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 Kirifuri Kogen, Nikko. Rooms come in three types - Western-style, Japanese-style tatami and Japanese-Western combination - and in the pension's published information the owner couple explain that they keep the whole building thoroughly clean, so it is fine even for babies who are crawling. It is 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, which also makes for 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 finished in white tile. For both, you take a time slot on the booking board at check-in, and the bath is then yours alone for that room. Both bathrooms are equipped with a bath chair, baby soap, baby shampoo and bath toys, and the changing room has a portable bassinet for changing your child. The official Q&A states that there is enough space to bathe together as a family and that babies can use the open-air bath too. In the green season the open-air bath's windows are left wide open, while in the cold season they are closed, so in winter an earlier time before dinner is recommended.

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

Dinner is a handmade European-style course by the owner-chef, built around local ingredients. For children there are kids' meals (a guide of ages 4 to 5), toddler meals (a guide of ages 2 to 3) and baby food (early, mid, late and finishing stages). Baby food is 550 yen for the early through late stages and 770 yen for the finishing stage, tax included and requiring advance reservation, and none of it uses egg. For allergies, the kitchen prepares dishes with ingredients such as egg, dairy or soy removed, and the official Q&A states that if a request cannot be fully accommodated, you may bring your own pre-cooked 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 the kids' room, the picture book room and the 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 next to it the 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, that makes five spaces in all, laid out so that guests can take their time at a distance from other guests. The rest room has a refrigerator and a microwave, which is handy for preparing baby formula.

Baby equipment and services

A formula-preparation pot and bottle-washing detergent and brush are provided. The baby-bottle sterilizing service is available until 10 p.m. at night and from 7 a.m. in the morning. A humidifier is available to borrow as well. 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 about 5 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station (shuttle pickup from 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 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. The entire building is non-smoking, with a smoking corner near the entrance. The children's futon option comes with futon bedding but no meals, and infants are eligible for it as well.