Around Shiomakuyama Ancient Tomb × Flower-Viewing AccommodationHighly rated for rooms and amenities at Hotel·Ryokan

We planned a three-night trip to Nara. The first two nights were at a Hotel near Nara Station, so for the final night we chose this place a little farther out—especially because it offered the rare experience of staying in a soy sauce brewery. It far exceeded our expectations. Right after arriving, we joined the soy sauce pressing experience and were immediately captivated by the owner’s talk. I was truly impressed by the story of how he revived soy sauce making from scratch after his grandfather had been forced to stop after the war. Dinner dishes made with this deeply meaningful soy sauce highlighted mostly home-grown vegetables and let each ingredient shine—everything was exceptional. Even dessert (I think it was crème brûlée?) used soy sauce, and it was genuinely delicious. The Hatsuse Room was also a comfortable, calming space where we could rest well. Not having a TV was actually great. The wooden bath was wonderful too. Breakfast—rice with raw egg, an egg with a white yolk (?), and fresh fried tofu with soy sauce—was simple but the best kind of feast. The staff kindly answered even my husband’s rather unreasonable (laughing) questions, and I admired their sincere hospitality. Visiting in midsummer was lovely, but next time I’d like to return to this Accommodation in another season.

I stayed for one night. The Hotel and the Room were very clean, with thorough cleaning down to every detail, so I was able to spend my time comfortably. The Room was also spacious and very easy to relax in! All of the staff were warm and courteous, and I was very satisfied. The meals were delicious, and I could take my time enjoying them while chatting with friends. Thank you as well for accommodating ingredients I’m not comfortable with. Overall, it was a wonderful Hotel where I felt at ease and truly refreshed both physically and mentally. I would definitely like to stay here again when I visit Nara.

Very convenient, right in front of Sakurai Station. We stayed here to visit Hasedera Temple and Abe Monju-in on our way back from Osaka. We also planned to go to Horyu-ji afterward, so we used Sakurai Station, which is served by both Kintetsu and JR. The Room was more spacious than expected and very practical. The large public bath was also very clean. If I had one request, I would have liked mineral water in the Room.

This was our first trip as a couple, and we made a Reservation to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Since we’re not very experienced travelers, we were nervous at first, but the Ryokan staff were so kind and friendly that our worries quickly disappeared. I’m not usually comfortable with open-air baths, but I worked up the courage to try—and it was truly relaxing and soothing. The changing area was clean and easy to use as well. And the meals we had been looking forward to exceeded all expectations—I was genuinely satisfied from the bottom of my heart! Everything was delicious. There was venison tataki, which I wasn’t sure about at first, but it had no strong taste at all and was truly wonderful. Our attendant explained each dish carefully, which helped us appreciate the ingredients even more—thank you so much. What made us even happier was that they took photos for our anniversary and gave them to us as a gift when we left. The handwritten letter from the proprietress also deeply moved me. This is the first time my heart has felt this full—just like my stomach! We are filled with gratitude for everyone’s thoughtfulness, kindness, and warm support. We will definitely come back again! Thank you very much for everything.

All the staff are so kind! The Ishibutai Tumulus is very close by, and if you walk a little further there are more ancient burial mounds—it's amazing! The Room is even nicer than in the photos. 　The Asuka scenery is beautiful, and you can also see Mt. Nijo. Relaxing in the hammock on the balcony was wonderful! 　The BALMUDA kettle and the coffee packs were delicious! There were lots of tasteful books in the stairwell area, and I really enjoyed them. The manga “Tenjo no Niji” was so interesting—I want to read more! 　Breakfast was great too—the white rice was glossy and delicious! Maybe because there are only five rooms, it’s quiet in the morning and you can eat at a relaxed pace. 　They also store your luggage after checkout! When I mentioned we were going for a walk to Asukadera Temple and Iruka’s Kubizuka, they gave us frozen Aquarius sports drink and Ramune candies to help prevent heatstroke. So grateful!

We would be happy to stay here again next time.

I am writing only about the service. At check-in, there were two staff members at the front desk and one was available. I gave my name and said I was checking in, but a male staff member told me to “wait on that sofa, as we are guiding guests in order,” so I waited. It did look busy, but even after no one was at the front desk, no one came to assist me. When I asked a passing staff member whether it was still okay to keep waiting as instructed, a female staff member apologized sincerely and guided me right away. Her manner was very polite, which made me wonder why I had been told to wait in the first place. After entering the Room, when I tried to have tea, the teacup was slightly dirty (which could be washed), but when I emptied the teapot there was leftover tea still inside. When I called about it, the same female staff member came immediately and apologized profusely. She seemed so apologetic that it almost made me feel bad for her—so I couldn’t help thinking this should have been taken care of beforehand. The female staff member who served us at dinner and breakfast was perfect. In particular at breakfast she even showed us around the VIP room we were interested in, which truly impressed us. However, at checkout: I was told that in addition to drinks from dinner there would also be charges for souvenirs. Since we had not purchased any souvenirs, I asked to see an itemized statement. They said they had apparently added another guest’s charges by mistake; after removing those items they processed payment by card. In general, an itemized statement should be shown and confirmed before payment is taken—it is not normal for this to be handled only verbally. Especially since this became a minor dispute where I had to request proof of details first, it should have been presented immediately. Moreover, after payment they handed me only the card slip. Only after I requested it did they give me something like an itemized Receipt as well; normally customers should receive not only the card slip but also an itemized statement—especially when there has been a billing error like this. Because they handled all of this so casually, it felt pointless to continue arguing and I gave up requesting issuance of a Receipt. I am reporting this because there were both excellent aspects of service and aspects that were more than simply disappointing mixed together. I hope improvements will be made.

While breathing in the fresh air of Asuka, I truly enjoyed the attentive hospitality that was present without being intrusive. Dinner at Da terra was also a wonderful meal that delighted both body and mind. There was nothing to complain about, but if I had to mention something, it would be breakfast. I’m not sure instant noodles are the best choice. Also, the one-size-fits-all sleepwear was a bit small... Just minor details.

Our family of five stayed here and enjoyed the spaciousness of having the entire property to ourselves. There were two sets of bunk beds, designed like a secret hideout, which made our children very happy. The owner was kind and friendly, making us want to stay here again in the future.

This was my first time visiting Yoshino. The cherry blossoms had not yet started to bloom, but we were shown to a Room with a wonderful view of the Ryokan’s courtyard. I can imagine how spectacular it must be when the blossoms are in full bloom. The meals (dinner and breakfast) were very delicious. The Onsen was just right, and I could enjoy it as many times as I liked without feeling unwell from the hot water.

As I prefer sleeping on a futon in a Japanese-style room, I was able to relax and sleep very comfortably. I went hiking the next day, so it really helped that I could get a good rest. The bath, toilet, and washbasin were clean and felt just like home, which was great. I would love to stay here again.

Judging from the exterior photos of the building, I honestly didn’t have high expectations, but I was truly impressed by the attentive service. The view of Tanzan Shrine from the Room was as beautiful as a postcard. On the day of my stay, I was told there would be an illumination at Tanzan Shrine, and I was moved to see the fantastical buildings and cherry blossoms. When I mentioned that I would go for an early-morning walk, they kindly prepared shoes for me even though it was 6:00 a.m., and they were waiting for me when I returned. At breakfast, while enjoying ozoni served with local kinako, I also heard various stories about the area from the staff. After attending morning worship at Tanzan Shrine and strolling around the grounds for a while before returning to the Hotel, they even drove me in their Shuttle Service despite how close the parking lot was. The building does show its history in places, but it’s clear that careful attention has been paid to details such as renovated bathrooms, toilets, and windows. The cleaning is also extremely thorough. It was a wonderful Accommodation.

Stayed with the One-Night Stay with Breakfast Plan. The bath in the Room was unexpectedly spacious and allowed me to enjoy the view while relaxing, which was very satisfying. I would love to visit again during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season. The breakfast was also satisfying in both content and taste.