Hanaya Tokubei

9.3

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 9.3/10, based on 51 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 Current ryokan	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	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 2:30 PM

Mountain Setting Hot Spring Town Quiet Village Hot Spring Bath Private Onsen Kaiseki Cuisine

Location

638-0431 Nara, Tenkawa, Dorogawa 217, Japan

Staff 9,4/10

Facilities 9,0/10

Cleanliness 9,5/10

Comfort 9,4/10

Value for money 8,9/10

Location 9,7/10

Oldest Dorogawa InnOne of Dorogawa Onsen's signature stays, with roughly 500 years of history.

Historic Wooden AtmosphereTraditional timber interiors and nostalgic design create a distinctly old-Japan ryokan feel.

Three Hot Spring BathsOffers multiple bath styles, including a semi-open-air bath and a reservable private bath.

Quiet Small-Scale StayLimited guest capacity helps keep the experience calm, personal, and less crowded.

Local Seasonal CuisineMeals highlight seasonal mountain and river ingredients from the surrounding area.

Dorogawa Onsen SettingWell placed for the old hot spring street, Shugendo heritage, and mountain scenery.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsOnsen-town setting is the main driver: arrive by afternoon, soak before dinner, walk lantern-lit Dorogawa after dinner, enjoy breakfast, then visit Ryusen-ji, a cave, or Mitarai Valley before moving on.

Trip-planning verdict: Best as a 1-night destination ryokan or relaxed 2-night mountain onsen break, not as a convenient sightseeing base for broader Nara.

Know before booking

Remote accessReaching Dorogawa usually requires train plus bus via Shimoichiguchi, with limited bus frequency outside peak season.

Limited diningTown dining is sparse and many places close early, so dinner-inclusive booking is the safer plan.

Thin base valueBeyond town walks, temple, caves, and valley scenery, the area is not dense enough for a long stay.

Gokiraku (on-site)

on-site

Reserved on-site dining room for kaiseki lunch and ryokan-style meals.

Handmade Bread Kanbashi (nearby)

nearby3 min walk

Small bakery cafe with fresh bread and a quiet second-floor cafe.

Chinese Restaurant Shobu (nearby)

nearby7 min walk

Popular village Chinese restaurant with lighter-style 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, use Kintetsu rail to Shimoichiguchi Station and continue by Nara Kotsu bus to Dorogawa Onsen, then walk a few minutes to the ryokan. If carrying bulky luggage or arriving late, a taxi from Shimoichiguchi is usually the more practical final transfer.

Shimoichiguchi Stationstation
12 kmShimoichi, Yoshino District, Nara, Japantoo far to walk comfortablyabout 55–75 min by car or taxi, depending on road conditionsabout 1 hr 10–20 min by bus to Dorogawa Onsen
Primary rail gateway for Dorogawa Onsen. Best overall station for most visitors coming from Osaka, Nara, or Kyoto via Kintetsu.
Yamato-Yagi Stationstation
28 kmKita-Yagi-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japanabout 1 hr 30–2 hr by carusually well over 2 hr with rail and bus transfers; best checked locally
Useful as a major Kintetsu transfer hub, especially for travelers connecting from wider Kansai. Less direct than Shimoichiguchi but helpful for route planning.
Dorogawa Onsen Bus Stopbus
50 mDorogawa, Tenkawa, Yoshino District, Nara, Japanabout 3–8 min on footabout 3–5 min by taximain local arrival point from Shimoichiguchi, roughly 1 hr 10–20 min by bus
Most useful final public transport stop for the ryokan and Dorogawa Onsen area; usually the best choice for travelers arriving without a car.
Tenkawa-kawai Bus Stopbus
3.5 kmTenkawa, Yoshino District, Nara, Japanabout 45 min walkabout 10–20 min by car or taxiabout 10–20 min onward by local bus toward Dorogawa Onsen
Useful intermediate village bus stop if bus timing to Dorogawa Onsen is limited or if combining the stay with nearby Tenkawa-area sightseeing.
Kansai International Airportairport
61 kmSenshu Airport, Izumisano, Osaka, Japanroughly 2 hr 30 min to 3 hr 30 min by car, often longer depending on traffictypically several hours with rail and bus transfers; best checked locally
Best international airport option for many overseas travelers, but onward ground transport is long and usually requires at least one rail transfer plus bus.
Osaka International Airport (Itami)airport
70 kmHotarugaike Nishimachi, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japanroughly 2 hr to 3 hr by car, often longer depending on traffictypically several hours with multiple transfers; best checked locally
Useful mainly for domestic flights into Kansai. Choose this airport if flight timing and fares are better than Kansai International, but expect a long overland transfer.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Deep historic characterThis is the long-established inn in Dorogawa Onsen, and its age shows in a memorable way through the traditional wooden architecture and old-world atmosphere. If you want a ryokan that feels rooted in place rather than generic, this is a standout.
Strong sense of placeThe ryokan sits in Dorogawa Onsen, a mountain hot-spring village tied to Mt. Omine and Shugendo culture. That setting gives the stay a spiritual, quiet, and distinctly different feel from city-based ryokans.
Appealing baths and garden viewsGuests can enjoy hot-spring bathing in a property known for semi-open-air bath spaces and garden-facing rooms. The bathing experience appears to be one of the inn's most appreciated features.
Memorable regional mealsDinner is a real part of the experience here, with kaiseki-style options and local mountain dishes including jidori chicken hot pot, duck hot pot, and wild boar hot pot. This makes the stay especially appealing for travelers who want local food, not just lodging.
Warm, well-rated hospitalityService is consistently one of the property's strongest points, with very high guest ratings and praise for helpful staff. That matters even more in a rural onsen town where personal care can shape the whole trip.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Remote and time-consuming to reachGetting here takes effort, especially without a car: the usual route involves train to Shimoichiguchi, then a long bus ride, then a walk or pickup. It is better for slow travel than for a quick one-night stop.
Limited flexibility without dinner plansNearby restaurants are limited and many close early in the evening, so spontaneous dining is not a strength of this area. Travelers who like to decide meals at the last minute may find the village inconvenient.
Traditional style over modern luxuryThis ryokan is about heritage and atmosphere, not sleek contemporary design or resort-style facilities. If you prefer polished modern interiors and extensive amenities, the experience may feel too classic or simple.
Not every room offers the same privacySome guests may expect a private open-air bath in every room, but that is not the standard across all room types. Choosing the wrong room category could make the stay feel less special than expected.
Best for travelers who enjoy quietDorogawa is a peaceful mountain onsen town, which is part of its charm but also means little nightlife and a slower rhythm. Travelers wanting shopping, bars, or lots of activity nearby may feel isolated.

Current position: 7th out of 37 ryokans in Nara.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥈 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 Current ryokan	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