June 29, 2020: Despite a pandemic that crippled the world, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is on target to be opened on July 15, 2020, as the fifth Ritz-Carlton property in Japan. Located within Nikko National Park, the 94-room luxury resort will welcome guests to open, airy spaces with magnificent views of Lake Chuzenji and the sacred slopes of Mount Nantai, a mountain worshipped since ancient times.
Located in the northern part of Japan’s Kanto region just two and a half hours north of Tokyo, Nikko is a popular destination renowned for natural and cultural jewels such as the 97-meter cascade of Kegon Falls, and the splendid Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples set in a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Regarded as hallowed ground for devotees of Japanese mountain worship ever since the Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin climbed Mount Nantai in 782, scenic Nikko has over the centuries been a haven of the Japanese court, the imperial family, and travelers both domestic and international. Its richly decorated shrines and temples were named a UNESCO World heritage site for their cultural, religious, and architectural significance. The magnificent appearance of these sanctuaries has been maintained and preserved by a long line of master craftsmen who continue to use early 17th-century lacquering and gilding techniques to this day.
The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko welcomes guests with exceptional design and services that will deepen their experience of Japan and its culture. The 94 guestrooms and suites start at a generous 57 square meters in size and include 9 Luxury Suites as well as the 277-square-meter Ritz-Carlton Suite. Each residence has a private balcony and a semi-outdoor lounge area inspired by the engawa veranda of traditional Japanese architecture, inviting guests to take in the beauty of the national park.
Executive chef Shingo Hayasaka, a native of Hokkaido, transforms the freshest local fare into stellar creations at two restaurants serving Japanese and Italian-inspired western cuisine. Local ingredients also find their way into the original cocktails offered at the hotel’s chic bar. Lakeside terrace seating allows staying guests and visitors to picnic with takeaway items.
Complete with luxurious open-air and indoor hot-spring baths for men and women that draw on the sought-after sulfuric waters of nearby Yumoto Onsen, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is the first Ritz-Carlton to offer an authentic Japanese hot-spring experience in addition to a full-service contemporary spa. Guests may also relax within the library lounge, or rejuvenate in the 24-hour fitness studio. Nearby hiking trails lure outdoor lovers from spring to autumn, while the winter scenery can be enjoyed all the more from the steamy comfort of the resort’s hot-spring baths.
