Homestays in Nara Prefecture, Japan

"The location seems a bit out of the way, but it's actually very close to Nara Park; you can easily spot deer just by stepping outside. The room was clean and spacious, but there was no staff to assist with check-in or check-out. After settling in, it was quite nice. The kids loved the Japanese tatami mats. It also has a microwave and induction cooker, suitable for short stays. The small courtyard outside is well-designed, though small. Free parking is also available. The only downside is the lack of breakfast; you have to prepare your own. These minor flaws don't detract from the overall experience; I would stay here again next time."

"We stayed at Mikasa Ryokan (万葉若草の宿 三笠旅館) in Nara, and overall it was a great experience — but there are definitely some things you should know and plan for in advance. 🏞 1. Location & Transportation The ryokan is located halfway up Mount Wakakusa, with beautiful views over Nara city — the scenery is stunning, especially at night. But getting up and down the mountain isn’t very convenient. At first, I thought the location was right near Todai-ji Temple and would be easy to access. Turns out: The mountain road is very narrow and winding, and it actually takes longer than expected. According to the staff, walking up the mountain is not allowed. There's a gate, and the staff inside don’t permit people to walk up. Luckily, the hotel offers a shuttle bus up the mountain, but you should arrange it with the hotel in advance. Once you’re at the ryokan, getting out isn’t very easy either. Even if you want to take a taxi, you need to book it in advance — it’s not like calling a cab from the street. So I’d recommend planning your itinerary carefully before you arrive. While Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha are technically just at the bottom of the mountain, they’re not within walking distance from the hotel, so you’ll still need transport. 🛌 2. Room Experience We booked the Japanese-style room with a private open-air bath. I did quite a bit of research before booking: Sites like *********** say the room is about 28 sqm (307 sq ft) But Ctrip listed it as 56 sqm, which was confusing After checking in, I think 28 sqm is probably just the indoor area, and 56 sqm includes the balcony, private onsen, and garden area. The room is traditional Japanese-style with tatami floors and a low table in the center. In the evening, while we were out having dinner, staff came in and set up our futon beds for the night — a really nice touch. This was our first time sleeping on Japanese futons. It was surprisingly comfortable, and the room temperature was perfect. If you're traveling with kids, this type of setup could be extra fun. 3. Onsen Experience We tried both the public onsen and the private one in our room: The public bath areas are located on the first and second floors, with men’s and women’s baths alternating daily. They include both indoor and outdoor hot spring pools. The water is hot — after about 10 minutes, we felt totally warm and relaxed. The private bath in the room was also very enjoyable. The garden had high fences and trees for privacy, and the tub was perfectly sized for two people. 🍱 4. Meals We booked a plan that included both dinner and breakfast. One important thing to note — you need to confirm your dinner time with the hotel before arrival, because if you arrive after 7 PM, you might miss dinner. Dinner is served in private dining rooms, which gave us a cozy and quiet atmosphere. The food was beautifully presented and very Japanese — including Wagyu beef and sukiyaki. Breakfast was also very traditional — grilled fish, rice, and various small dishes. Personally, I prefer something lighter for breakfast, and there was no coffee, bread, or buns included. If you want coffee, you can get it later in the lounge near the lobby."

"The location is superb, right next to the park. The room is good, and there's a place to do laundry, plus a communal kitchen. The only downside is the thin walls. We couldn't sleep the first night because other guests were very noisy, despite signs everywhere saying to be quiet after 10 PM – they were still making noise until morning. Everything else was great, and check-in was easy."

"**Facilities:** Excellent and very well-equipped, plus they offer a fantastic, extensive breakfast spread. **Cleanliness:** Spotlessly clean! **Location:** You can see deer just a few steps outside the door, and it's incredibly convenient, being very close to the station. **Service:** The staff were incredibly patient, thoroughly explaining all the check-in information and important details. I absolutely loved my stay! I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Nara!"

"I had a very satisfying stay. The accommodation is two stories. On the first floor, there's a kitchen and living room, one double bedroom, a toilet, and a shower room. The second floor has three beds, a toilet, a shower room, and even a small kitchenette. The space is very generous. Both floors have heating, which made our winter stay very comfortable. There's a car park just a 30-second walk away, and it costs 700 yen for an overnight stay. You can reach Nara Kintetsu Station just by walking out of the alley. The location is super convenient, and you can walk to 7-11 and Lawson. The kitchen is fully equipped, and it even has a gas stove."

"The hotel is within walking distance of Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station and is also in a great location, just 3-4 minutes from Heijo Ruins Park. It's also perfectly located for soaking in hot springs, which are extremely rare in Nara City. The downside is that the facilities are old, and there are issues with facility management and maintenance, such as room and bathroom locks not locking in some places. Also, the hand washing areas in the rooms are not flush with the rooms, making them difficult to use. We strongly urge the hotel management to ensure that the age of the facilities does not become apparent."

"The location is very close to JR Nara Station and is convenient for travel. The building is a small modern design building with space and facilities to meet the needs of convenience and quietness."

"We love the special Japanese style rooms. The garden is big. But this property is a bit too cold in winter time. Owner locked one aircon in the room. Only left one aircon on, which is not enough during night time. We were suffering all the nights and early morning. I suggest owner to provide at least one mirror at the property, we couldn’t find any mirror for make-up."

"Highly recommend this accommodation! The bed is very comfortable compared to other hotels. The house and room feel very cozy especially the sofa in living room!But there’s no dryer in the house and bathroom. You would need to dry your clothes at balcony or living room."