Smile Hotel Nara

Smile Hotel Nara Reviews

Smile Hotel Nara

4-21 Sanjohonmachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, 630-8122, JapanView hotel details
Smile Hotel Nara
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Guest Reviews of Smile Hotel Nara

8.7/10
Very good
482 reviews
Verified reviews
Location9.1
Amenities8.2
Service8.8
Cleanliness8.8
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All reviews(482)
Positive reviews(466)
Reviews with photos/video(106)
Convenient location(81)
Easy to get around(68)
Small room size(28)
Close to train station(24)
Delicious breakfast(18)
Friendly front desk staff(17)
Luggage delivery service(11)
Nice toiletries(7)
Negative reviews(16)
Guest User
Twin Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Apr 2026
Traveling with friends
32 reviews
8.0/10
Very good
Posted on May 16, 2026
You can spot the hotel from JR Nara Station, and it's just a 3-minute walk after you exit. The bus stop for popular attractions like Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara Park, and Todai-ji Temple is right in front of JR Station, making transportation very convenient.
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Response from Property: Thank you so much for staying at our hotel and for sharing your feedback on our facilities for guests with disabilities. We are delighted to see your review, especially your appreciation for our hotel's convenient location near JR Nara Station, making it easy to access various tourist attractions. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed your trip to Nara. We look forward to your next stay in Nara. We look forward to your next visit.
Guest User
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Mar 2026
Couple
6 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on May 4, 2026
Great hotel, near everything you'll need, food, train, arcade and deer. We did see deer near the hotel on a little stroll, definitely lost. Overall staff were great and it was a great stay
6/10
Response from Property: Thank you very much for choosing Smile Hotel Nara.We were delighted to read your kind words about the surrounding environment and our staff.We are pleased that you were able to enjoy the proximity of restaurants, trains, and arcades, as well as the sight of Nara's unique deer, and that these became part of your travel memories.We are especially pleased that you enjoyed the story of encountering a lost deer near the hotel, as it was a heartwarming and characteristic Nara experience.We will continue to strive to improve our services to ensure that all our guests have a comfortable stay.We hope you will consider staying with us again when you visit Nara in the future.All of our staff look forward to welcoming you.Smile Hotel Nara
Guest User
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Mar 2026
Couple
6 reviews
8.5/10
Very good
Posted on Apr 22, 2026
Front desk staff are so nice and friendly. Also English speaking is perfect! Location is great and convenient, many restaurants are near by.
Response from Property: Thank you very much for your stay and for your kind words.We are delighted to hear that you were satisfied with the service from our front desk staff, the English communication, and the location.We are especially pleased that you enjoyed the nearby restaurants.All of our staff look forward to welcoming you back again.Smile Hotel Nara
Wohewodejiaren
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Feb 2026
Family
54 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on Mar 19, 2026
The hotel's location is fantastic, less than a five-minute walk from JR Nara. The higher floor rooms are comfortable, and they even display recommendations for good restaurants nearby in the lobby. This time, I revisited a restaurant I'd been to before and had the soba noodles – still amazing and delicious! The next day, I went to Japan's largest Muji store, which was great!
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Response from Property: Thank you so much for your stay at Hotel Nara Smile. We are delighted to receive your high praise and excellent feedback. We were pleased to learn that you were satisfied with the convenient access from JR Nara Station and your experience in your high-floor room. The recommendations for restaurants near the lobby also seemed helpful, which was very encouraging for all of us. We were also pleased to hear that you enjoyed your previous soba noodle shop again, and that you had a wonderful time there. We were also touched by your mention of your enjoyment of shopping at the largest Muji store in Japan the following day, which made your stay in Nara very fulfilling. Moving forward, we will continue to strive to improve our service and create an even more comfortable stay for you. We sincerely hope you will visit our hotel again if you ever travel to Nara. All of us at Hotel Nara Smile look forward to your next visit.
Purple Moon Solo Traveler
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Feb 2026
Solo traveler
16 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on Apr 15, 2026
All good. At the end of Nara Station. Specifically put a sign, to drink pipe water. Normal space, need to close the bag after open, otherwise it blocks walkway. Sometimes put on chair, to open my bag. Give extension cord! Very good! Because the plug is behind the TV, can't reach. Wooden window as curtains to block sunlight, but, it leaks in. Cannot have a dark room to sleep during day times. But the wooden window looks cool.
6/9
Response from Property: Thank you very much for staying at Smile Hotel Nara.We were delighted to read that you were satisfied with the accessibility from the station, the cleanliness of your room, and the availability of extension cords.However, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused regarding the room size and the window’s ability to block out light.We value your feedback on issues such as storage space for luggage and the brightness during the day, as these are insights that can only be gained from your actual stay, and we will use them to guide our future improvements.Our entire staff is committed to making every effort to ensure you have a more comfortable stay at our hotel.We hope you will choose to stay with us again the next time you visit Nara.Smile Hotel Nara
Anonymous User
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Jun 2026
Solo traveler
5 reviews
8.5/10
Very good
Posted on Jul 15, 2026
Small business hotel a 3 minute walk from Nara station - very convenient! Rooms are small but clean with a full bathroom and TV, kettle, hair dryer, air conditioner.
Guest User
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Jun 2026
Solo traveler
4 reviews
8.5/10
Very good
Posted on Jul 13, 2026
Really good location! This hotel is really close to the station of JR line. So not only to visit Nara but also move to Osaka and Kyoto easily. It takes about 10-15min to main shopping street on foot.Also can access some famous tourist spots by bus. The staff was kind and room was clean enough to stay.
Ras Yen
Superior Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Nov 2025
Couple
100 reviews
9.0/10
Great
Posted on Jan 11, 2026
Close distance to the train station but it's on the opposite direction of the commercial street. Clean room, basic amenities. Couldn't get extra pillow as usual. Good enough for quick visit in Nara
Response from Property: Thank you for staying at our hotel and for sharing your valuable feedback.We are very pleased that you appreciated the access from the station and the cleanliness of your room.However, we apologize for any inconvenience caused regarding the request for additional pillows.Our hotel offers additional pillows at the front desk. Due to limited availability, we may not be able to accommodate your request, but please feel free to ask at the front desk the next time you stay with us.We will continue to strive to improve our service so that you can have an even more comfortable stay. We hope you will use our hotel again when you visit Nara.Smile Hotel Nara
Duong Phu Minh Hoang
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Nov 2025
Couple
1 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on Dec 3, 2025
Small room but full amenities. Breakfast is not so good but acceptable! Suggest you should book the room with breakfast for all hotel in Japan
Response from Property: Thank you very much for staying at our hotel.We also sincerely appreciate your valuable feedback.We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the room size, but we are very pleased to read that you were satisfied with the amenities.We regret that the breakfast did not meet your expectations.We will continue to review our menu and services to ensure even greater satisfaction in the future.We hope you will visit us again when you visit Nara.All of our staff look forward to serving you again.Smile Hotel Nara
Joshua Graham
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Oct 2025
Solo traveler
11 reviews
9.5/10
Amazing
Posted on Nov 19, 2025
Good: Good cost performance, Good staff, great variety of food, convenient location - next to train station and convenience stores, signs are in english and Japanese. Staff have limited english skills which is ready good for simple requests I think. Bad: room seems to have no air conditioning (cool cold air) - the "air condition" dail only has fan speed not temperature and it blows warm air. The window gives cold air but can be noisy, especially at day time with construction work going on nearby unless window is left very slightly ajar. Overall it's fine but not sure how good it is in the summer without air-conditioning.
Response from Property: Thank you for staying at Smile Hotel Nara.We are very pleased to read that you were satisfied with many aspects of our hotel, including the value for money, location, staff service, and breakfast options.However, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the air conditioning and noise in your room. Our hotel's air conditioning is centrally managed and switches between cooling and heating depending on the season. Therefore, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by our guests. We will also consider improving the air conditioning controls to make them more clear.We also apologize again for any inconvenience caused by the noise from nearby construction work. We will be more considerate in future reservations.We will continue to take your feedback into consideration and strive to create an even more comfortable hotel experience. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.Smile Hotel Nara
CPxxxxxxa
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Apr 2026
Solo traveler
13 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on May 20, 2026
It's just next to the train station. It is very convenient to travel around. All amenities prepared for you to select.
Response from Property: Thank you very much for staying with us and for your kind comments.We are delighted to hear that you were satisfied with the access from the station and our facilities.We will continue to strive to create an environment where you can have a comfortable stay.We look forward to welcoming you back again.
SOH JYH SHYAN
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Oct 2025
Family
11 reviews
10/10
Outstanding
Posted on Nov 11, 2025
Excellent location—right next to Nara Station, making it very convenient to take the bus to Tōdai-ji and Nara Park. The hotel room was very clean and well-equipped, with a bathtub, TV, refrigerator, and everything you might need. The reception staff were also very friendly and helpful. Definitely my top choice for my next trip to Nara!
Response from Property: Thank you very much for staying at our hotel.We are very pleased to hear that you were satisfied with the location and convenient transportation, as well as the cleanliness and facilities of your room. We are relieved to hear that amenities such as a bathtub, TV, and refrigerator contributed to a comfortable stay.We also thank you for your kind words for our front desk staff. We are very honored to have been able to help you.We are greatly encouraged by your words, "I will definitely choose this hotel again next time." We will strive to provide an even more satisfying experience on your next trip to Nara.We look forward to welcoming you again.Smile Hotel Nara
d_donne
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Oct 2025
Solo traveler
106 reviews
8.5/10
Very good
Posted on Nov 6, 2025
It's a well-known fact that accommodations in Japan can be pricey, so for my trip, I opted for several chain budget hotels, and Smile Hotel was one of them. It offers great value for money. The Smile Hotel in Nara is conveniently located right next to Nara JR Station; you can spot their sign as soon as you exit the station. It's the perfect starting point for exploring Nara. Rooms in Japanese budget hotels are generally small, but they are always clean and tidy, with impeccable hygiene standards. And even though the rooms are compact, they still come with a desk and chair, which I found very convenient for writing and organizing. I really appreciate that. Finally, a heads-up: toiletries and pajamas are available on the first floor for guests to pick up as needed. You might want to grab them before heading up to your room.
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Response from Property: We are delighted to learn that you enjoyed your stay at Hotel Nara Smile and were satisfied with the hotel's location, price, and cleanliness. Your detailed information about getting to the hotel from JR Nara Station and the hotel's facilities is invaluable and will be helpful to future guests. All of our staff appreciate your thoughtful attention to the toiletries and pajamas provided. We will continue to strive to improve our services to ensure you have a comfortable stay. We hope you will stay with us again on your next trip to Nara. We look forward to your next visit. Hotel Nara Smile
Eric_Low
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in Sep 2025
Business traveler
39 reviews
9.0/10
Great
Posted on Nov 1, 2025
The room, though small, was clean, comfortable, and quiet. The hotel breakfast was a bit repetitive but tasty, and having self-service washing and drying machines was very convenient. There's a 24-hour restaurant nearby, and we even saw deer in the local park!
Original textTranslated by Google
Response from Property: Thank you for staying at our hotel and sharing your feedback. We are delighted to know that you were satisfied with the cleanliness and comfort of your room and the quiet environment. You also praised our extensive breakfast selection and delicious food, and we are pleased to see that you made full use of the hotel's laundry facilities. Furthermore, we are pleased to know that you enjoyed the surrounding restaurants and your encounter with Nara's unique deer, all of which made for wonderful memories of your trip. We will continue to strive to improve our services to ensure you have a comfortable stay. We look forward to your next visit to Nara. Nara Smile Hotel
Guide Green
Double Room - Non-Smoking
Stayed in May 2026
Business traveler
57 reviews
8.0/10
Very good
Posted on Jul 8, 2026
location was good near Nara station , staff was great many coin parking around