Nara Kasugaokuyama Tsukihitei

Truly an incredible experience. Located within a primeval forest that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's a serene and stunning hotel away from the hustle and bustle of society. The room was large, extremely well maintained, and free of any insects. The stairs and steps were all very clean and sturdy. No, there's no TV but why in the world would you want TV when you're going to a hotel IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS SURROUNDED BY NATURE?
The kaiseki meals were fresh and full of delightful flavors and surprises. The staff was very attentive, kind, and welcoming. I've been to amazing ryokans in Hakone and Hokkaido but this is one that absolutely stands out as an unforgettable experience. I will happily return again.

This is a wonderful Ryokan experience. The location is unique — right in the middle of the primeval forest with nothing else around, magical!
Every room is tucked away with beautifully framed views of the forest. The futons were the thickest and most comfortable of any we slept on in Japan.
Staying here comes with the whole experience with Yukatas, a Kaiseki dinner and a traditional breakfast. Our host was lovely and explained everything to us, and the chef came to greet us too.
You can also book 2 private bathrooms, which were much more beautiful than even the photos suggested!
Though expensive, this is not a modern luxury hotel. The buildings are old and you will see creepy crawlies get in from the forest. This is part of what makes it magical though — we wouldn't have changed a thing!

This 3 star hotel charges 5 star price with everything not up to par:
Location is not convenient, it is very far from the deer park and located uphill, it is very steep to walk (unlike other hotels where you walk easily to see deers on flat ground level). We cannot see any deers around, only see deers in the far away deer park.
Rooms: This is a very small hotel that only has around 2 guests rooms. From entrance to the room, I can see many big insects, the wooden steep screeches when you are walking! Inside the room, you will be surprised there is no TV or bath onsen. There are also many big bugs in the room.
Service: There was even an insect in the food served, it made my family unhappy.

Horrified by the amount of insects inside the guest room, big and approaches human all the times.
Carpets are dirty and smelly.
Ruins the trip due to the stay.

Very dilapidated and dirty. Within 15 minutes, we saw many different kinds of big insects in the room, such as palm size spiders. It is horrible and sleep is restless due to all bugs.
There is no TV in the room.
I should have booked another hotel.

My boyfriend and I stayed here for 1 night and very much enjoyed it. The best thing about it was that it was separated from the rest of the accommodations in Nara so it felt like we were truly in the middle of the forest. Additionally, the kaiseki dinner was the most delicious and fresh kaiseki we’ve tried. The breakfast was also very fresh and tasty. We did not have a private bath in our room but the two private baths for reservation were both nice. The one thing we both wished for was to be able to open the windows in our room but that was not possible and they did not have screens for the large windows. We also wished the private baths had large windows that could open to the forest. Though it was a nice stay with great service standard of most ryokans, the rooms and amenities were slightly older and less comfortable than we had at a less expensive ryokan in Kusatsu, likely because of the popular location.

What a magical place! We wanted to stay in a ryokan that was both close to a city but also in the forest, for tranquility. This place delivered more than we could imagine. The food was exquisite. The surrounding old growth forest was enchanting. The service was exceptional. The bath was out of this world. I feel so grateful to have stayed here.

An amazing, enchanting stay. The suite was gorgeous and so comfortable. Everything was thought out so well and the food and service were exceptional. We felt as if we were cocooned in our own forest retreat and didn’t want to leave. Would love to come back.

Stayed in the Sakura suite. Expensive but amazing. I have been too Japan some ten times and I do not use the word amazing often. Traditional ryokan room, plus separate bedroom, plus huge bathroom area with a large cedar bathtub. The dinner and breakfast is served in the room, dish by dish, i. E. The very traditional way. This is really a six star experience but I deduct one star because it is pricy.

I felt like I was royalty living inside a Studio Ghibli movie.
Service unmatched, food traditional and mouth watering, call in massage services (additional costs), deer right outside your window, sounds of nature, private bath, and above all the most comfortable slippers you will ever wear (you can purchase some yourself to take home, like we did).

Amazing experience. Wonderful service. Beautiful location. One of the most memorable experiences of our honeymoon. And they graciously accommodated a vegetarian meal that was one of the best of our trip.

I went to Japan for a couple of weeks, and I stayed at several hotels as I visited different cities. As great as all these hotels were, though, my stay at this Ryokan stood out as being truly special.
I was particularly impressed by how attentive the staff were during my stay and the quality of the food that was provided. The Ryokan is also situated in a quiet forest, so acts as a calm oasis from the bustling life that can be found in most Japanese cities. From the moment I arrived until I left, I felt like my care was the top priority of everyone involved, and my stay here felt like a welcome break during my holiday.
That said, however, I should mention that there's a few things to be aware of: This is a traditional Ryokan, so your stay will very much be guided by the hosts; meals and baths are scheduled for you, specifically, so I would recommend you let yourself be guided and cared for accordingly. Additionally, the Ryokan is in the middle of a forest, so an occasional insect may get into the room (although the staff can take care of this if needed! ).
I can't emphasise enough how much I enjoyed my stay here — if you are visiting Nara, you owe it to yourself to experience a stay at this Ryokan. I was only able to stay here a single night, but next time I visit Japan I will be sure to stay longer!

Wonderful honeymoon stays in Tsukihitei. I appreciated there are supportive team and dedicated Nara foods, greens and cultures we are be involved. My wife and I are enjoyed these Nara days. Thank you.

One of the highlights of my trip to Japan. Not the easiest to access, I highly recommend taking a GO Taxi from either of the Nara train stations here with your baggage.
Only downside is that the inn is about a mile walk to Nara Park and the major attractions in the area. If you have more than a night here that isn't a big deal, but when trying to cram everything into a single a day we relied on Taxis to save time going back and forth. If you're here for one night I highly suggest dropping your baggage off and spending the day exploring Nara. You can check-in at 3 but I'd suggest staying out until 4 or 4:30 since the earliest dinner I believe is at 5:30 and 6:30 at the latest.

Spent a night here with some friends and it did not disappoint. The staff were so accommodating, friendly and made us feel very welcome during our stay.
The highlight for me was the traditional bath followed by a set dinner/breakfast which showcased an array of traditional Japanese food. The sake was divine also!
Located in the forested area of Nara, it’s the perfect place to hideaway and recurve an authentic experience of a ryokan during your stay in Japan.
There is also a gorgeous hike to the summit so would recommend getting here for sunrise/sunset.

Booked for one night in the middle of our Japan trip, not entirely sure what to expect. We had been told to book a Ryokan somewhere in Japan, and decided to take a chance on this one in Nara despite advice online generally suggesting Kyoto or Hakone. I am so glad we did.
This has been the highlight of our Japan trip, a truly magical experience — the ryokan feels like a fairytale. So tranquil, so beautiful. Wonderful staff, great food, a beautiful onsen, and located in the middle of Nara park, tucked among the trees, surrounded by wildlife, yet a mere 30 minute walk from the main town and major Nara temples (and can be accessed by taxi).
We were a group of 5, 3 women, 2 men — and we were separated by gender into two rooms. The rooms truly feel a part of the forest, strategically placed with large windows to ensure an immersive experience. The walkways between rooms are outdoors so you feel engaged with nature constantly. We actually saw a Japanese badger stroll right past our window and a flying squirrel jumping through the trees.
The bedrooms were stocked with snacks and some free beers, tea and juices. The floors are heated (this is fabulous when you get into your bed later that night, it feels like your mattress is heated). We had two rooms, which were quite different. One was smaller, but had a private bath in the room with a stunning view of the forest. One was larger and more spacious, with multiple areas for relaxation. Both were stunning.