Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Kinugawa Kanko Hotel
7,8/10 Very good - Based on 366 reviews
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Kinugawa Kanko Hotel is a renovated onsen hotel on the Kinugawa river designed as a contemporary ryokan with onsen in Nikko, Tochigi. The property blends modern comfort with traditional Japanese elements: guest rooms present a calm, wood-and-tatami aesthetic with layouts that reference the surrounding mountains and river, and many rooms offer valley or river views. Public areas include a premium lounge for relaxed arrivals and post-bath refreshments, a 24-hour front desk and complimentary parking, making the property accessible for both drive-in guests and those arriving by regional transport.
Bathing facilities are a central feature, with multiple communal pools and outdoor baths arranged to evoke the nearby gorge. The bathing program includes varied thermal options — indoor large baths, open-air river-facing baths, a sauna and rock-bathing spaces — plus two bookable private baths for guests who prefer an exclusive experience, effectively offering a ryokan with private onsen option for couples or families. Spa-style amenities are distributed across the bathing floor so visitors can move between different temperatures and atmospheres, and some facilities are adapted for day-trip use as well as overnight stays.
Dining focuses on an all-you-can-eat buffet with live-cooking stations that serve seasonal and regional ingredients, complemented by lighter options in the premium lounge. The hotel’s layout and facilities cater to a broad range of travelers — families, couples and solo visitors — with child-friendly meal choices, multi-generational room styles and event spaces. Practical features such as luggage storage, elevator access and an on-site ticket/concierge desk help plan local excursions, while the combination of varied baths and dining options frames the stay as a straightforward way to experience a modern ryokan with onsen in Tochigi.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium…
Positive Reviews
Excellent buffet meals
Multiple guests praised the breakfast and dinner buffets for variety and taste, describing the food as excellent and a highlight of their stay.
Large, comfortable rooms with tatami option
Reviewers frequently mentioned spacious rooms, the option of beds or tatami areas, and overall comfortable accommodations.
Extensive, clean onsen facilities
Guests appreciated the large onsen area, multiple different baths to try (rotated by day), pleasant atmosphere, good amenities and a clean, relaxing spa experience including sauna and massage areas.
Free drinks and lounge benefits
Several reviews noted free-flow alcohol and complimentary drinks/snacks in the lobby/lounge during set hours, which guests enjoyed as added value.
Convenient location and parking for drivers
Many found the hotel conveniently located for visiting local attractions (Edo Wonderland) and easy to reach by car, with free parking provided.
Negative Reviews
Weak Wi‑Fi signal
Multiple guests reported weak or slow Wi‑Fi in rooms, insufficient for streaming and poor signal strength within guest rooms.
Thin walls / poor soundproofing
Several reviews noted that room walls are not soundproof — guests could hear conversations and noises from neighboring rooms.
Occasional cleanliness and odor issues
Some guests reported unpleasant odors or cleanliness problems in toilets and corridors (minimal ventilation in room toilets, urine smell on toilet floors, and hallway odors in a few cases).
Aging or outdated facilities
A number of reviewers described some facilities as old or in need of updates (outdated decor, dim room lighting, and occasional maintenance issues like spiders), even though they remained clean and usable.
Extra charges and room/booking discrepancies
A few guests were frustrated by unexpected fees (eg, paying for towels) or by discrepancies between booked photos/room descriptions and what they received (missing river view), and one guest mentioned a price difference when booking through the hotel versus the booking site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room types vary from single and twin to Japanese‑Western and family layouts; many rooms comfortably sleep 2–4 guests and some room types support three or more — check the specific room description when booking.
The hotel features public indoor baths, open‑air (rotenburo) baths and a sauna, with multiple bathing areas for guests to enjoy.
Private (reserveable) family baths are available at the property for guests who prefer a secluded soak; reservations and a separate fee or time slot may apply.
The hotel is within a 10–15 minute walk of Kinugawa Onsen Station and typically operates a dial‑a‑bus shuttle between the station and nearby group hotels; direct seasonal buses from Tokyo/Ueno also run at times — confirm schedules in advance.
Major airports are Narita and Haneda; travel usually involves train or airport bus to Tokyo, then transfers to Tobu lines or highway buses toward Kinugawa Onsen, with total journey times commonly around 2–3 hours depending on connections.
Japanese is the primary language, but front‑desk staff generally handle basic English; bring a translation app for detailed requests or regional explanations.
The hotel offers buffet meals (breakfast and typically dinner) in large dining areas, plus on‑site restaurant options; the buffet often includes local dishes and family‑style selections.
Immediate local sights include Kinugawa Onsen valley features and Fureai Bridge, with family attractions like Tobu World Square and Edo Wonderland a short drive away and Nikko’s shrines roughly 20–25 km from the hotel.
Standard check‑in typically begins around 15:00 (3:00 PM) and check‑out is usually by 10:00 AM; the property maintains a front desk service and you should notify the hotel in advance if you expect a late arrival.
Pets are not permitted at this property; convenience stores, small restaurants and local eateries are available within walking distance around the Kinugawa Onsen area.