Hotel Hot Springs di Nara Prefecture, Japan

Checking in can take a while, as the butler asks quite a few detailed questions and then gives a thorough introduction to the building and its various areas. Some staff members have good English, others not so much, which can sometimes make understanding difficult, but it doesn't significantly impact the overall experience. The breakfast is exquisite. During the tail end of the Golden Week holiday, we had to queue for a table. The Japanese grilled fish was delicious, but other dishes were just okay. The Western options were decent and quite plentiful. The room was clean and tidy, and on our last day, we even saw deer chasing and playing in the courtyard. The hotel has a distinct resort vibe, and Kengo Kuma's design features many highlights. It's a tranquil oasis in a bustling area, and the courtyard is beautifully maintained. Most guests seemed to be older, well-established families, with fewer young people. (As a 'workhorse' who needed to get some work done in the evening, I found there were no power outlets near the desk for my laptop, which really drove home the point that everyone else was truly here to relax and enjoy their vacation). Overall, I had a very pleasant and comfortable holiday. It's a beautiful hotel and definitely worth experiencing.

The transportation is incredibly convenient; you can take an elevator directly from the platform to the front desk, so there's no need to worry about wind or rain. Plus, there are plenty of convenience stores nearby. The hotel's own hot spring is open all night, which is perfect if you want to avoid crowds. The entire place is clean and tidy, and the room even came with a multi-port charging cable, which shows great attention to detail! Thumbs up! Breakfast starts at 6:30 AM, which is especially good for those who need to leave early. Check-out is quick and self-service. This is my second time booking this hotel, and I'll definitely choose it again next time I'm in Nara.

This hotel boasts an excellent location, just a five-minute walk from the train station. It's far enough away from Nara's overly friendly deer that you don't have to worry about being bumped into or stepping in droppings. The hot springs here were our absolute favorite – so peaceful and comfortable, with friendly service. The restaurant recommendations from the front desk staff were a real treasure; every place they suggested was fantastic. Their breakfast spread was diverse and delicious, highly recommended!

We stayed at the hotel for one night and regretted not staying for two. The journey from the station was an hour-long bus ride along winding roads, so if you're traveling with a child, pack a bag beforehand, as it can cause motion sickness. From the bus stop to the hotel, it's a 10-15-minute walk (at a leisurely pace). You'll see your name on the sign at the entrance. The hotel is modern, but it creaks when you walk, which is actually a plus. The room is traditionally furnished with two rooms, and they offer complimentary tea. There are plenty of closets, though I couldn't figure out how to turn off one light. I also recommend booking the room with a traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast. Everything is delicious and fresh. There's a small local brewery next to the hotel, which is a nice place to stop in after the onsen in a yukata.

A fantastic designer hotel. The one-night stay with two meals is perfect for a relaxing vacation. All meals are in private rooms with a wonderful ambiance. The kaiseki dinner was excellent; I highly recommend trying it if you're staying at the hotel. The service was meticulous, and there was Chinese-speaking staff, so communication was no problem at all. Feeding the deer during the day and soaking in the private onsen in the afternoon was so relaxing and enjoyable. I slept very well and felt completely at ease. I would definitely stay here again next time I'm in Nara!

This hotel holds the high standard of their group as usual. Firstly, I thought the service was not sincere as the front deck refused to reserve the restaurant for us (there were 2 other hotel's front desk rejected in this Dec 2025 trip too). But then they offered tremendous help when I encountered parcel problem and which is out of what they need to offer. That's really helpful. The superior twin room is good for family of 4 with children under 12 years old. We put together the beds and there were spaces for4 big luggage to pack and tidy up things. Thank you to the entire front desk for their help. The downside was the breakfast really average and I only recommend to try once if you are staying long.

Very good experience, the room is very large, and there is a private soup. Every day, I soak in the private soup and watch the snow scene, it is like a fairyland on earth! Breakfast and dinner are very rich!

Check-in after 15:00. The staff are very friendly, including those who speak English at a sufficient level so that you can understand each other without a translator. The room is spacious, heated/cooled by air conditioning. There is also a kotatsu, under which it is very comfortable to sit, a tea set, including a kettle. Yukata and khvori are very beautiful and comfortable. In the room there is also a memo for foreigners on the correct visit to the onsen (be sure to read it, this is important). There are only two onsen - one large with a view of the river (there are curtains) and one smaller without windows. The water is moderately hot, not scalding. As a dinner, kaiseki was provided with a change of dishes - it was very tasty and VERY much (honestly, we could not eat everything, since we usually eat much less, for which we apologize to the staff)

Incredible ryokan, the best stay I've ever had in Japan. Staff were very helpful and kind right from the warm welcome. The food was absolutely incredible with a good dozen of plates for one person at dinner and another 6-8 plates for breakfast. The garden in front of the building also adds a magnificent touch to the mountainy-traditional side of the trip. Even if a bit expensive, I really felt like my money was going somewhere, didn't regret it. I will 100% remember this stay for a long time, thank you :)

The room was spacious, and the hot spring was wonderfully uncrowded and relaxing. Everything was very clean. There's free ice cream in the lobby, which was a nice treat after a hot spring soak! The hotel is conveniently located near tourist attractions, and it's about a ten-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. The service was excellent, and there's free coffee and tea bags available in the lobby. The only downside was that the room wasn't very warm. In winter, cold air seeped in near the windows, and even with the air conditioning set to 30 degrees, it still felt a bit chilly.