Pension Troll's Forest

A small pension in Kirifuri Kogen that welcomes babies and toddlers

A 6-room pension at an elevation of about 800 m in Nikko's Kirifuri Kogen. Rooms come in three types - Western-style, Japanese-style tatami, and Japanese-Western combination - and the owner couple explain in the pension's published information that they keep the whole building thoroughly clean so it's fine even for babies who are crawling. It's about 5 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station (shuttle available by reservation, with pickup between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.), and about 10 minutes by car from Nikko IC toward Kirifuri Kogen, giving good access to World Heritage shrines and temples such as Nikko Toshogu.

An open-air bath with a wood deck and an indoor bath, both private-hire by room

There are two baths: an open-air bath with a wood deck, and an indoor bath with white tile. Both are reserved by taking a time slot on the booking board at check-in, and each booking is a private-hire use for that room only. Both bathrooms are equipped with a bath chair, baby soap, baby shampoo, and bath toys, and the changing room has a baby carrier basket for changing infants. The official Q&A also states, "There is enough space to bathe together as a family, and babies can use the open-air bath too." In the green season the open-air bath's windows are left open, but in the cold season they are closed, so in winter an earlier time before dinner is recommended.

Baby food for early, mid, late and finishing stages, with allergy accommodation

Dinner is a handmade European-style course by the owner-chef, using local ingredients. For children, the pension offers kids' meals (for around ages 4-5), toddler meals (for around ages 2-3), and baby food (early, mid, late, and finishing stages). Baby food is 550 yen for the early, mid, and late stages and 770 yen for the finishing stage (tax included, advance reservation required), and none of it uses egg. Allergy accommodation covers removing allergens such as egg, dairy or soy from dishes, and the official Q&A states that if a request can't be fully accommodated, guests may bring their own pre-cooked allergy-friendly meal. The dining room also keeps baby racks and baby chairs sized to the child's age, along with children's chairs, tableware and spoons.

Five relaxing spaces, including a kids' room, a picture book room and a rest room

The pension has two kids' spaces: a play room stocked with wooden toys such as Swiss Naef building blocks and a Swedish-made kitchen set, and a "picture book room" lined with about 400 picture books and children's books hand-picked by the owner's wife. Together with a sofa lounge, a counter lounge and a rest room, this makes five spaces in total, laid out so guests can relax at a distance from other guests. The rest room has a refrigerator and a microwave, which is also handy for preparing baby formula.

Baby equipment and services

A formula-preparation pot and bottle-washing detergent and brush are provided. A baby-bottle sterilizing service is available until 10 p.m. at night and again from 7 a.m. in the morning. A humidifier is also available for rental. There is a small backup stock of disposable diapers, but they are relatively expensive, so bringing your own is recommended. There is a drugstore near Nikko IC.

Access and parking

About 4 km and 5 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station (shuttle pickup 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., reservation required). About 10 minutes by car from Nikko IC toward Kirifuri Kogen. Parking is free for 7 cars. Check-in is 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., checkout is 10 a.m. The entire building is non-smoking (a smoking corner is available near the entrance). The children's futon plan does not include meals but does include futon bedding, and infants are eligible as well.