Nikko, Tochigi Pref. –
Nestled in the hills of Tochigi Prefecture, the Nikko Kanaya Hotel is the oldest Western resort hotel built in Japan. It is beloved by Meiji era (1868-1912) connoisseurs for its groundbreaking role in the history of Japan’s hospitality industry. Last year marked the hotel’s 150th anniversary, and in 2005 it was designated a tangible cultural heritage. The building is a remarkable example of the art and architecture of the era.
It all began in 1873, when the Kanaya family converted their home into an inn. Twenty years later, the family built a large hotel on a 5.6-hectare site, under the leadership of patriarch Zenichiro Kanaya (1852-1923).
