NARA Guesthouse KAMUNABI - Hostel

We arrived around 10 PM with our child and suitcases after a long walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. The road was rough and full of potholes, which was hard on our luggage. There was a note on the door saying we’d missed check-in and couldn’t enter. I emailed as instructed but got no reply. The door was unlocked, so we called and shouted from the entrance. We could hear the phone ringing inside, but nobody answered. It was hot, mosquitoes were swarming, and we waited outside until after 11 PM. We eventually gave up and didn’t find another hotel until 12:30 AM. I’ll admit we underestimated how long the walk would take, which put us in a difficult position. Still, the inn’s communication and service were lacking. The note said they’d sent several messages that we hadn’t answered, but I’d only received one, around 9:30 PM, asking when we’d arrive. I also spent a lot of time trying to reach customer service from the door without getting any useful response. While calling out, I’m sure I heard sounds inside, but nobody came out. Three days earlier, I’d heard that Nara had elected an anti-foreign-tourist influencer as a city councilor, and I considered canceling our trip. When I asked the inn if we could cancel, they refused, so we went ahead. I can’t help wondering if that request annoyed them and contributed to the lonely, helpless, deeply disappointing night we had. Since we couldn’t even check in, I have to give the lowest rating.

The guesthouse was only a few minutes from the park and some really good restaurants, and I met some interesting people during my stay too. I spent four nights in the male dorm. The staff were kind and helpful, and all spoke very good English. Guests and hosts kept the place incredibly clean and tidy. The beds were comfortable, the kitchen had everything I needed for a short stay, and the cooked breakfast was tasty. I had a fantastic time and would happily stay here again if I returned to Nara. I’d recommend it to anyone visiting.

I used the male dorm as a base for almost two weeks while exploring Japan by rail, with the Kintetsu line very close by. The place is consistently clean, and the actual staff and stay were perfect, kind and respectful. The one issue was other foreigners being disrespectful and inconsiderate. The staff made my stay in Japan fantastic.

The manager, Yuya, is very personable and speaks excellent English. This guesthouse is in an older part of Nara, still not far from Nara Park. The building has great bones, and my room was spacious, clean, and quiet.