Hotel New Wakasa

8.7

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.7/10, based on 111 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 Current ryokan	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 3:00 PM

Temple District Garden Setting Mountain Setting City Center Station Access Public Onsen

Location

630-8274 Nara, Nara, Kitahanda Higashimachi 1, Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 8,0/10

Cleanliness 9,0/10

Comfort 8,0/10

Value for money 8,0/10

Location 9,0/10

Near Todai-jiAbout five minutes on foot from Todai-ji, ideal for early temple visits.

Walkable from KintetsuRoughly ten minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station, making arrival and sightseeing straightforward.

Private bath optionOffers reservable private bathing and multiple public baths for a more relaxing stay.

Rooftop temple viewsRooftop terrace and select areas offer memorable views toward Todai-ji and surrounding scenery.

Traditional room feelTatami-style rooms create a classic ryokan atmosphere with a distinctly Japanese stay experience.

Kaiseki meal experienceJapanese kaiseki meals are a standout, with advance handling for vegetarian and allergy needs.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsLocation is the strongest driver here: you can arrive from Kyoto or Osaka, check in, use the bath, walk Todai-ji and Nara Park, stay for kaiseki dinner and breakfast, then continue onward without backtracking. A second night works if you want a slower Nara rhythm with Naramachi, Kasuga Taisha, museums, and time to enjoy a reservable bath or bath-equipped room.

Trip-planning verdict: Best used as a 1-night or relaxed 2-night Nara stay near Todai-ji and Nara Park, not as a deep onsen retreat or long regional base.

Know before booking

Not a real hot springThe bath setup is an artificial onsen-style system, so do not book this as a true natural onsen destination.

Can feel overlongMost major sights are walkable nearby, so many travelers will run out of strong reasons after two nights.

Station still requires a walkIt is convenient for Kintetsu Nara, but not the easiest pick for heavy luggage or frequent train hops.

AKARI (on-site)

on-site

Main building dining room for kaiseki and breakfast.

Top Floor Restaurant (on-site)

on-site

Scenic meal space used for special plans and occasions.

Bar (on-site)

on-site

Small in-house evening bar space; drink details are limited.

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 continue on foot if traveling light, or take a short taxi ride if carrying luggage. From the airport, Kansai International Airport is usually the most useful international gateway, while Itami works well for domestic arrivals.

Kintetsu-Nara Stationstation
740 mNishimikadocho, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 10-15 min on footabout 5-10 min by taxi
Best overall station for this ryokan and for sightseeing around Nara Park; easiest choice for most visitors coming from Kyoto or Osaka.
JR Nara Stationstation
1.6 kmSanjohommachi, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 25-35 min on footabout 10-15 min by taxiabout 15-25 min by local bus or a short taxi ride
Useful for JR arrivals, especially from Kyoto or the Osaka area, but less convenient than Kintetsu-Nara Station for this property.
Yamato-Saidaiji Stationstation
4.5 kmSaidaijikunimicho, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 60 min walkabout 20-30 min by taxiabout 15-30 min by train to Kintetsu-Nara, then walk or taxi
Important Kintetsu transfer hub for travelers connecting from wider Kansai or from limited express services; usually not the final stop you want for the ryokan.
Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae Bus Stop areabus
560 mNear Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha approach, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 5-10 min on foot depending on exact stop usedabout 5 min by taxi
Very practical for visitors using local buses around the Nara Park and Tōdai-ji area; especially useful if you prefer to avoid a longer walk from the station.
Nara Park Bus Terminalbus
650 mNoboriojicho area, Nara, Nara, Japanabout 10-15 min on footabout 5-10 min by taxi
Helpful if you arrive by highway or local sightseeing bus, and also convenient for park-side sightseeing after check-in or before departure.
Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)airport
38 kmOsaka Airport, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japanabout 60-80 min by car depending on trafficoften about 75-110 min with bus and rail combinations, best checked locally
Good domestic-flight option for reaching Nara; convenient if your itinerary stays within Japan and you want a closer regional airport than Kansai International.
Kansai International Airportairport
61 km1 Senshukukokita, Izumisano, Osaka, Japanabout 75-100 min by car depending on trafficoften about 90-120 min via rail transfers, best checked locally
Usually the most useful airport for international visitors heading to Nara; rail access via the Osaka/Kintetsu network is generally more practical than a full taxi trip.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Excellent base for Nara ParkThe hotel is very close to Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, making early-morning or evening walks around Nara's most famous sights especially easy. This location is a real advantage if Nara is more than just a day trip for you.
Walkable from Kintetsu Nara StationYou can reach it in about 10 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station, which keeps arrival simple even without a car. That is convenient for travelers coming from Kyoto or Osaka for a short stay.
Rooftop and view-focused atmosphereThe property highlights a rooftop garden and view-oriented spaces with sightlines toward Mt. Wakakusa and the Todai-ji area. That gives the stay a stronger sense of place than a standard city hotel.
Private bath options add comfortBeyond the large public bath, the hotel also offers a private bath, which is useful for couples, families, or guests who prefer more privacy. Some rooms also feature open-air bath options for a more elevated stay.
Good fit for drivers and groupsFree parking is available, and the property can handle a relatively large number of vehicles, including buses. That makes it more practical than many central Nara stays if you are arriving by car or traveling in a group.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Not ideal if you want nightlifeIts big advantage is being near temples and parkland rather than in the busiest dining and bar district. If you want to step out late for a lively evening scene, the setting may feel too quiet.
Check-out is fairly earlyCheck-out is set at 10:00 AM, which can make the morning feel rushed compared with hotels that allow a slower departure. That matters if you want a relaxed breakfast-and-bath kind of stay.
Public transport still involves a walkAlthough access is good, it is not directly at the station and still requires around a 10-minute walk or a short taxi ride. With large luggage or in bad weather, that can feel less convenient.
Bath experience is not a true onsen escapeThis is better seen as a ryokan-style city stay with bathing facilities than as a destination hot-spring retreat. Travelers specifically chasing a full onsen-town atmosphere may find it less immersive.
Best rooms may require upgradingSome of the most distinctive experiences, such as rooms with open-air baths or special view-oriented rooms, are limited to higher categories. If you book an entry-level room, the stay may feel more practical than memorable.

Current position: 26th out of 37 ryokans in Nara.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
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 Current ryokan	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