In 1873, when visiting American missionary JC Hepburn couldn't find a place to stay the night, musician Z Kanaya invited him into his home. Hepburn was touched by the excellent hospitality he received, and encouraged his host to convert his samurai residence (built in 1640) to welcome Westerners. It became Nikko's first hotel, under the name Kanaya Cottage Inn. The two-storey wooden building has refined architecture and decoration, and external passageways surrounding a beautiful garden.