Mikasa

The best thing was the way they made you feel welcome and comfortable every minute of every day, starting with the woman managing Mikasa’s town office (a delight) to all the people at the hotel or driving the buses. Once we got to the property on the afternoon bus, we appreciated the warm welcome and 1-1 explanations of how things worked and when our meal times were and especially when and where to wear indoor shoes. Our room was beautiful and comfortable and we had a lovely view of Nara from our large and comfortable terrace. The onsen was so nice and clean, and having an outdoor onsen option was particularly nice because it was not quite as hot as the indoor hot bath. We got half board with out reservation, and the food was simply incredible especially the sukiyaki hotpot we shared for dinner the second night. The breakfasts were sumptuous, but I am not a breakfast eater so I found all that food a bit overwhelming. I did my best to try some of everything because so much effort went into making it so special.

This is an isolated location, serene and perfect for the ryokan experience. The site overlooks the city of Nara and there are frequent shuttles to get you down the hill to the city. The rooms are traditional Japanese - immaculate and evocative of the deep history of the area. The onsens have full amenities. The food was absolutely amazing. It felt like Michelin-level attention to detail.

Where to start? This ryokan is located in between the mountains inside Nara Park. This makes for a beautiful scenery although only accesible by taxi or the provided free shuttle bus. The room itself was spacious and traditional japanese style, which included a balcony. All included meals were absolutely fantastic; truly a worthy experience. We went to the onsen at night and we had it all for ourselves, which added a touch more of relaxation to the bath. Lastly, all the staff, from the front desk to the restaurant, were quite friendly and spoke english. They even provided us with some free tours and activities. We are so glad that we decided to go for a stay like this one here in Nara instead of in Kyoto.

We had a truly wonderful stay at the Ryokan, the staff were so lovely and accommodating. The place was so peaceful. We got a room with a private outdoor bath, and it was SO wonderful. The room was zen, and I was surprised how well we slept on the futon. We also got robes to wear, and slippers. We also had a private dinner and breakfast, which was quite a feast! It is very traditional Japanese food, some very fishy (if you like that). Everything was perfect. And, they also had a shuttle to and from the train station. Perfect!

Exceptional experience from start to finish. Easy to find check in opposite station in Nara, bags were sent ahead whilst we explored the park. 10 minute transfer up the hill by private bus, efficient reception and truely unique Japanese style rooms and inclusive full traditional dining service in a private dining room overlooking a pond and garden. Japanese clothing was provided for dining which enhanced the experience further. You will struggle to find a more immersive Japanese stay as an English speaker.