicated via email about a few things prior to our arrival, and to my surprise, they were all resolved by check-in day. Since this trip was mainly to celebrate my sister's birthday, the staff still remembered it upon both check-in and check-out! Thank you so much—a truly wonderful choice!

The location alone makes the stay unforgettable!

The breakfast was delicious, the room was clean, and the hot spring was great. The service was really good. The only downside is that the location is a bit far. Everything else was perfect.