Cuisine Inn for Five Groups a Day - Nara Kasuga Okuyama Tsukihitei

An Accommodation nestled in the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, about a 10-minute walk from Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This is an even older Accommodation than Nara Hotel, originally established as a venue to host the Governor of Nara Prefecture. I had a wonderful stay at this Accommodation. The building shows its age, but everything—from the floors to the private hinoki bath—was beautifully polished, whether waxed or wiped with rice bran, and it felt spotless and very pleasant. You can really see the steady care and effort of the staff. The highlight is the food. Every dish had an elegant, gentle flavor, and the pacing was calm and unhurried. The simmered dishes in particular were outstanding—I was truly impressed by their depth of flavor. We often hear about Kyoto kaiseki; perhaps this could be called Nara kaiseki. All staff members were attentive without being intrusive, thoughtful about small details, and consistently pleasant. Their teamwork also seemed excellent. A deer even greeted us near the entrance. If you don’t require full barrier-free access or a Room that looks brand-new above all else, this is an Accommodation I highly recommend.

The greenery from the Room was beautiful.On the way to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, seeing the river and small waterfalls was refreshing.The meals were just the right portion, and we enjoyed them along with the tableware.The bath temperature was perfect, and the scent of wood was soothing.Thanks to the thoughtful staff, we had a wonderful stay.We think it would be even more lovely during the autumn foliage season.Thank you very much.