가쿠엔마에역 (나라현) × 가을의 미각을 즐기는 숙소식사의 평가가 높은 호텔·료칸

I caused you a great deal of trouble, but everyone spoke to me so kindly that it truly helped me. The price is almost too low! The in-room lotion was my favorite brand, there were two sinks, and both dinner and breakfast were outstanding. It was a shame there was no view from the open-air bath, but I found myself hoping—thinking from the owner’s perspective—that your service will continue just as it is so you won’t lose guests until the construction is finished. Even without a view from the window, this is a wonderful Ryokan. Thank you very much for everything.

A trip to Nara in the heat. But staying at this wonderful Accommodation helped me recover from the fatigue. I had written a birthday message for my friend, and they even surprised us by celebrating at breakfast. All of the staff were kind. This has become one of the Accommodations I’d like to stay at again.

This was my second stay, and once again I chose the Plan with dinner and breakfast. As before, the meals were simply outstanding. With a full-course meal these days, I sometimes feel full before reaching the main dish, but here I was able to enjoy everything through dessert. There are many dishes, yet it all feels wonderfully light. Not only is the food delicious, but it also leaves you feeling comfortable afterward, allowing you to make the most of your evening—an extremely satisfying course. Breakfast was just as great as ever, and I was happy to have the freshly baked croissants again. Thank you very much.

I had dinner at the luxury auberge VILLA COMMUNICO in Nara. The location is at the foot (or maybe halfway up?) Mt. Wakakusa; it’s doable on foot, but a car is recommended. From the restaurant, Mt. Wakakusa is directly across the road, with deer here and there—an unmistakably Nara-like view. The Hotel as a whole is a renovated traditional Japanese house, creating a stylish space that still feels steeped in history. With only five rooms in total, it has a wonderfully secluded, hideaway atmosphere. Dinner starts all at once at 18:30. Guests gather in the second-floor lounge at 18:00 and relax with pre-meal tea while enjoying views of Mt. Wakakusa. When it’s time, you move down to the first floor. On entering, there’s an iconic fireplace and counter on the left. The first course is eaten standing while listening to the chef’s explanation—an unexpectedly unique experience. Cucumber, elderflower / Yamato jidori chicken, nasturtium Freshly made mozzarella, caviar Bonito, molokhia (jute mallow), okra Oyster, pine nuts, chives Japanese duck (Yamato-gamo), pumpkin, truffle Flounder, Manganji chili pepper, red-legged shrimp Sakaeya aged sirloin of culled Japanese Black wagyu Fig, blueberry, juniper berry Both the presentation and flavors were excellent. In particular, the dish combining bonito with molokhia and okra was outstanding. Courses are basically served simultaneously for everyone and paced to match slower diners overall, so dinner progresses at a leisurely speed. If you eat quickly, be aware there may be some downtime between courses.

Located just a short distance from Horyu-ji Temple, the building was new and very clean. As there were few guests on the day of our stay, we were upgraded to the West Wing. The bath was at a perfect temperature, and breakfast the next morning was delicious—this was our favorite Accommodation of the trip. On the Horyu-ji tour, the guide’s explanations were excellent, and the two hours flew by. This is an Accommodation we definitely want to visit again. It truly became a valuable and memorable journey.

It had been a while since we last gathered—this time, all our children and grandchildren came together to celebrate my wife’s and my birthdays. We chose a long-established Ryokan located at the gateway to beautiful Nara Park, just a 2-minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station—an ideal meeting point for our family coming from both the Kanto and Kansai regions. The Shosoin-inspired building we had often admired on the way to Nara Park turned out to be Kasuga Hotel. It was our first stay, and it proved to be a wonderful Accommodation that stands at the entrance to historic Nara Park. Here are a few memorable moments from our visit. With its major restoration now underway—the first in about 120 years since FY2022—Kofuku-ji Temple’s National Treasure Five-Story Pagoda will be something we look forward to enjoying again from our Room once the work is completed.

I have stayed here several times, and I am always completely satisfied. The staff are kind and provide courteous service. This time, my Room was upgraded. The meals were as luxurious as could be, and after dining I was able to fully enjoy the open-air bath in my Room. It’s nearby, so I will come again for a change of pace.

The Room had a private open-air bath, and it was wonderful. We also enjoyed the delicious drinks and snacks. The meals were generous in portion, and the Yamato beef shabu-shabu was especially excellent. The children were thrilled with the table tennis and board games as well!

Arriving drenched in sweat, I was able to take a breather right away in the lounge with the complimentary shaved ice service. It felt like the best kind of hospitality. The Room felt smaller than I expected, but everything was pleasantly well kept and I had a comfortable stay. Joining the morning walk was also worthwhile—I learned things for the first time thanks to the guide’s explanations, making it a meaningful experience. All of the staff were friendly and courteous. With Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara Park, and the station all nearby, it’s an ideal location for sightseeing, so I’d definitely like to stay here again when I visit Nara.

The hospitality is outstanding. This was my first stay, and the staff’s service was excellent! Dinner featuring creative cuisine while enjoying Nara’s night view feels truly extraordinary. The complimentary private open-air bath was also amazing.

Thank you very much for the wonderful time the other day. We had originally planned to visit with our dog, but as our dog was unable to come, we visited as a family instead. Despite issues on our side with the Reservation, your staff responded kindly and courteously—thank you very much. Even without our dog, you warmly welcomed our family stay, which made us very happy. We truly appreciate your thoughtful hospitality. We were also very satisfied with the bath and the meals, and we were able to relax and enjoy a restful stay. We would love to visit again. Thank you very much.

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.

My spouse and I stayed from Sunday to Monday. The front desk staff were pleasant, and while the baths are not brand-new, we were very satisfied with the sauna and walking pool. I also joined a löyly event in the sauna for the first time. We chose the dinner buffet, which offered a good variety of dishes, all tasty, and my wife especially enjoyed the desserts. The parking fee was reasonable, and on Monday we were able to leave our car parked while we took a walk around the nearby Heijō Palace Site. We would love to stay again if we have the chance.

We stayed at this Hotel in late June, right after two major typhoons made landfall back-to-back. There were times when the rain was quite heavy due to the storms, but we could still easily walk to Nara Park and Kofuku-ji Temple. We also hopped between cafés around Nakatanidō and Sarusawa Pond and stopped by shops—everything was truly convenient. We had a dinner Reservation at a restaurant in Higashimuki Shopping Street, and that was close by as well, which made things easy. The comfort of being able to return to the Hotel quickly whether it’s raining or hot is reason enough to make it a great base for sightseeing in Nara. It’s not a large-scale Hotel, and because the front entrance is set back due to the building layout, it doesn’t stand out much from outside. However, once you step into the lobby, it’s very clean and calm—an stylish Hotel that incorporates Japanese elements beautifully. This time we stayed as three adults in our family, so we made a Reservation for a larger Deluxe Room. Based on the listed square meter size of the Room, I didn’t expect it to feel very spacious—but perhaps thanks to smart design, it felt roomy, and even with three adults there was no stress at all. I had no complaints about the in-room amenities or Facility features. The bathroom and toilet are completely separate. With three people, one person uses a sofa bed, but the layout is excellent—I was impressed by how thoughtfully everything is arranged so guests can use limited space efficiently and comfortably. Above all else, what stood out most was how clean this Hotel is. Travel is my hobby and I stay at various Accommodations both in Japan and abroad almost every month, but it’s rare to find an Accommodation kept this spotless throughout—from water areas to every corner of the Room. Even when I used the shared restroom in the lobby area (common area), it was sparkling clean; I felt this is a highly conscientious Hotel. Not only are the facilities great—the staff also provided wonderful hospitality across the board, making our stay genuinely comfortable. There are several other Accommodations in Nara that interest me as well, but considering how good this place is in terms of location plus facilities plus service for its value for money (cost performance), I feel like we’ll end up choosing this one again next time (laugh). Just one thing: breakfast buffet felt a bit limited…in terms of both variety and content. That said, because of how convenient the location is there are plenty of places nearby where you can eat anyway—so maybe that part is difficult for them. Overall we were extremely satisfied with our stay and would love to use this place again. Thank you very much.

I have stayed here many times, and the staff are always very courteous. The Room was clean, and I had a comfortable stay.

We had been looking forward to our stay even before arriving. We stayed in a Room with a slide, and the kids were thrilled (an early elementary schooler and a 3-year-old). The Facility offerings were also excellent, so we had no trouble at all even with children (including a space where kids can play). They also organized a festival event inside the Hotel during our visit, and we joined that as well. All the staff were kind, and we felt their hospitality everywhere. The view from the rooftop terrace was wonderful (morning is recommended). During dinner, there was live music, and they included songs that children would enjoy, so it never got boring. Highly recommended for families with children. Of course, I think it would be a very satisfying stay for adults only as well. We will definitely return. Thank you very much for everything.

This was my first time staying here. Because it is near an intersection, it was difficult to enter the Hotel parking lot. The facilities were comfortable. I thought the shaved ice ticket included in the Plan would be just a small sample, but it exceeded my expectations and was a great value.

The front desk staff were very kind and helpful, and we had a wonderful stay. It was a three-generation trip with my daughter and grandchild, and it became a great memory. We are truly grateful—thank you very much.

This Accommodation is in an excellent location for sightseeing in Nara, so this was our second stay, this time to visit the Nara National Museum. From the moment we arrived, the parking guidance was very courteous, and the Room was spotless. The large public bath was also clean. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and had a very pleasant stay. After checking out, the staff member who first assisted us even came out of their way to see us off, which made both my husband and me truly happy. I think this is a wonderful Accommodation filled with warm hospitality and thoughtful care.

We stayed here with our children while sightseeing in Nara. There were kid-friendly events such as a festival plaza, so we could enjoy the Ryokan rather than just spending time in our Room. The Onsen was simple but wonderfully warming, and we were very satisfied with the breakfast buffet, including the variety of dishes as well as drinks and desserts. The staff’s hospitality was also pleasant. Thank you very much.