Ando Hotel Nara Wakakusayama
Japanese-style auberge meets boutique hotel — warm natural materials (wood, paper, earth), tatami accents in Western-plan rooms, serious dining, and onsen culture without the traditional ryokan formality.
Book the free rooftop bath by phone in advance — the three reservable slots fill up, especially at sunset and for the night view
Why It Matters
Featured in the Michelin Guide. Built on the site of a 1950s ryokan, the renovation preserved the soul of the original while adding Western beds, a poolside sauna suite, and terrace suites with private open-air baths. The hilltop position delivers one of Japan's top-ranked night views. Dinner at Terrace Wakakusayama — a sister restaurant to Michelin-starred LA TERRACE in Naramachi — is included in room rates.
Halfway up Mount Wakakusa's slopes, with all of ancient Nara spread out below, the Ando Hotel is what happens when a beloved mid-century ryokan gets a serious renovation. The original inn — known as Yukei no Yado Heijo since the 1950s — was gutted and reopened in July 2020 as a 24-room boutique auberge. Western-style beds replace the futons, but the open-air rooftop baths and multi-course kaiseki dinners are very much intact. The view of Todaiji Temple's Great Buddha Hall and Kofukuji's Five-Story Pagoda, considered one of Japan's Three Great Night Views, is the main event.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Comfort Twin Bedroom
Entry-level room on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Two double-size beds in 38m², with views toward the forests at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa and partial views of the Yamato Sanzan mountains. No city panorama from here, but the room is clean and well-sized for a base category.
2 double beds · 38 sqm
Deluxe Family Room
Four single beds in a 45m² room on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Built for families traveling with kids. Views take in the forest and partial mountain scenery. Practical rather than glamorous.
4 single beds · 45 sqmKing Double Bedroom
One king-size bed in a 38m² room on the 3rd floor. Good for couples who want more bed space without the extra cost of a suite. Same forest views as the Comfort Twin. Only sleeps 2.
1 king bed · 38 sqmPanoramic View Twin Bedroom
The prime standard room. Same 45m² footprint as the Premier View, but up on the 5th floor with sweeping views of Mt. Wakakusayama and the Yamato Sanzan mountain range. Worth the upgrade if views matter to you.
2 double beds · 45 sqmPenthouse Suite
The top of the hotel — literally. Sixth floor, 110m² total (54m² indoors + 56m² outdoor terrace). Two king beds and a sofa bed sleep up to 5. The 180-degree view takes in all of Nara city and the surrounding mountains. An exclusive outdoor open-air bath and a fire pit on the terrace make this the most dramatic room in the house. Also has a mini kitchen.
2 king beds + 1 sofa bed · 110 sqmPremier View Twin Bedroom
A step up in size and view. 45m² room on the 3rd floor with two double beds and views of the Mt. Wakakusa foothills and partial mountain panorama. Good middle ground between the entry rooms and the full panoramic floors.
2 double beds · 45 sqmPrivate Sauna Suite (Poolside)
Added in June 2024, this 84m² poolside suite is the only room with an in-room sauna. Two king beds across the bedroom and living room. A projector (instead of a standard TV) and an indoor bath round it out. Good for groups of up to 4 who want a private wellness experience without leaving the room.
2 king beds · 84 sqmTerrace Suite A
Poolside suite added after the original renovation. Two double beds (up to 2 guests per bed) in 68m², plus a 30m² private terrace with its own open-air bath. Can be connected to Terrace Suite B for a larger family or group configuration. Note that there are slopes and stairs to access this room.
2 double beds · 68 sqmTerrace Suite B
The larger of the two poolside terrace suites. 62m² interior with a generous 60m² terrace and private open-air bath. Two double beds. Can be connected to Terrace Suite A. The terrace is significantly bigger than Suite A's. Same caveat: slopes and stairs to access.
2 double beds · 62 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Hands-on firewood chopping in the hotel's open outdoor space, followed by a bonfire. Opens at 10:00. Let the front desk know when you'd like to use it.
The front desk can arrange guided visits to Nara's historical venues and museums, including Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the Nara National Museum.
Guided walking through the primeval Kasugayama forest surrounding the hotel. The forest is a UNESCO World Heritage buffer zone associated with Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
After the Night Sky Tour, guests gather around the lobby fireplace for marshmallow roasting. Staff prepare it automatically post-tour, or on request at other times.
A guided walk to the summit of Mt. Wakakusayama at night. Guests enjoy stargazing and the city night view from Nara's highest point — one of Japan's Three Great Night Views. Departs from the hotel at 20:00. No reservation required.
Sake-making and tasting experience drawing on Nara's long brewing heritage — Nara is considered the birthplace of Japanese sake.
Traditional Japanese tea ceremony arranged through the front desk concierge.
Hands-on workshop making traditional Yamato wagashi sweets using local ingredients and techniques.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas.
Front desk concierge arranges local activities, activity booking, and transportation. Front desk hours 10:00–20:00. Occasional Monday closures.
Complimentary self-parking available on site.
The entire hotel is non-smoking.
Seasonal outdoor pool on the hotel grounds.
Separate kids' pool adjacent to the main outdoor pool.
Wood-burning fireplace in the lobby lounge area, central to the post-tour marshmallow roasting tradition.
All rooms include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand & facial wash, bath/face/hand/body towels, cotton set, hair tie, hairbrush, toothbrush, razor, hair dryer, and nightwear.
Mineral water, Japanese tea, and coffee provided in all rooms.
Complimentary shuttle between the hotel and both JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station. Advance reservation required. Inbound departures at 15:00/16:00/17:00/18:00 (JR) and 15:10/16:10/17:10/18:10 (Kintetsu). Return shuttles from hotel at 9:15, 10:15, and 11:15.
BUILD YOUR ANDO HOTEL NARA WAKAKUSAYAMA PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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