Autumn Leaves at Ritz-Carlton Nikko

Review of the Ritz-Carlton Nikko during the autumn foliage season. The hotel is located at Lake Chuzenji and is perfect for special occasions and viewing the autumn leaves in Nikko. The hotel opened not long ago, in mid-2020. I stayed in a room with a view of Mount Nantai, which was 57 square meters. The room was spacious and convenient, with a bathtub, walk-in closet, and a balcony in every room. The view from the balcony during the autumn foliage was very beautiful. There are 2 restaurants: The Japanese Restaurant, which serves Japanese cuisine, and Lakehouse, which serves Western food. There is also a bar in the Lobby. This time I had a kaiseki dinner, which is pricier than lunch, but lunch reservations are harder to get. It's more convenient to book whatever you want to eat in advance. Breakfast is a set (quite grand, took almost an hour for breakfast) and there is a small buffet line with milk, pudding, etc., from Tochigi Prefecture, which is delicious. The service is excellent. The staff are very attentive and seem to offer what you might want before you even ask for it. The location is very convenient once you arrive. In front of the hotel is Lake Chuzenji, and just a short walk behind the hotel is Kegon Fall. The hotel provides a map showing where you can walk nearby. During the high season, it's definitely full (it was full when I came, even though it was past the peak season). It's better to plan ahead. The hotel has an onsen, spa, gym, but no swimming pool. There are plenty of activities for each season. Normally there is boating, paddleboarding, bike rentals, or temple visits. In winter, there is also mountain climbing. For transportation, the hotel has its own bus stop named The Ritz-Carlton Nikko, stop number 25 (but taking a taxi is much more convenient).