Local Guide ~ Keisuke Watanabe, MICHIKUSA Guide ~ Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Keisuke Watanabe

Nikko Attraction Explorers

She is interested in Japanese culture and the charms of the local area, and she is constantly searching for the charms of Nikko and communicating them through her inn blog and other means. At Hoshino Resorts KAI Kinugawa, she is a member of the service professional team and is involved in many areas of hospitality, not only in charm but also in personal appearance.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Kinugawa: It takes about 2 hours from Tokyo. A hot-spring hotel where Tochigi folk art shines through the trees. All rooms are modernly decorated with Mashiko pottery, Kurobane indigo dyeing, and other Tochigi folk art. 20 of the rooms have outdoor hot springs.

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Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend (places, experiences, food) in the Nikko and Kinugawa area?: Ryuoukyo. Located halfway between KAI Kinugawa and KAI Kawaji, Ryuohkyo allows you to fully enjoy the great nature of Kinugawa.
For dinner at KAI Kinugawa, we have prepared a Ryujin nabe that expresses the rugged appearance of Ryuohkyo. Please enjoy it.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: Have you ever heard of Nikko's specialty, "Aged Yuba Manju"?
It is a popular product sold at Saekaeya in front of Tobu Nikko Station, and they sell an average of about 1,000 units a day. Of course, there is a long line during the daytime, but it is recommended to go right after the store opens around 9:30 a.m., when the store is relatively empty.
If you visit Nikko, be sure to try their deep-fried yuba manju.

Where did you travel to last year and with whom?: I made a tour of Hoshino Resorts with my colleagues. Last year we went to HOSHINOYA Tokyo, KAI Tsugaru, KAI Kawaji, KAI Enshu, and KAI Anjin. I know this is a bit forward, but it was a meaningful and enjoyable stay where we could experience the local food and culture.

What do you do on your days off?: I will drive around Tochigi prefecture. There are many attractive cities such as Utsunomiya, the "city of dumplings," Tochigi, the "city of warehouses," and Mashiko, the "city of ceramics.
The Kurobane indigo dyeing workshop at a navy blue shop in Otawara was a very valuable experience.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: Camera. My hobby is to take pictures of people, food, nature, and other things I encounter on my travels. When I return from a trip, I show the photos I took to my colleagues and brag about the memories of my trip.