This is a good hotel and well worth a stay. We stayed 3 nights at the Kanaya Hotel in late April 2005. I must admit, at first I was bitterly disappointed with my room. The hotel presents beautifully on their web site and the price of the rooms suggested this would be luxurious. There are several grades of room and as budget travellers (not backpackers) we chose grade F, the second lowest, but pricey enough (especially on weekends). Our room was in the main building – although clean it had seen better days and did not remotely match the photos on the web site. By day two we had accepted that this was an old, creaky, faded gem of a place, and it became a highlight of our trip to Japan. I’m sure the higher grade rooms, especially in the annex, are wonderful.

POSITIVES
Nice friendly staff.
World Heritage shrines across the road.
The view through the big library windows from the comfy leather lounges.
Exploring the maze of halls and staircases.
The hotel’s history and display of old photos.
Discovering the neglected swimming pools brimming with tadpoles (it was the end of winter - I wish I’d been around for the croaking season)
Free hotel shuttle bus to their sister hotel on the shores of Lake Chuzenji and a walk around the lake.


NEGATIVES
Very expensive restaurant.
A long hike up the hill from the station.
The room price vs what you get.