Classic hotel
Nikko Kanaya Hotel
9.0 102
Japan’s oldest surviving resort hotel, opened in 1873, on the hill above Shinkyo Bridge and a short walk from the shrines.
from US$117 / night See rates
Where to stay in Tochigi
From Japan’s oldest resort hotel to riverside ryokan and no-fuss station hotels, grouped by destination.
Where you sleep shapes a Tochigi trip more than most. An onsen ryokan — tatami room, yukata, hot-spring baths and a multi-course dinner — is an experience in itself, and Kinugawa, Kawaji, Shiobara, Nasu and Nikko Yumoto are the places for it. Nikko town and Lake Chuzenji have the classic Western-style resort hotels. Utsunomiya and the southern cities have inexpensive, modern business hotels by the station.
The properties below were chosen for location and guest reviews on Trip.com. Scores are out of 10, and prices are indicative lowest rates per room per night.
Where to stay: Nikko
Nikko guide Hotel
Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Nikko
9.1 209
A modern international-brand hotel in Nikko, a practical base with easy bus access to the shrines and Lake Chuzenji.
from US$114 / night See rates
Hotel
Nikko Station Hotel Classic
8.9 181
A red-brick hotel directly opposite JR Nikko station, with its own hot-spring bath.
from US$80 / night See rates
Ryokan
Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa
9.5 36
A small, high-end ryokan in the woods near the shrine area, with open-air baths.
from US$475 / night See rates
Ryokan
Nikko Hoshino Yado
9.2 65
A traditional ryokan close to Shinkyo Bridge, with garden views and hot-spring baths.
from US$176 / night See rates
Where to stay: Oku-Nikko
Oku-Nikko guide Luxury
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko
9.6 76
Lakefront luxury on Lake Chuzenji with its own onsen — the most exclusive address in Oku-Nikko.
from US$809 / night See rates
Classic hotel
Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel
9.2 66
A lodge-style classic among the trees on Lake Chuzenji’s shore, sister to the Nikko Kanaya Hotel.
from US$120 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
Kamenoi Hotel Okunikko
8.4 121
A hot-spring hotel at Yumoto Onsen with milky sulphur baths, at the far end of Oku-Nikko.
from US$114 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
Okunikko Kogen Hotel
8.6 110
A highland onsen hotel at Yumoto, convenient for Lake Yunoko and the Senjogahara trail.
from US$181 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
Hotel Shikisai
8.8 63
An onsen ryokan in the forest above Lake Chuzenji with open-air baths.
from US$99 / night See rates
Where to stay: Kinugawa & Kawaji Onsen
Kinugawa & Kawaji Onsen guide Onsen hotel
Kinugawa Onsen Asaya
9.2 154
A long-established Kinugawa landmark with a large rooftop open-air bath over the gorge.
from US$191 / night See rates
Luxury
Kanaya Hotel Kinugawa
9.2 56
An elegant riverside ryokan-hotel in the Kanaya tradition, with gorge-view rooms.
from US$582 / night See rates
Ryokan
Hoshino Resorts KAI Kinugawa
8.8 92
A boutique onsen ryokan on a hillside, decorated with local Mashiko pottery and crafts.
from US$372 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yume no Toki
9.1 121
A large hot-spring hotel near Kinugawa-Onsen station with several baths.
from US$260 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
TAOYA Kawaji
8.6 21
A hot-spring hotel on the river at quiet Kawaji Onsen, upstream from Kinugawa.
from US$110 / night See rates
Ryokan
Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu
9.3 363
A historic ryokan at remote Yunishigawa Onsen, known for hearth-side dinners.
from US$274 / night See rates
Where to stay: Nasu Highlands
Nasu Highlands guide Resort
Hotel Epinard Nasu
8.6 68
A large resort hotel on the Nasu plateau with hot-spring baths, pools and family facilities.
from US$120 / night See rates
Ryokan
Nasu Onsen Sanraku
9.2 91
A refined onsen ryokan high in Nasu, close to Nasu Yumoto, with open-air baths.
from US$350 / night See rates
Resort
Hotel Sunvalley Nasu
7.6 33
A sprawling hot-spring resort with multiple bathhouses, popular with families.
from US$158 / night See rates
Resort
Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
8.6 88
A resort hotel on the Nasu plateau with hot-spring baths and spacious rooms.
from US$81 / night See rates
Resort
Hotel Mori No Kaze Nasu
9.0 24
A forest-set resort hotel in Nasu with hot-spring baths.
from US$123 / night See rates
Where to stay: Shiobara Onsen
Shiobara Onsen guide Onsen hotel
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Hotel New Shiobara
7.2 62
A large, good-value onsen hotel in the Shiobara valley with buffet meals.
from US$95 / night See rates
Ryokan
Myogaya Honkan
6.4 68
An old riverside inn known for its open-air baths down by the Hoki River.
from US$103 / night See rates
Onsen hotel
TAOYA Nasu Shiobara
8.3 57
An onsen hotel in the Shiobara valley with buffet dining and hot-spring baths.
from US$124 / night See rates
Ryokan
Shionoyu Onsen Rengetsu
9.4 64
A small, highly rated ryokan at Shionoyu, in a secluded side valley of Shiobara.
from US$266 / night See rates
Where to stay: Utsunomiya
Utsunomiya guide Hotel
Candeo Hotels Utsunomiya
9.3 330
A stylish newer hotel near JR Utsunomiya station with a rooftop sky spa.
from US$64 / night See rates
City hotel
Richmond Hotel Utsunomiya Ekimae
9.4 79
A dependable business hotel a short walk from JR Utsunomiya station.
from US$41 / night See rates
Hotel
Utsunomiya Tobu Hotel Grande
8.6 192
A full-service hotel downtown, near Tobu Utsunomiya station and the shrine.
from US$32 / night See rates
Hotel
The Knot Utsunomiya
9.2 144
A design-led newer hotel in Utsunomiya with good guest reviews.
from US$47 / night See rates
City hotel
Four Points Flex by Sheraton Utsunomiya
8.6 173
A simple, modern international-brand hotel at budget rates.
from US$35 / night See rates
Where to stay: Mashiko
Mashiko guide Resort
Mashikokan Satoyama Resort Hotel
7.8 243
The one larger hotel in Mashiko, on the edge of town among the hills.
from US$43 / night See rates
Where to stay: Moka & Motegi
Moka & Motegi guide Hotel
Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi
9.1 27
A roadside-station hotel in Motegi town, well placed for the circuit and the Moka Railway.
from US$80 / night See rates
Resort
Mobility Resort Motegi Hotel
8.8 3
The hotel inside Mobility Resort Motegi, steps from the circuit and Honda Collection Hall.
from US$83 / night See rates
City hotel
Hotel Route-Inn Moka
7.9 52
A chain business hotel in Moka, convenient for the steam train and strawberry farms.
from US$53 / night See rates
City hotel
Hotel R9 The Yard Moka Aramachi
8.5 13
Compact container-style rooms in Moka at budget prices.
from US$30 / night See rates
Where to stay: Ashikaga
Ashikaga guide City hotel
Hotel Route-Inn Ashikaga Ekimae
8.8 70
A business hotel in front of JR Ashikaga station, walkable to Ashikaga Gakko.
from US$44 / night See rates
City hotel
New Miyako Hotel Ashikaga
8.8 18
A straightforward city hotel near Tobu’s Ashikagashi station.
from US$41 / night See rates
City hotel
Toyoko Inn Ashikaga-eki Kita-guchi
8.9 46
A reliable budget chain hotel by the north exit of JR Ashikaga station.
from US$40 / night See rates
Where to stay: Tochigi City
Tochigi City guide City hotel
Hotel Sunroute Tochigi
7.8 118
A business hotel in Tochigi City, convenient for the storehouse district.
from US$36 / night See rates
Hotel
Tochigi Grand Hotel
7.2 12
A long-standing city hotel in the centre of Tochigi City.
from US$38 / night See rates
City hotel
Business & Activity Chanvre
8.8 27
A small, well-reviewed budget hotel in Tochigi City.
from US$39 / night See rates
Where to stay: Sano
Sano guide City hotel
Candeo Hotels Sano
8.8 59
A business hotel with a top-floor bath, near the expressway and Sano Premium Outlets.
from US$50 / night See rates
City hotel
Hotel Route-Inn Sanofujioka Inter
8.0 47
A chain business hotel by the Sano-Fujioka interchange, handy for drivers and the outlets.
from US$40 / night See rates
City hotel
Super Hotel Sano Fujioka
8.8 35
A budget chain hotel near the interchange and outlets.
from US$40 / night See rates
City hotel
Hotel Select Inn Sano-Ekimae
7.1 69
A simple low-cost hotel in front of Sano station.
from US$24 / night See rates
Choosing a base
- First visit, 1–2 nights: Nikko town, within walking or short bus distance of the shrines.
- Scenery and hiking: Lake Chuzenji or Yumoto Onsen in Oku-Nikko.
- Classic onsen night: Kinugawa or Kawaji; Shiobara for somewhere quieter.
- Families and resort stays: Nasu highlands.
- Budget and rail connections: Utsunomiya.
Booking tips
- Ryokan rates are usually quoted per person including dinner and breakfast; hotel rates are per room. Compare like with like.
- Book autumn weekends (October to mid-November), Golden Week and New Year well ahead.
- Ryokan dinners are served early, often from 18:00. Tell the inn if you will arrive after 17:00.
- Tell the property about dietary needs when booking — kaiseki menus are set.
- Many ryokan run a shuttle from the nearest station; ask for the times.
Accommodation links go to Trip.com. Guest scores and prices were checked in October 2026 and change constantly; always confirm details on the booking page.
Plan your trip
Shrines, waterfalls and hot springs, two hours from Tokyo
Nikko’s World Heritage shrines, Lake Chuzenji, Ashikaga’s wisteria and the Nasu highlands are all an easy trip from the capital. Compare tours and tickets and book in a couple of taps.