I originally wanted to book a designer B&B, but after booking it, I chose this hotel instead. I've stayed at Dormy Inn hotels in Hokkaido and Tokyo before and had good impressions of them. This Nara location is visible right from the train station. The downsides are that it can be a bit noisy when trains pass by, and a 1.4-meter bed is a bit tight for three people. The advantages are that the lobby smells pleasant, the hot spring facilities are complete with an outdoor bath, and the breakfast is incredibly rich with seafood rice. After a relaxing soak, there are free massage chairs and free ice cream, and complimentary noodles are served after 9 PM. For this price, the amenities offered are more extensive than what you'd find at an Atour hotel in China.
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.
A fantastic local hotel, popular with both locals and international guests. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The breakfast for the half-board option was a bit lacking, but dinner was excellent. We had booked a Japanese suite with a view of the Five-Story Pagoda, but unfortunately, the pagoda is under renovation until 2034, so the view was a bit compromised. Otherwise, everything was great. Deer were everywhere right outside, and the location was superb.
Three of us in a triple room. 3 adults. Separate. No couples. Just three friends. But they gave us only two cards to the room. I deliberately asked for the third card, as it was obvious that we will need the third one.
Unfortunately they said that only two carfs per room are permitted. 😂 As it was any problem to generate the third one.
**
It was pleasant stay, with semi-public onsen experience (opened for the guests from outside the hotel).
The hotel is literally next to the JR Nara Station.You can purchase all of your travel tickets there and the airport bus tickets, too. In that area, there is a grocery store, a Walgreens type store, and nice affordable places to eat. I highly recommend the place on the corner(pic #1-2). The two guys that run it are so nice. There is a long shopping/restaurant street kinda across from the tourist center. I don't recommend this one ramen place located there. They make everyone pay before eating, and for the basic ramen that I got, it was overpriced. My bowl wasn't even full!(pic# 3-7)
The tourist center is located close by, and the folks in there are very helpful(pic# 8). All of the buses are right there, so touring is very easy. The hotel itself is very comfortable. It's keyless, so take a picture of your pass code. The onsen on the premises has a pass code as well. Inside was very nice and relaxing. I went at 2:20am and it was wonderful. They have pajamas, pillows, and a free happy hour. The variety of spirits is extensive. Also, the elevator smells so good! The scent will de stress you. You can try a lot of things with a nice view of the station. I would definitely stay at this hotel again. The last two pictures are the view of the bus terminal. There is another one on the other side of the building. This is the front view (airport bus location)
I can spend it slowly.
Nara Park is also close, and there is saruzawa Ike pond in front of it.
The scenery も beautiful でした.
The shopping street is close, so it is easy to shop
I also booked with breakfast
The food is delicious, the nutrition is high.
It was good that even people who did not eat breakfast were hungry!
The living room can be converted into another bedroom, and the smart amenities are a nice touch. There was a slight hiccup during check-in due to a discrepancy between the hotel's and Trip.com's information, but both Trip.com and the hotel were very proactive in resolving it. The hotel doesn't offer luggage service, but everything else was excellent, and the service was great. The front desk staff's English communication skills were quite good for Japan.
Service: The service quality of the waiter was very good, as always, meticulous, and photos were sent.
Environment: The room we stayed in had a sense of age
But we booked the main building, but were arranged to stay in the other building. The main building and the other building are connected, and the breakfast is of the same standard, but in fact there is a price difference, and the facilities in the main building are newer.
It is unknown whether the price difference was deliberately booked in the other building, or the agent made a mistake, or the hotel deliberately arranged it. People who choose to stay later need to pay attention to whether they are staying in the main building.
The room is large, suitable for self-driving family travel hotel, there are not many restaurants nearby, the hotel can make an appointment for barbecue, but it should be noted that: make an appointment with the hotel three days in advance before entering. The pastoral scenery can see the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Great
100 reviews
9.1/10
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THB 1,454
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9.7/10
Amazing
GGuest UserA question to think about, ‘What makes a hotel a luxury one?’
To me, it’s luxury because of the hospitality of the staff, quality of the property and the food they provided totally exceed travellers’ expectations, and as a result, we would love to pay more for the experience.
Some staff really tried their very best to help me during my stay while some just didn’t. Upon arrival, I tried to communicate with the staff that I’d like to cancel my third night’s dinner because of the change of my plan. At first, I booked six meals in total and I’d only want to cancel one dinner and they said I needed to pay 100% for the cancelled meal because they have already bought the ingredients. Okay, I tried to understand that because they had already taken away my credit card and there’s nothing I could do about that and I thought it must be a very nice meal and that’s why they insisted that. Disappointingly, the portion was so small and paying the same amount of money I could get so much better food in 虹夕諾雅 or any other five star onsen hotels in Japan. As a result, I went to bed feeling hungry and eating the snacks I bought for myself :( The food portions are like a bento instead of a proper meal. )
Also, the Western style breakfast was so overpriced and the avocado in the omelette was not fresh at all.
One more thing to note is that the complimentary champagne service they provided to their guests. It’s a nice experience but maybe I’m just a lady travelling alone and I couldn’t speak Japanese at all, the waitress didn’t serve me the same way as she served other people in the cafe. When all of them got two glasses of free drinks, one cocktail and one champagne, she only gave me one champagne and didn’t offer me the cocktail. And the day after, there was a nice staff who served me properly and I finally realized that I am entitled to two drinks.
(Sigh)The experience was like buying a Chanel bag. The bag was pricey but the chain of the bag just suddenly fall apart
while you are using it for the very first time. My advice is: Don’t use their catering services especially for the in-room dining plan. There are so many better choices out there in the city. The room and the service of the staff are great tho.
XXiaoCDmamiThe living room can be converted into another bedroom, and the smart amenities are a nice touch. There was a slight hiccup during check-in due to a discrepancy between the hotel's and Trip.com's information, but both Trip.com and the hotel were very proactive in resolving it. The hotel doesn't offer luggage service, but everything else was excellent, and the service was great. The front desk staff's English communication skills were quite good for Japan.
MM348626****The hotel's decor is a bit dated, but the rooms are larger than typical Japanese hotels, with enough space to open a suitcase, and well-equipped. The breakfast is exceptionally plentiful, there's a large supermarket downstairs, and delicious ramen nearby. Plus, the transportation is super convenient.
SSolo AceThe hotel is literally next to the JR Nara Station.You can purchase all of your travel tickets there and the airport bus tickets, too. In that area, there is a grocery store, a Walgreens type store, and nice affordable places to eat. I highly recommend the place on the corner(pic #1-2). The two guys that run it are so nice. There is a long shopping/restaurant street kinda across from the tourist center. I don't recommend this one ramen place located there. They make everyone pay before eating, and for the basic ramen that I got, it was overpriced. My bowl wasn't even full!(pic# 3-7)
The tourist center is located close by, and the folks in there are very helpful(pic# 8). All of the buses are right there, so touring is very easy. The hotel itself is very comfortable. It's keyless, so take a picture of your pass code. The onsen on the premises has a pass code as well. Inside was very nice and relaxing. I went at 2:20am and it was wonderful. They have pajamas, pillows, and a free happy hour. The variety of spirits is extensive. Also, the elevator smells so good! The scent will de stress you. You can try a lot of things with a nice view of the station. I would definitely stay at this hotel again. The last two pictures are the view of the bus terminal. There is another one on the other side of the building. This is the front view (airport bus location)
RRebeikatangThe hotel is elegantly decorated, the quality of breakfast and dinner is excellent, and the service is also in place (language communication requires translation software, which is ok), and the pick-up station is free, which is very convenient!
Because it is located halfway up Mount Wakakusa, if you don't order a meal, you have to go down the mountain by yourself for dinner, so it is recommended to book a room with two meals.
The stargazing activity at 8 o'clock in the evening, the winding mountain road is a bit dizzy, but the scenery on the top of the mountain is worth it. If it is a sunny day, you can see the stars, and it will be more exciting with the lights of thousands of houses below the mountain. If you want to go to the top of the mountain the next day, hiking is also feasible, but the winding mountain road is a bit tortuous and requires physical strength.
There are cherry blossoms in spring and snow in winter. The scenery of Mount Wakakusa is endless. I will come again next time.
DdaisysethI originally wanted to book a designer B&B, but after booking it, I chose this hotel instead. I've stayed at Dormy Inn hotels in Hokkaido and Tokyo before and had good impressions of them. This Nara location is visible right from the train station. The downsides are that it can be a bit noisy when trains pass by, and a 1.4-meter bed is a bit tight for three people. The advantages are that the lobby smells pleasant, the hot spring facilities are complete with an outdoor bath, and the breakfast is incredibly rich with seafood rice. After a relaxing soak, there are free massage chairs and free ice cream, and complimentary noodles are served after 9 PM. For this price, the amenities offered are more extensive than what you'd find at an Atour hotel in China.
GGuest UserFor friends who ask for dinner, please see the picture. It is suitable for bringing children. The environment is good and the service is very good. We have arrived at Yoshino Station at more than 8 o'clock in the evening. Please ask the service staff of the station to call the hotel and pick us up in less than ten minutes. Because the hotel does not provide dinner, we deliberately took us to a nearby restaurant for dinner. I helped put our shoes in the fantasy early in the morning, so sweet!
GGuest UserStepping into the hotel lobby, you're immediately greeted by the distinct aroma of the hot spring baths. We booked a standard room, which was a bit small. If you're traveling with children, I'd recommend a suite for more space. The hotel is super close to Nara Station, just a quick left turn when you exit. The hot spring baths cost extra, but it's not expensive and they're open until midnight. A really thoughtful touch is that the TV in the room shows how busy the baths are. Overall, I'm very satisfied. Japanese hotels are always incredibly clean; you really can't find anything to complain about. I forgot to take pictures of the room, but I did snap a few of the TV, haha. P2 is a specialty product I bought from a persimmon shop in Nara.
AAnonymous UserThis is a great choice for solo travelers. It's located on Nara's main street, perfectly situated between Kintetsu Nara Station and JR Nara Station, offering easy access to all the major sights. There are numerous dining options nearby, and I'd advise against eating at the hotel as the prices are quite high. It's excellent for an overnight stay and provides great value for money. Although the rooms are small, they're well-equipped, and you can even take a bath to relax and wash away the day's tiredness. The view is alright. If you're after luxury, there are plenty of 4- and 5-star hotels in the area.
AAnonymous UserThe hotel's location is fantastic, right next to the subway station, making it incredibly easy to find upon exit. Just diagonally across from the hotel, there's a bustling shopping street, offering great convenience for dining and shopping. There's a bus stop right outside the hotel with direct service to Nara Park, allowing you to get off and leisurely explore the area. We booked a room including breakfast, which was a buffet. The front desk staff were also very friendly and welcoming. If you arrive early, you can even store your luggage with them and go explore before check-in.
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