Yoshidaya Ryokan よしだや

8.7

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.7/10, based on 699 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	8.7/10	69
26th	Hotel New Wakasa	8.7/10	111
27th	Yoshidaya Ryokan よしだや Current ryokan	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 3:00 PM / Check-out until 10:00 AM

City Center Old Town Temple District Lake Views Public Onsen Private Onsen

Location

630-8301 Nara, Nara, Takabatake-cho 246, Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 8,0/10

Cleanliness 8,0/10

Comfort 8,0/10

Value for money 8,0/10

Location 10,0/10

Sarusawa Pond SettingRight by Sarusawa Pond, ideal for scenic walks and classic Nara atmosphere.

Pagoda View BathsPrivate rooftop bath and some baths look toward Kohfukuji's five-story pagoda.

Walkable From KintetsuAbout 8 to 9 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station.

Sightseeing BaseNext to Kohfukuji and well placed for Nara Park area exploration.

Traditional Meets ModernMeiji-era property blending Japanese atmosphere with more modern room choices.

Good For FamiliesOffers both Japanese and Western rooms, with family-friendly positioning noted locally.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsLocation is the strongest driver here: you can arrive, check in, bathe, walk Sarusawa Pond and Naramachi, then cover Nara Park sights the next day without extra transport. A second night only makes sense for a slower temple-and-museum pace or an easy Kyoto/Osaka transition.

Trip-planning verdict: Best used as a 1-night or 2-night cultural stay in central Nara, not as an onsen-destination retreat or long regional base.

Know before booking

Not a true onsen retreatBaths are a useful comfort feature, but this is not a remote hot-spring destination stay.

Can be overlongMost travelers will run out of nearby must-see sights after one full sightseeing day.

Urban historic settingYou get heritage atmosphere and walkability, not deep mountain seclusion or resort-style grounds.

Dining Room (on-site)

on-site

Ryokan dining for seasonal Japanese dinner and breakfast.

Edogawa Naramachi (nearby)

nearbyabout 10 min walk

Useful nearby Japanese restaurant known for eel and sashimi.

Kura (nearby)

nearbyabout 8 min walk

Nearby izakaya-style stop for dinner, beer, and sake.

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 via Kintetsu Nara Station and take a short taxi ride or a manageable walk if luggage is light. If arriving by JR or from the airport, transfer toward central Nara and consider a taxi for the final stretch.

Kintetsu Nara Stationstation
530 mHigashimukinakamachi area, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 10–15 min on footabout 5–10 min by taxishort local bus or taxi transfer; often easiest by taxi with luggage
Best overall rail access point for this ryokan and the most convenient station for sightseeing around Nara Park.
JR Nara Stationstation
1.2 kmSanjohommachi, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 20–30 min on footabout 10 min by taxiabout 10–20 min by bus or taxi depending on connections
Useful for JR travelers from Kyoto, Osaka, or airport transfer routes, but less convenient than Kintetsu Nara Station for the final approach.
Nara Hotel Bus Stopbus
200 mTakabatake-cho area near Nara Hotel, Nara, Japanabout 3–8 min on footabout 3–5 min by taxiuseful on some local bus approaches; exact service pattern best checked locally
Potentially one of the closest bus options for the ryokan area, convenient if your bus route serves the southern edge of central Nara.
Kencho-mae Bus Stopbus
520 mNear Nara Prefectural Government area, Noboriojicho side, Nara, Japanabout 5–10 min on footabout 5–10 min by taxilocal bus stop for short arrivals from major stations; exact route best checked locally
A practical stop if using city buses from Nara stations, especially for travelers comfortable with a short walk.
Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)airport
38 kmHotarugaike Nishimachi, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japanabout 60–80 min by car depending on trafficoften about 75–110 min with bus and rail combinations
Useful mainly for domestic flights; convenient if your itinerary connects through Osaka and you prefer a shorter overland transfer than from KIX.
Kansai International Airportairport
60 kmSenshukukonaka, Izumisano, Osaka, Japanabout 75–100 min by car depending on trafficoften about 90–120 min with rail transfers via Osaka or Tennoji, sometimes longer
Best main international airport for overseas arrivals; use rail to Nara and finish by Kintetsu Nara Station or taxi.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Superb Nara sightseeing baseIt is in Takabatake-cho by Sarusawa Pond, with Kintetsu Nara Station about an 8-minute walk away and major central Nara sights easily reached on foot.
Rooms with real Sarusawa Pond atmosphereSeveral room types face Sarusawa Pond, and some also look toward Nara’s classic scenery, giving the stay a distinctly local sense of place rather than a generic hotel feel.
Private bath option adds comfortThe ryokan offers a reservable-style private bath experience without needing a full onsen resort, which is especially nice for couples, families, or guests who prefer bathing privately.
Breakfast feels rooted in NaraThe breakfast is more distinctive than a standard hotel buffet, with kamado-cooked rice and local tea porridge, so the morning meal feels tied to the region.
Good room variety for different travelersYou can choose from compact twins to larger Japanese-style rooms, family-friendly layouts, and even rooms with semi-open-air baths, making it flexible for couples or small groups.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Not a full onsen retreatIf you want a classic hot-spring ryokan with expansive public baths and a destination-spa feel, this property is more of a city ryokan than an onsen getaway.
Walk from JR Nara is less convenientIt is much easier from Kintetsu Nara Station than from JR Nara Station, so rail travelers arriving via JR may find the approach less convenient with luggage.
Private bath is not guaranteedThe private bath is available when vacant rather than by strict advance reservation, so you may need to be flexible about timing during busy stays.
Some best views depend on room categoryThe most memorable Sarusawa Pond views are tied to specific pond-side room types, so booking a cheaper category may not deliver the signature scenery people expect.
More intimate than full-service luxuryWith around 19 rooms, the appeal is calm and personal, but travelers seeking large lounges, multiple restaurants, or broad resort-style amenities may find it limited.

Current position: 27th out of 37 ryokans in Nara.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
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	8.7/10	69
26th	Hotel New Wakasa	8.7/10	111
27th	Yoshidaya Ryokan よしだや Current ryokan	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