Fine Garden Nara Horai

I was nervous before arriving because people had left one-star reviews, complaining about the lack of public transport. But why book a hotel without checking where it is first? The place itself was really, really clean, cleaner than a four-star hotel I'd stayed at in Tokyo. I enjoyed my stay: the room, bed, and bathroom were all big. There are lots of local restaurants around here if you're driving, and the food is cheap and delicious. I loved this place and would come back whenever I visit Nara again.

The only awkward part was getting here on foot, since the entrance is set up for cars. Otherwise, this was a fun, quirky hotel for couples. I booked without realizing it was adults-only, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Staff were friendly and always ready to help, and the room was clean and roomy, with playful details and a nice hot tub. Watch out, the massage chair is addictive. Next time we're in Nara for the deer and kakinoha, we'll stay here again.

The JR station is a bit of a walk if you're going on foot. There's no nearby restaurant, but you can order room service using the phone provided, and the prices aren't too high, or get delivery online from 4k yen and up. The room is quite large and could fit more people. It had a massage chair, a slot machine, and karaoke, plus a big bathroom with a tub. The bath tap was a little faulty, so check whether the water is hot or cold before using it. Although it's an adults-only hotel, oddly, there's a kids' meal on the menu. There was a free adult video channel on the TV, and reception was usually empty unless you called them for check-in.

Don't come by public transport. You'll end up walking beside the main road or highway, and the receptionist had to get us a taxi because there was no other way around. This hotel rents rooms by the hour and has a menu so you can choose one to match the atmosphere you want. The rooms are very sex-oriented, and 'adult only' takes on a whole new meaning. There was a slot machine in our room, though we managed to turn it off. The receptionist was lovely and tried to help. This was another hotel booked by our travel agent.