Kakimotoya

8.7

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.7/10, based on 69 reviews.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥇 1st	Nara Inn Japanese Ryokan	9.9/10	25
🥈 2nd	Nara Kasugaokuyama Tsukihitei	9.4/10	464
🥉 3rd	Ryokan Taishoro	9.4/10	104
4th	Gyokuzoin	9.3/10	693
5th	Misenkan	9.4/10	55
6th	Ryokan Asukasou at the entrancne of Nara park	9.2/10	1,089
7th	Hanaya Tokubei	9.3/10	51
8th	Minshuku Kawarabi-so	9.2/10	197
9th	Kasuga Hotel	9.1/10	1,262
10th	Mikasa	9.1/10	955
11th	Kanko Ryokan Kuboji	10.0/10	5
12th	Hotobil B&B 潤 An inn that enjoys breakfast	9.1/10	295
13th	Kotonoyado Musashino	9.1/10	263
14th	Hôtel touristique Tōnomine	9.1/10	167
15th	Wakasa Annex	9.0/10	418
16th	Yoshinoonsen Motoyu	9.1/10	23
17th	Kanko Ryokan Yamato	9.0/10	153
18th	Nara Ryokan	8.9/10	1,438
19th	Kinokuniya Jinpachi	8.9/10	103
20th	Monzen Okagero	8.9/10	98
21st	Tsubakiso	8.9/10	39
22nd	Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO	9.1/10	1
23rd	Shiroyama Ryokan	8.8/10	150
24th	Ryotei Jyusouya	8.2/10	3
25th	Kakimotoya Current ryokan	8.7/10	69
26th	Hotel New Wakasa	8.7/10	111
27th	Yoshidaya Ryokan よしだや	8.7/10	699
28th	Hotel Nosegawa	8.6/10	121
29th	Hotel Mimatsu	8.4/10	30
30th	Marubun, auberge thermale à Dorogawa Onsen	8.3/10	24
31st	KAMENOI HOTEL Nara	8.5/10	186
32nd	Itaniya	8.4/10	103
33rd	Kanko Hotel Tamaru	8.1/10	41
34th	Tenpyo Ryokan	8.3/10	291
35th	Miharu-en, source thermale pour une peau douce	8.0/10	66
36th	Hotel Asyl Nara	8.1/10	622
37th	Nara Park Hotel	7.6/10	894

Check-in from 4:00 PM

Mountain Setting Forest Surroundings Valley Scenery Hot Spring Town Private Onsen In-Room Bath

Location

636-0831 Nara, Sango, Shigisan Higashi 5-8 , Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 8,8/10

Cleanliness 9,0/10

Comfort 8,8/10

Value for money 8,6/10

Location 8,5/10

Walk to Chogosonshi-jiAbout five minutes on foot to Shigisan's famous Chogosonshi-ji temple.

Hillside View RoomsPerched on high ground, many rooms enjoy wide natural and valley views.

Kaiseki-Focused StayWell-known as a cuisine ryokan, with multi-course Japanese meals as a key draw.

Private Open-Air BathsPopular rooms include private open-air baths for a quieter ryokan experience.

Traditional Hideaway FeelA tucked-away setting on Mount Shigi gives a calm, classic ryokan atmosphere.

Easy from OsakaAccessible enough for a short escape while still feeling far from the city.

Recommended stay1 nightDining is the main stay-length driver here: arrive for check-in, settle into the bath, eat kaiseki, visit Chogosonshi-ji, then leave after breakfast. A second night works only if you want an unhurried Shigisan/Horyuji side trip pace.

Trip-planning verdict: Best as a 1-night countryside ryokan stay near Shigisan Temple, with 2 nights only if you want a slower temple-and-onsen rhythm around west Nara.

Know before booking

Limited walkable areaThe immediate area is quiet hillside temple territory, not a town with many restaurants or shops.

Access adds frictionBest with car or arranged station pickup; it is less convenient than staying near major Nara or Osaka stations.

Not a long baseAfter temple time, meals, and baths, nearby sightseeing density is modest for a longer multi-night stay.

Kuninomahoroba (on-site)

on-site

Main Japanese dining room with private partitioned seating.

Cafe (on-site)

on-site

Small shop-and-cafe space for light breaks and local sweets.

Breakfast Dining (on-site)

on-site

Ryokan breakfast centered on local Nara-style morning dishes.

Distances are approximate and calculated from the ryokan coordinates. Travel times may vary depending on route, traffic and schedules.

Useful access points Stations, stops, airports and practical travel advice.

Best way to arrive For most travelers, arrive first at Oji Station as the main rail hub, then continue by Nara Kotsu bus toward Shigisanmon/Shigi Ohashi or take a short taxi for easier luggage handling. Shigisanshita Station is closer but less useful as a transfer point, so it is usually best for a final short taxi ride rather than as the main arrival hub.

Shigisanshita Stationstation
1.8 kmnot ideal on foot with luggage due to the uphill approachabout 10 min by taxiabout 10–20 min by local bus or taxi connection
Closest practical train station; convenient if you prefer a short taxi ride to the ryokan after arriving on the Kintetsu Ikoma Line.
Oji Stationstation
2.8 kmabout 35 min walkabout 15–20 min by taxiabout 20–30 min by bus or combined local transit
Best overall rail gateway for the ryokan, with JR and Kintetsu connections and onward bus or taxi access to the Shigisan area.
Shin-Oji Stationstation
2.8 kmabout 35 min walkabout 15–20 min by taxiabout 20–30 min with local bus transfer
Secondary rail option next to the Oji station area, useful for some Kintetsu arrivals from the wider Nara network.
Shigi Ohashi Bus Stopbus
240 mabout 5–10 minabout 3–5 min by taxidirect local bus stop for the temple and ryokan area; best checked locally
Useful final bus stop for travelers who want the shortest likely walk into the Shigisan lodging area.
Shigisanmon Bus Stopbus
510 mabout 10–15 min depending on slope and baggageabout 5–10 min by taxiabout 20–25 min from Oji by bus
Good landmark stop for the Shigisan temple approach; practical if you are sightseeing first, but less convenient than a taxi if carrying large luggage.
Osaka International Airport (Itami)airport
29 kmabout 50–70 min by car depending on traffictypically about 1.5–2 hours via airport bus or rail into the Oji area, then local transfer
Usually the most practical airport for domestic arrivals because it is closer than Kansai Airport and works well with a taxi or rail transfer via Oji.
Kansai International Airportairport
44 kmabout 75–100 min by car depending on traffictypically about 2–2.5 hours via rail or airport-bus connections into the Oji area, then local transfer
Best airport for many international arrivals, but it is significantly farther; use it mainly when flight options are better than Itami.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Excellent kaiseki is the main drawThis ryokan is especially known for beautifully presented original kaiseki, and guest scores for meals are notably strong. It suits travelers who want dinner to be the centerpiece of the stay.
Peaceful Mount Shigi atmosphereThe property sits in a green, quiet area on Mount Shigi, giving the stay a secluded feel that is very different from central Nara or Osaka hotels. It is a good fit if you want calm scenery rather than an urban base.
Some rooms have private open-air bathsSeveral rooms include a private open-air bath facing the mountain view, which adds a more special and romantic feel to the stay. This is a meaningful upgrade if you value in-room bathing time.
Small ryokan with a more personal feelWith only around 15 rooms, Kakimotoya feels more intimate than a large hot spring hotel. That smaller scale can make the experience quieter and more relaxed.
Convenient for Shigisan temple visitIt is well placed for visiting the Shigisan area, including the nearby temple complex on foot. That makes it appealing for travelers combining a ryokan stay with light local sightseeing.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Access is not the easiest without planningThe ryokan is not right by a major station, so many guests will need a taxi or arranged transfer after arriving in the area. It is less convenient if you want to move around spontaneously by train.
More of a dining inn than a full spa resortThe baths are a plus, but this is not the kind of property with a large variety of public bath facilities or a big onsen complex. Travelers seeking a spa-heavy stay may find it limited.
Remote setting means fewer walkable optionsIts quiet hillside location is charming, but it also means there is not much immediate nightlife, shopping, or casual dining around you. After check-in, the experience is largely centered on the ryokan itself.
Some in-room baths are for soaking onlyIn certain rooms with private open-air baths, the bath is designed for soaking and guests still need to use the public bath area for washing. That can disappoint travelers expecting a fully self-contained private bath setup.
Best value depends on loving the ryokan styleBecause the appeal is tied strongly to multi-course dining, quiet surroundings, and traditional-style relaxation, it may feel expensive if you mainly just need a practical base for sightseeing. Travelers who spend little time at the property may not get the full benefit.

Current position: 25th out of 37 ryokans in Nara.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
20th	Monzen Okagero	8.9/10	98
21st	Tsubakiso	8.9/10	39
22nd	Ubusuna no Sato TOMIMOTO	9.1/10	1
23rd	Shiroyama Ryokan	8.8/10	150
24th	Ryotei Jyusouya	8.2/10	3
25th	Kakimotoya Current ryokan	8.7/10	69
26th	Hotel New Wakasa	8.7/10	111
27th	Yoshidaya Ryokan よしだや	8.7/10	699
28th	Hotel Nosegawa	8.6/10	121
29th	Hotel Mimatsu	8.4/10	30
30th	Marubun, auberge thermale à Dorogawa Onsen	8.3/10	24