MIKASA RYOKAN
Good to know before you go
- Hours
- Check-in 15:00, check-out 10:30 (front doors lock at 23:00)
- Best time to go
- Weekday evenings for the complimentary summit night-view shuttle, or the fourth Saturday of January for the annual Wakakusa Yamayaki grass-burning festival.
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Perched on the scenic slopes of Mount Wakakusa, Mikasa Ryokan offers a tranquil escape from central Nara with spectacular panoramic views of the city's historic temple rooftops. This traditional inn features authentic tatami-mat rooms, soothing public hot spring baths, and exquisite multi-course kaiseki dinners. It is the perfect retreat for travelers seeking a classic, slow-paced Japanese hospitality experience just minutes from Nara Park.
What Japanese guides note
Because the ryokan is located inside the private Nara Okuyama Driveway toll zone on Mount Wakakusa, pedestrian access is not possible. Visitors without personal vehicles must take a taxi or use the scheduled free shuttles running from Kintetsu-Nara or JR Nara Station. No convenience stores or shops exist on the mountain slopes around the inn, so any outside provisions should be acquired prior to departure.
Details from local sources
- Mikasa Ryokan cannot be reached on foot or by public transit because it sits along the private Nara Okuyama Driveway toll road. [source]
- Guests who drive receive one free round trip between the toll gate and the inn after informing the attendant at the Nara Okuyama Driveway toll gate. [source]
- The baths are artificial mineral baths heated with medicinal herbs and natural Koumyoseki stone (quasi-drug license No. 43D-251) rather than a natural thermal spring. [source]
- The inn operates a dedicated information desk near Exit 5 of Kintetsu-Nara Station that stores guests' luggage between 10:00 and 18:00 before check-in or after checkout. [source]
- Overnight guests can join a free weekday night-view shuttle tour from the inn to the summit of Mount Wakakusa, weather permitting. [source]
Insider Tip
Take advantage of the ryokan's free shuttle service from Kintetsu-Nara and JR Nara stations, as the uphill walk is very steep.
Frequently asked
How does the free shuttle service from Nara stations work?
The ryokan operates afternoon shuttle buses from its service counter outside Kintetsu-Nara Station Exit 5 at 14:45, 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00. Departures from JR Nara Station leave five minutes earlier and require advance booking. Morning departures back to both stations run at set intervals between 08:00 and 10:40.
Are the baths at Mikasa Ryokan natural hot springs?
No. The property does not draw from a natural geothermal spring. The indoor and outdoor baths are artificial mineral baths combining traditional herbal medicated baths with mineral-releasing natural Koumyoseki stone, officially classified as a quasi-drug bath treatment for ailments including stiffness and fatigue.
Where can guests store bags in town prior to check-in?
Guests can deposit baggage at the Mikasa Information Office situated outside Exit 5 of Kintetsu-Nara Station. The station office operates between 10:00 and 18:00, allowing travelers to tour central Nara and Nara Park unencumbered before taking the afternoon shuttle up the mountain.
How does the toll road fee work when arriving by car?
The inn sits on the Nara Okuyama Driveway toll road. Drivers must inform the toll booth clerk upon entry that they have a reservation at Mikasa Ryokan. The front desk provides an exit voucher at checkout covering one complimentary round trip along the toll road segment.
Our Nara walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
