Hot Springs Hotels in Nara Prefecture, Japan

"A hotel with a strong Japanese ambiance and excellent cleanliness. Guests are required to store their shoes upon entry. Bath towels, regular towels, and yukatas are replaced daily, and the water quality in the public bath is great. Located right next to JR Nara Station, it's very convenient for day trips to surrounding cities, though rooms facing the railway can be quite noisy. The hotel is within walking distance of various attractions, and the breakfast is exceptionally bountiful."

"Very comfortable hotel, I will go there again next time, and I will come with my family next time. It is really fun to stay here, the breakfast is delicious, and the service staff are really nice."

"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."

"Hotel is a station away from Nara center. We took bus or train. About 9 min away from station. Hotel has specious and beautiful Lobby, Rooms are very simple. Of course clean and neat as usually in Japan."

"The hot springs were great. The building itself shows its age, but it didn't bother me too much. The toilet in the room is small (there's also a shared toilet in the hallway). My child enjoyed making and eating the welcome mitarashi dango and shaved ice. The staff were polite and kind, which was very reassuring. There's a kids' playroom on the 3rd floor and an outdoor pool, so I think young children will enjoy various things."

"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."

"Located in the cosy town of Kamikitayama, it is a fine place to stay while you explore the nearby scenery and mountains. The hotel is impeccably maintained with 2 onsens that alternate between mens' and womens' daily. Towels and yukatas are also provided with the room. Breakfast is Japanese style which will fill you up before a full day of hiking. The rooms are overlooking the river and you can hear the soft whoosh of the river at night. Rooms and spacious and fully equipped, even with bike mounts for you to mount your bike should you have one. Parking is plentiful and free for guests. Right opposite the hotel there is a restaurant and a rest stop with a convenience store and a fuel station. Next nearest food options are about 30 minutes drive away, so stock up before you come up or you might find yourself without dinner if you didnt opt (and pay) for the hotel's dinner"

"Forgot to take photos, but this hotel exceeded my expectations! I've always had a slight apprehension about Japanese hotels being small, but this one was surprisingly spacious. The room was fully equipped with amenities, including two air conditioners and a leg massager, which was great for relieving fatigue. The toiletries were a full set of POLA products, and the breakfast was very refined. The only thing that could be improved is that each person only gets one bottle of mineral water per night. Of course, the hotel's location is superb, right between Kintetsu Nara Station and Kofukuji Temple, which is a must-pass route for tourists heading to Nara Park."

"The location is far away, but quiet, there are hot springs and breakfast and dinner and delicious ............................."

"The room was clean and I was able to relax. I was staying alone but only a twin room was available so I booked it, and it was spacious and comfortable. I was able to add breakfast for the next day when I checked in, so I was able to relax at the hotel in the morning before checking out. Thank you very much."