Booked this through Ctrip's 919 sale, got it for just over 400 RMB a night!
While most hotels in the Kansai region come with hot springs, this one's bath is particularly special and doesn't feel stuffy (those who've stayed elsewhere will know what I mean, haha).
After 9:30 PM every night, there's complimentary ramen and ice cream, and in the mornings, free yogurt. The entire hotel is incredibly clean; they even wipe down your luggage wheels when you check in. It's a shoe-free property, which makes for a really fantastic experience. Highly recommend, highly recommend!
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)
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.
Stayed for three days, the breakfast is different every day, not self-service, after the breakfast time, go to the restaurant, have set the meal, Japanese or Western, rice and miso soup are very comfortable, not bad . The service is very good, after breakfast, let the guests have a cup of coffee per person in the lobby next door. The hotel is close to Takizawa, Nara Park, and the Five-Pagoda. It is not too far away to walk to Nara-cho and Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha.
about a 10-minute walk from Shin-Omiya Station. Right next to it is the Mi Nara Shopping Mall, which has a large hypermarket and several shops selling affordable clothing — including lovely children’s wear. To reach Mi Nara, head to the left side of the hotel, toward the JW Marriott Hotel.
Highly recommend:
- Mount Yoshino (steep slopes hiking) lots of persimmon, kiwi trees, pomegranate. Be sure to prepare some food, water in your bag & most importantly hiking stick. We took 4 hours of walking to complete the entire Mount Yoshino (from right with shrines to left with restaurant, fruit trees).
Places to explore near the hotel:
1️⃣ Mi Nara Shopping Mall – Perfect for groceries and daily essentials, with prices more affordable than Aeon Supermarket.
2️⃣ Montbell Village & Bellside Café – A great spot for outdoor gear, and the café serves delicious pasta, pizza, and pastries.
- Ask the hotel staff for a printed copy of Bus 28’s schedule to Montbell (the bus stop is right in front of JW Marriott). From Montbell, it’s a short walk to Hard Off / Off House, where you can browse a fun selection of secondhand items — clothes, bags, toys, and household goods.
- The breakfast buffet offers a good variety and is worth the price — ¥3,000 per person, payable at the front desk.
- The room was clean and comfortable. I recommend renting a humidifier if you experience a dry nose due to the cold air. Also, wearing a mask outdoors helps to stay comfortable in dry or chilly weather.
- A free shuttle bus is available — check with the lobby staff for a printed copy of the schedule.
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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22PixelA wonderful travel experience! The entire hotel exudes a rich, traditional charm (I later learned it was renovated by Kengo Kuma from the former Nara Governor's residence). If possible, I highly recommend booking a room with an onsen (hot spring) – soaking in the onsen after a day of sightseeing is incredibly relaxing. The hotel's location is excellent; waking up early allows you to perfectly avoid the crowds and enjoy Todai-ji Temple and Mount Kasuga (Todai-ji Temple at 7 am offers a completely different experience). By the way, a trip to Nara can extend far beyond Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha. There are many hidden gems to explore in the surrounding area, such as a short hike up Mount Kasuga, Muro-ji Temple, and the Forest of Arts.
KKoh Kabout a 10-minute walk from Shin-Omiya Station. Right next to it is the Mi Nara Shopping Mall, which has a large hypermarket and several shops selling affordable clothing — including lovely children’s wear. To reach Mi Nara, head to the left side of the hotel, toward the JW Marriott Hotel.
Highly recommend:
- Mount Yoshino (steep slopes hiking) lots of persimmon, kiwi trees, pomegranate. Be sure to prepare some food, water in your bag & most importantly hiking stick. We took 4 hours of walking to complete the entire Mount Yoshino (from right with shrines to left with restaurant, fruit trees).
Places to explore near the hotel:
1️⃣ Mi Nara Shopping Mall – Perfect for groceries and daily essentials, with prices more affordable than Aeon Supermarket.
2️⃣ Montbell Village & Bellside Café – A great spot for outdoor gear, and the café serves delicious pasta, pizza, and pastries.
- Ask the hotel staff for a printed copy of Bus 28’s schedule to Montbell (the bus stop is right in front of JW Marriott). From Montbell, it’s a short walk to Hard Off / Off House, where you can browse a fun selection of secondhand items — clothes, bags, toys, and household goods.
- The breakfast buffet offers a good variety and is worth the price — ¥3,000 per person, payable at the front desk.
- The room was clean and comfortable. I recommend renting a humidifier if you experience a dry nose due to the cold air. Also, wearing a mask outdoors helps to stay comfortable in dry or chilly weather.
- A free shuttle bus is available — check with the lobby staff for a printed copy of the schedule.
MM0117****True to its reputation as an established hotel, everything was impeccable. With Christmas and New Year approaching, the lobby was beautifully and exquisitely decorated. The walls of the lobby displayed the hotel's illustrious history, making me feel incredibly fortunate on my first stay. Additionally, the hotel boasts an excellent location, right outside the JR station, making travel exceptionally convenient. It will definitely be my top choice for my next visit to Nara!
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)
RRedongBooked this through Ctrip's 919 sale, got it for just over 400 RMB a night!
While most hotels in the Kansai region come with hot springs, this one's bath is particularly special and doesn't feel stuffy (those who've stayed elsewhere will know what I mean, haha).
After 9:30 PM every night, there's complimentary ramen and ice cream, and in the mornings, free yogurt. The entire hotel is incredibly clean; they even wipe down your luggage wheels when you check in. It's a shoe-free property, which makes for a really fantastic experience. Highly recommend, highly recommend!
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 UserThis hotel is right next to JR Nara Station, making it super convenient for traveling to and from Osaka and Kyoto by JR. You can get to downtown Osaka in about half an hour on the JR Yamatoji Line, and the JR Nara Line lets you visit Uji and Inari along the way before reaching Kyoto Station. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and it's one of the few Roynet Hotels that actually has a hot spring bath. Plus, it's cheaper than other hotels of the same brand in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. This brand is known in Japan for being a quality, good-value chain hotel, so it's a great place to stay if you're exploring Osaka, Kyoto, and 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.
Dd_donneIt'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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