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Summary of reviewsThe NARA Visitor Center and Inn, located centrally in the historic city of Nara, consistently receives high praise from guests for its outstanding and convenient location. Nestled next to Sarusawa Pond and near Nara Park, visitors have seamless access to iconic landmarks like Kōfuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Grand Shrine. Its proximity to both major train stations and local amenities, including restaurants and shopping streets, further underscores its prime position. Guests appreciate the tranquil and scenic views from their rooms, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite not offering on-site breakfast, the inn compensates with a well-equipped shared kitchen and multiple nearby breakfast options, ensuring guests have ample dining choices. The rooms themselves are frequently highlighted for their spaciousness, cleanliness and traditional Japanese design, complete with tatami mats and futon beds. Many rooms provide stunning views of lakes, pagodas and parks, adding to the authentic and serene ambiance.
Cleanliness throughout the property is consistently praised with daily cleaning routines keeping the rooms and common areas spotless. The onsen, communal kitchens and shared bathrooms are meticulously maintained, contributing to a comfortable and hygienic environment.
The staff at the NARA Visitor Center and Inn stand out for their friendliness, professionalism and multilingual capabilities, which significantly enhance the guest experience. Their willingness to assist with logistics, provide valuable local advice and ensure a welcoming atmosphere is frequently commended.
While the free WiFi is generally reliable in public areas, some guests note that the signal weakens in rooms, indicating an area for improvement. Nonetheless, the inn is especially suitable for families, offering a range of cultural activities like origami and calligraphy, spacious rooms and family-friendly services like baby beds and communal baths.
The bedding options, including futons and traditional beds, are mostly described as comfortable, contributing to a restful night's sleep. Although some find the futons firm, many appreciate the clean and cozy bedding that complements the overall comfortable environment.
Overall, the NARA Visitor Center and Inn excels in offering a blend of traditional Japanese hospitality with modern comforts, making it a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking an authentic and relaxing stay in Nara. Show more
Read review summaries for all categories
Family Friendly Hotel
This inn offers a unique experience with visitor center services. It is suitable for families interested in exploring Nara.
Cheap Hotel
Offers a convenient location and essential amenities. Provides a comfortable and affordable option for travelers. Serves as a good starting point for exploring Nara's attractions.
Room Types
Twin Room with Sofa BedThis triple room has air conditioning, pajamas, toothbrush and satellite TV
Japanese-Style Standard RoomThis triple room features air conditioning, pajamas and toothbrush.
Japanese-Style Superior RoomThis quadruple room has a flat-screen TV, pajamas, toothbrush and air conditioning
Japanese-Style Deluxe RoomThis family room features a satellite TV, pajamas, toothbrush and air conditioning
Guest Reviews
9.3
Excellent
Location
Nestled in the heart of Nara, the NARA Visitor Center and Inn boasts a superb location that makes it the ideal base for exploring this historic city. Positioned right next to the picturesque Sarusawa Pond and the enchanting Nara Park, the hotel offers guests immediate access to some of Nara's most iconic landmarks, including Kōfuku-ji Temple and the five-story pagoda, Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Grand Shrine. It's perfectly placed between both Nara train stations, making it easily accessible whether arriving by JR or Kintetsu lines.
The hotel’s advantageous positioning allows visitors to effortlessly stroll to various attractions, restaurants, shops and even the engaging Deer Park. For those looking to indulge in a bit of shopping or savor local cuisine, the nearby shopping streets and convenience stores offer plenty of options. Guests are thrilled by the tranquil and scenic views available from their rooms, often commenting on the serene vista of Sarusawa Pond and the ancient pagodas.
With easy walking distance to Nara’s main sights and a central spot that guarantees convenience, the NARA Visitor Center and Inn receives high accolades for its unparalleled location. Visitors appreciate not only the proximity to tourist attractions but also the tranquil environment that surrounds the inn, providing a restful retreat after a day of sightseeing. The strategic and central location, coupled with very good value for money, make it a perfect choice for anyone looking to explore Nara's rich cultural heritage.
Breakfast
NARA Visitor Center and Inn receives favorable remarks overall but seems to have a common theme among guest reviews about its breakfast options. Guests appreciate the sufficient and varied breakfast served on the street at tables, noting the very pleasant breakfast service. While the property does not offer breakfast on-site, it makes up for it with a shared, well-equipped kitchen that allows guests to prepare their own meals. Additionally, the hotel's prime location offers multiple nearby cafes and breakfast spots, including a Starbucks café and other cafés on a bustling shopping street. Although some guests feel that offering breakfast would enhance the overall experience, the convenience of local dining options helps compensate for this absence.
Rooms
The 'NARA Visitor Center and Inn' offers rooms that consistently impress guests with their spaciousness, cleanliness and traditional Japanese style. A common highlight is the substantial size of the rooms, often described as huge, spacious or large, providing ample space even for families or groups. The Japanese-style rooms are particularly praised for their beauty and traditional decor, complete with tatami mats and futon beds, which guests find both comfortable and culturally enriching.
Many rooms afford stunning views of surrounding landmarks such as lakes, pagodas and parks, enhancing the overall ambiance and guest experience. Morning views from the balconies are especially noted for their beauty. Cleanliness is another strong point frequently highlighted in reviews with many guests noting the rooms' spotless conditions.
The fusion of spaciousness, traditional design and picturesque outlooks makes staying here a standout aspect of visitors' trips. This, combined with the friendly nature of the staff and convenient location, marks the 'NARA Visitor Center and Inn' as a highly recommended accommodation for those seeking both comfort and a taste of traditional Japanese hospitality.
Beds
Nestled in the charming surroundings of Nara, the NARA Visitor Center and Inn offers a variety of bedding options that cater predominantly to comfort. The general consensus among guests highlights the super comfortable futons and very comfortable beds, underscoring a restful night's sleep. Many found the futons, in particular, to be of good quality, clean and a welcoming retreat after a day of exploration.
Visitors staying in rooms with twin beds or sofa beds also noted the spaciousness and comfort, enhancing their overall stay experience. Although some guests found the pillows and traditional futon beds harder than expected, especially when compared to European standards, others appreciated the fluffy and clean bedding that allowed for a comfortable sleep.
Despite the occasional feedback on the firmness of the beds and pillows, the accommodation maintains a reputation for ensuring a pleasant and cozy environment. With its ideal location and hospitable staff, the NARA Visitor Center and Inn achieves a balance of traditional Japanese lodging with modern-day comfort, making it a favored choice for travelers seeking an authentic and restful stay in Nara.
Cleanliness
The NARA Visitor Center and Inn has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback regarding its cleanliness. Numerous guests have highlighted that both the rooms and shared areas, including the kitchen and bathrooms, are spotlessly clean and well-maintained. The hotel is described as tidy with clean and spacious rooms, making it a comfortable and hygienic place to stay. Many reviews commend the facility for being exceptionally clean with daily cleaning routines ensuring every aspect remains impeccable.
Guests have also mentioned that despite some minor wear on the carpet and bath, everything is still maintained in a clean state. The onsen, communal kitchens and all other common areas are kept spotless, creating a pleasant environment for all visitors. The overall cleanliness extends to fresh decor, ample clean sheets and towels and well-maintained facilities. The daily upkeep contributes to a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring a positive experience for anyone valuing hygiene and comfort during their stay.
Staff
The reviews of NARA Visitor Center and Inn praise the staff for their remarkable friendliness and helpfulness. Guests consistently describe the staff as extraordinarily friendly, accommodating and professional. Many appreciated the staff's proficiency in English and even other languages like Chinese and Mandarin, which greatly aided communication. Visitors were particularly impressed by the staff's attentiveness, enthusiasm and welcoming nature, noting how they consistently went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay.
Reviewers highlighted the exceptional customer service provided by the reception team and the front desk employees, who were often described as polite, calm, efficient and knowledgeable. The staff's ability to offer valuable advice and assistance with logistics, such as luggage storage and booking reservations, was also highly valued.
Guests felt warmly welcomed and at ease, thanks to the staff's hospitable and courteous demeanor. The team's persistent efforts to provide meticulous and considerate service left a lasting positive impression, making the stay memorable for many. Overall, the staff at NARA Visitor Center and Inn appear to play a crucial role in enhancing the guest experience with their outstanding service and kindness.
Wi-Fi
The NARA Visitor Center and Inn provides free WiFi throughout the property, often noted for its good signal and reliable coverage. Guests have appreciated the strong and fast WiFi, making it suitable for work and travel needs. In public areas, the internet connection is generally solid and dependable and assistance with WiFi setup is readily available, highlighting commendable customer service in resolving computer usage issues.
However, multiple reviews mentioned that the WiFi signal weakens significantly in the room areas. Some guests reported unstable connections with WiFi that sometimes disconnects or doesn't reach the rooms at all. The need for improvement in room WiFi facilities is evident from the mixed feedback. While efforts are made to offer efficient support for computer literacy, strengthening the room WiFi could greatly enhance the overall experience.
Family
The NARA Visitor Center and Inn is highly praised for being an ideal destination for families traveling with children. The reviews highlight the variety of activities available that cater to young visitors, making it a great place for kids to stay engaged and entertained. Cultural activities such as origami, tie-dyeing, calligraphy and cosplay are particularly popular among families with free lessons provided. The inn offers spacious, traditional Japanese-style rooms that are well-suited for families, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.
Parents appreciate the family-friendly services, including baby beds and communal baths, which add to the convenience of staying with small children. The information center on the second floor offers additional activities and cultural experiences, making it an enriching place for both kids and adults. A supermarket located downstairs further adds to the convenience, allowing families to easily access necessary supplies.
Moreover, the overall atmosphere is welcoming and suitable for family vacations with staff treating children kindly and ensuring a pleasant stay. The inn is also noted for being great for both foreign and Japanese families, offering a mix of cultural enrichment and modern comfort. Families are able to enjoy a rich and relaxing experience without leaving the premises, making it a highly recommended option for family trips.
No, NARA Visitor Center and Inn doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at NARA Visitor Center and Inn.
No, NARA Visitor Center and Inn doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at NARA Visitor Center and Inn.
No, NARA Visitor Center and Inn doesn't have a gym.