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.
Hotel was about 2 mins walk from the entrance of Nara park n the shopping district. Very good location. You could either walk 1.3km to the hotel from the JR station, or take a taxi which would cost around 1200yen. About 10 mins walk from the metro station. I stayed for 2 nights with breakfast and dinner inclusive. The Ryokan did take note n served us a different menu each day. There was also a small indoor n outdoor onsen in the Ryokan. The food 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).
👍 Right next to the JR station, you can get directly to the hotel from the East Exit without even going downstairs.
👍 Although it's very close to the JR station, it's super soundproofed! You really can't hear a thing.
👍 The hotel has its own free hot spring bath. It's not big but quite clean.
👍 The hotel as a whole is also relatively new. The only downside is that the rooms are indeed quite small 👎.
👍 In the evening, there's a bar where you can mix your own drinks for free. Breakfast is 1500 JPY per person, and it's pretty good! You can also sit by the window with a view.
Fantastic hotel for anyone who drive. Free Car park with lots of spaces. The facility is very clean, spacious room, both indoor and outdoor hot spring. Really there is nothing to complain in this hotel. It is located in a fairly decent neighborhoods and able to provide this standard of hot spring is phenomenal. One of the best stay we had in this journey. Highly Recommended.
The hotel is very enjoyable, located in the historic center and right at the entrance to Nara Park with deer. In the meantime, deer themselves are also walking near the hotel area. The service in the hotel has not been disappointed, the staff are very welcome. Breakfasts were very surprised (for each guest their kitchen). I am sure we will come back again
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.
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101 reviews
9.3/10
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Amazing
__WeChat11229****As a top-tier hotel in Nara, I was quite satisfied with both the outdoor and indoor environments, as well as the service during check-in and dining. However, the downside was that when I returned to my room after sightseeing, there was an empty wine bottle and box (which should have been trash) inexplicably in the corner. If it was left behind during housekeeping, this kind of oversight should not happen in a hotel with such good service.
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.
EElena2028👍 Right next to the JR station, you can get directly to the hotel from the East Exit without even going downstairs.
👍 Although it's very close to the JR station, it's super soundproofed! You really can't hear a thing.
👍 The hotel has its own free hot spring bath. It's not big but quite clean.
👍 The hotel as a whole is also relatively new. The only downside is that the rooms are indeed quite small 👎.
👍 In the evening, there's a bar where you can mix your own drinks for free. Breakfast is 1500 JPY per person, and it's pretty good! You can also sit by the window with a view.
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 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.
輝輝記The hotel is located next to the park and basically has everything you need!
The disadvantage is that the location requires a flight of stairs, which may be difficult if you have heavy luggage.
There is no 24-hour parking lot near the hotel. I drove myself to the point where I had no place to park. I had to park next to the bus stop at night so as not to obstruct others. As a result, I was charged with illegal parking and fined 25,000 yen😭😭😭
The advantage is that you can see sika deer and feed them at the hotel entrance
GGuest UserLocated a 6-8 minute walk from Nara Station, the hotel is right on a main street. It's surrounded by plenty of shops, making it incredibly convenient for both shopping and dining. Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple are also easily accessible. The place was clean, the front desk staff were very friendly, and they offered luggage storage before check-in. Overall, we had a very satisfactory stay.
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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