Day 3 of Winter Travel in Nikko ~Nikko Kanaya Hotel, Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art, and Matsuyashiki~
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My next destination was “Matsuyashiki.”

On the way there, I saw some breathtaking scenery.

I was travelling along a not-very-busy road, so sometimes there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground.

I then arrived at Matsuyashiki.
Matsuyashiki is a private villa and garden, originally made by Shin-ichi Kanaya, the second-generation owner of Kanaya Hotel, for medical treatment of his ill second daughter. Currently, only the garden is open for a limited time.
The massive Japanese-style garden spans 10,000 tsubo (approximately 33,058 m²), and it is home to ponds and over 150 red pine trees.

The facility’s official website did not have any opening hours posted, so I contacted them directly to ask. Apparently it is typically not open during the winter, but they very generously made an exception for me and allowed me to stop by.

Below you can see Nikko Elementary School.

In the past this area was used to generate power for Kanaya Hotel.

It looks like you could enjoy the autumn leaves here at the appropriate time of year, and Matsuyashiki isn’t featured in guidebooks and the like too often, so maybe this counts as a well-kept-secret area? If you’re interested in visiting, please see their official website.