Gasthof Ami

This was my fifth stay, and I visited for three consecutive months. I love the beautiful presentation, delicious food, and the open-air bath. The Room is spacious and wonderful as well. The owner is very kind, making this an Accommodation I definitely want to return to.

We headed to Nikko even as Typhoon No. 15 was approaching in August lol. In the end, we barely got caught in the rain, and with the cooler temperatures it turned into a very comfortable trip.The day before our three-generation family trip, only my daughter and I (living far away) arrived in Nikko a day early. Since it was a last-minute decision and we had limited Hotel availability and budget, we chose Ami based on other guests’ Reviews. It was absolutely the right choice!The location is easy: one bus from Nikko Station—just take the route toward Toshogu Shrine / Lake Chuzenji. There are plenty of buses, so it’s hard to go wrong. There’s also a convenience store right by the bus stop, and it’s about a 3-minute walk—very convenient. Because this Accommodation isn’t large, it never felt crowded even when fully booked.Some people wrote that the meals were small, but for two women it was more than enough! And delicious…!! Considering you get a properly prepared course meal featuring local ingredients with an upscale touch at this price—and during the Obon holiday period—the value is almost unbelievable. At dinner you can get refills of rice; at breakfast you can have more bread; and drinks include coffee, tea, milk, and juice. While some Hotels switch to buffet service during peak seasons, having dishes served individually felt like a small luxury.As for our Room—it definitely felt like two Rooms were combined into one lol. There were two sinks/bath areas and even two doors…lol The layout is unique. But that meant we had plenty of space to organize luggage and spread out souvenirs.We used both the open-air bath and indoor bath; it isn’t an Onsen, but maybe some kind of special water? It felt silky-smooth and really nice.If I had to mention anything: maybe the pillow was worn out? It was very low lol. Also with shared baths, I found myself being extra careful—thinking someone might come in right after me—and worrying if there were any hairs or water droplets left on the floor! I’d appreciate having something like a quick floor wiper available.Overall, this is an Accommodation I highly recommend to anyone who understands what a pension-style stay is like. If you’re looking for brand-new white sheets or spotless curtains/sofas with not a single stain anywhere, then definitely choose a Hotel lol. I’d love to recommend this place to my parents too—they’re already saying they want to go back to Nikko again.