Absolutely loved this hotel! The hot springs were so relaxing, and the breakfast was delicious. After a dip in the onsen, there's even complimentary ice cream, Yakult, and late-night ramen – such a nice touch! The service was also excellent. Both the rooms and hallways are fully tatami-matted, making for a very comfortable stay. The location is right next to Nara Station, and you step out directly into a shopping street, which is incredibly convenient. I'll definitely be staying here again on my next trip to Nara!
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.
Since it's a new hotel, the facilities are very new and clean. It was the biggest room I stayed in during my trip to Japan. Highly recommend!
I also have to emphasize that the breakfast was incredibly rich, clean, delicious, and offered a wide variety of choices. Absolutely amazing!
I like Mercure very much. There are lounge services in the afternoon and evening. There are quite a lot of drinks, as well as cookies and candies. It is very comfortable to chat with family and friends. The room is quite large. The one we stayed in is a bit old, but the hygiene is still quite good. This time, we included a buffet breakfast and dinner. There are not many categories, but there are still surprises. It includes many specialties of Kashihara Nara, and provides a lot of sauces, which can be DIY. A student team checked in on the second day of the stay, but the hotel management is good, orderly, and food is added in time. The overall feeling is great.
This is my second time staying at this hotel, and it's always child-friendly and highly rated. The rates are reasonable, and the surrounding area is great for shopping, leisure, and entertainment. I think it would be even better if there was a place to buy souvenirs inside the hotel.
The room was spacious and spotlessly clean, including the bedding. While the room was well-equipped, some facilities felt a bit dated. However, both the interior and exterior of the building exuded an aristocratic grandeur. The front desk staff were incredibly polite, professional, and went above and beyond to help guests with any issues. The hot spring had specific operating hours, and unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to experience it, which was a slight disappointment.
Last year, I stayed with my husband and wife. It is quiet and spacious, the bath has a washroom, and the toilet is individual. The view from the window was peaceful and relaxing. This time, at the request of my husband, I finally came to stay with my family to come with my daughters. I have bad teeth, so I can't eat out and bring my meal. I checked that the microwave was installed last time, so I used it this time. I spent a leisurely time until the last minute of check-out time. The staff responded well. Thank you.
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!
Idealy located to visit Shigisan, a 5min walk from the entrance !
A very pleasant Onsen (indoor and Outdoor) is in the hotel.
Note however that they don't serve diner and all restaurants are closed in the evening, so make sure you plan accordingly !
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GGuest UserA question to think about, ‘What makes a hotel a luxury one?’
To me, it’s luxury because of the hospitality of the staff, quality of the property and the food they provided totally exceed travellers’ expectations, and as a result, we would love to pay more for the experience.
Some staff really tried their very best to help me during my stay while some just didn’t. Upon arrival, I tried to communicate with the staff that I’d like to cancel my third night’s dinner because of the change of my plan. At first, I booked six meals in total and I’d only want to cancel one dinner and they said I needed to pay 100% for the cancelled meal because they have already bought the ingredients. Okay, I tried to understand that because they had already taken away my credit card and there’s nothing I could do about that and I thought it must be a very nice meal and that’s why they insisted that. Disappointingly, the portion was so small and paying the same amount of money I could get so much better food in 虹夕諾雅 or any other five star onsen hotels in Japan. As a result, I went to bed feeling hungry and eating the snacks I bought for myself :( The food portions are like a bento instead of a proper meal. )
Also, the Western style breakfast was so overpriced and the avocado in the omelette was not fresh at all.
One more thing to note is that the complimentary champagne service they provided to their guests. It’s a nice experience but maybe I’m just a lady travelling alone and I couldn’t speak Japanese at all, the waitress didn’t serve me the same way as she served other people in the cafe. When all of them got two glasses of free drinks, one cocktail and one champagne, she only gave me one champagne and didn’t offer me the cocktail. And the day after, there was a nice staff who served me properly and I finally realized that I am entitled to two drinks.
(Sigh)The experience was like buying a Chanel bag. The bag was pricey but the chain of the bag just suddenly fall apart
while you are using it for the very first time. My advice is: Don’t use their catering services especially for the in-room dining plan. There are so many better choices out there in the city. The room and the service of the staff are great tho.
SSipailouwuyanzuSince it's a new hotel, the facilities are very new and clean. It was the biggest room I stayed in during my trip to Japan. Highly recommend!
I also have to emphasize that the breakfast was incredibly rich, clean, delicious, and offered a wide variety of choices. Absolutely amazing!
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)
DDayanAbsolutely loved this hotel! The hot springs were so relaxing, and the breakfast was delicious. After a dip in the onsen, there's even complimentary ice cream, Yakult, and late-night ramen – such a nice touch! The service was also excellent. Both the rooms and hallways are fully tatami-matted, making for a very comfortable stay. The location is right next to Nara Station, and you step out directly into a shopping street, which is incredibly convenient. I'll definitely be staying here again on my next trip to Nara!
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!
11356424****Stepping into the hotel lobby, you're immediately greeted by the distinct aroma of the hot spring baths. We booked a standard room, which was a bit small. If you're traveling with children, I'd recommend a suite for more space. The hotel is super close to Nara Station, just a quick left turn when you exit. The hot spring baths cost extra, but it's not expensive and they're open until midnight. A really thoughtful touch is that the TV in the room shows how busy the baths are. Overall, I'm very satisfied. Japanese hotels are always incredibly clean; you really can't find anything to complain about. I forgot to take pictures of the room, but I did snap a few of the TV, haha. P2 is a specialty product I bought from a persimmon shop in 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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