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.

I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the breakfast. It was a lot of food and there was no way we could eat it all, and we felt a little bad that we had not been able to manage it.

Since it was a Japanese traditional style room it was VERY SPACIOUS, which is really important when you are carrying as much luggage as we did (group of 3). Amazing view of Nara, amazing staff, amazing location, very quiet, great indoors and outdoors onsen, they provide you with a yukata and haori to use within the ryokan. They even move your luggage to the information office which is in front of Nara Station so you don’t have to worry about it. Last but not least they even dropped us at Mount Wakakusa, we then went downhill on foot for about 11 km.

The only downside is, well, the location. You can only go to the ryokan by car (if you rented one) or by taxi. A taxi from and to Nara Station will cost you around 2000 yen. Literally the only “downside” it has if you can call it like that. They can call a taxi for you from the ryokan if you need to go somewhere too.

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.

You couldn't really walk down to the city of Nara because of the roads, though there were shuttles/taxis available. The elaborate meals got a little old for our teenage kids.

The location was great, very accessible via public transit as we took a train from Kyoto. The shuttle service provided by the hotel was efficient and the staff were friendly and accommodating. The meals provided (kaiseki dinner and breakfast) were also excellent! We booked a room with a private bath and it was spacious and comfortable. I also liked that the hotel provided a quick evening tour (free shuttle) to Wakakusayama Hill, which overlooks the city of Nara. While it was quite cloudy (we couldn't appreciate the stars in the sky) the view of the cityscape from the hill was breathtaking.

The layout of the hotel was quite large so it took some walking to get to and from our room and the dining area. It was cold at night (we visited in November / autumn) and some areas were open. I did wish the short trip to Wakakusayama was offered during the day as well to appreciate the view, or have an English guide. But otherwise it was still a very authentic feeling experience.

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.

Nestled in the hills of a national park, this ryokan offers sweeping views of Nara, as well as Todaiji Temple at the foot of the hill. We enjoyed dining in our own room with a "borrowed" view of cherry blossoms (this being early April) and having breakfast in our private room served by a dedicated hostess. While perhaps not as convenient as a town-center location, this ryokan is hard to beat when it comes to tranquillity, amenities, personalized service and attention to details through and through. We recommend this ryokan unreservedly.

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!

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Mikasa was a wonderful place to stay for a visit in Nara. Perfect place to unplug and treat yourself, thanks to the atmosphere of the hotel and the a tentative staff, that went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. The rooms and onsen are complete with all amenities needed. The onsens in particular are beautiful and relaxing, and are available late in the evening, so can be used after dinner as well. The traditional dinner and breakfast in a personal dining room are an experience in itself. Especially recommend the room with the personal hot bathtub. The room is very spacious and the futons the staff lay for the evening are surprisingly comfortable after a trip to the onsen. If we ever get the chance to visit Japan and Nara, we will definatelly book another stay.

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.

The room was very pretty, with an extra sitting area right in front of the window. The floor was fully tatami and even with the futons unfolded there was ample space to move around. The food was served in a private room, delicious and plenty. The Onsen was very clean, with two baths, one outside and one onside.

Even though the staff was incredibly friendly, only few of them spoke english. Since my partner diesn't speak japanese, I had to help translate almost every single conversation, Also there was no closet space in the room.