Hotel Asyl Nara

The kaiseki dinner and breakfast were both delicious, and there were nice little surprises throughout the hotel. My room was spacious and bright, with very clean bedding. The public bath on B1 was fully equipped, and the toiletries felt high-end. There’s also a cozy first-floor café with a fireplace. The service was top-notch. This was the hotel of my life in Nara, definitely one for a Japan bucket list.

I stayed here for one night on my honeymoon in Japan in April 2017, and it was my favorite hotel of the trip. The staff were wonderfully kind and hospitable, and they left a handwritten, drawn card that became one of my favorite souvenirs. The buffet breakfast was amazing and affordable, and I really thought breakfast was a must. The place was clean and unique, with a great atmosphere and price. My room was comfortable and roomy, with raised beds that combine Western and Japanese styles: a mattress, but no box spring. Great location too. I’d love to come back.

The building feels a little worn, but the staff are warm and helpful. They put out free sake and snacks for happy hour in the evening, and breakfast is tasty.

The private bath was the highlight of my one-night stay. For five hundred and forty yen, I got 40 minutes in a large hinoki wood tub. I’m five feet, two inches, and could lie back and float in it. It felt like a lovely spa, even though some wall tiles by the entrance needed maintenance. After checking out, I left my luggage there for a few hours, then came back to write and have a cold drink. The lounge was peaceful and cutely decorated, and I got more done than I would have at a Starbucks. There was no Wi-Fi in the bar area, and drinks like coffee or tea were very expensive, about as much as the bath. I paid for a tea, which came in a really small glass, but was left alone with my laptop for a few hours. Great customer service, the lobby, and the bath brought what might have been a one or two-star stay up to three. The hotel is a short walk from Nara Station, with a charming lobby containing a gift shop, tea room, lounge, and bar. The staff were welcoming. My spacious third-floor room had two twin beds, a loveseat, a chair, and a desk, but the room itself was in poor shape. The shower curtain was very moldy, the tub and shower had lots of buildup, the carpet was stained, and there were visible spill stains on the furniture. It didn’t feel clean or well maintained.