Welcome to Kankaso. This beautiful Traditional Ryokan is conveniently located, close to Nara's world-famous Todaiji Temple. The staff at Kankaso try to make their guests feel comfortable and relaxed. All 10 guest rooms are traditional Japanese style, and there are 2 large baths for the guests to enjoy. One of the baths is a ""family bath"" where families can bathe in private if it is not occupied. The highlight of Kankaso is its gorgeous Japanese garden. Meals are served either in the dining area or in the privacy of Kankaso's guest rooms. Check-in time is after 15:00 and check-out time is before 10:00am. Limited parking is available.

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Ryokan Reviews:

• Wonderful ryokan in Nara

  Herb

  Date of Review: October, 2018

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: UK

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We must admit our hearts sank a little when we approached the ryokan in a hot crowded and noisy street on a Saturday - but the moment the front door was opened we felt we had stepped back in time into a parallel universe, one which was quiet, calm and traditionally Japanese. We stayed here for two nights, and everything about our stay was perfect - our hosts, in spite of no common language, were charming and helpful, and while it's true the place is not glossy, we felt that this slight shabbiness only added to the traditional charm. Our meals were extraordinary, both breakfast and especially the 9-course dinners. The hot baths were - well - hot, the futons were a little uncomfortable for our old(er) bones. Comfortable chairs were provided, looking out over the wonderful garden. Thoroughly recommended!

• Nice but not great

  Annaelle

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 3

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  When we first arrived at the Ryokan there was no one there...the lady who finally welcomed us was nice but way less welcoming than what we were used to in Japan. Matcha tea and industrial biscuits were served upon our check-in and we had a pleasant room with a view over the garden. However, the furniture and walls are a bit outdated and some of them need to be replaced (the teapot was partly broken, there were stains on the table...). The private bathroom was nice but we only had half an hour, which is super quick to relax. The food was great and we had an amazing time during both dinner and breakfast (served in a private room with a view over the garden). Although alcohol should be included in the menu since the overall stay is quite expensive (35,000 Japanese Yen). That was our only experience in a Ryokan and even if we had a lovely time, it's a bit overpriced.

• Run down and overpriced

  Stephanie

  Date of Review: November, 2017

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 1

  Food Rating - 2

  Staff Rating - 3

  Location Rating - 3

  Room Rating - 1

  This Ryokan was a huge disappointment - having stayed at many other Ryokans we were expecting a lovely stay given the price bracket. We arrived to a very lukewarm greeting, no smiles or welcomes, it felt like they were just going through the motions, internet not working which was commented with a shrug when we mentioned it, room and bathroom freezing cold, furniture in the room out of stained old plastic, the whole place rather shabby and run down, very old appliances etc. They did try to make an effort with getting the heater to work, and also weren’t at all surprised when we told them we’d leave after one night, which made us think this must happen quite often. Dinner was mediocre, lots of ready made mayonnaise on it etc, bfast was good. The whole place felt as if it had fallen on bad times, even though it’s high season this week (national holiday) it was empty bar one other couple. Shared bath - water was lukewarm, not inviting. €440 for one night of this - avoid!!!

• ok

  Jeremie

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 1

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  nice place. we picked this Ryokan because we thought we should try the Japanese Ryokan at least once during our trip in Japan. the place is nice and it was a fun experience. however overall I would say this wasn't worth it and should anyone do the same trip as us I would simply recommend to get back to Kyoto and sleep there. the place is actually quite expensive for what they offer and the food is... well... very special. the lady makes a huge effort ylto please her guest but this really was not at all to our taste. don't know if it is us who made a mistake and this kind of local dinner is not to our taste at all and we shouldn't behave tried in the first place, or if they just make horrible kaiseki. probably I 'll never know because after this I won't probably ever try kaiseki food ever again so maybe don't trust our judgment with regards to the food they serve.

• Outstanding traditional Ryokan

  Alexa

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: UK

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This was our favourite place we stayed during our trip to Japan. We only stayed one night in Nara but the whole experience was delightful. The hosts were gracious and polite, hardly any English was spoken, but communication was easy. Our room beautiful, quiet and with views of the traditional garden. The private onsen, also with garden views was a real treat. One of the highlights was our dinner, served in a private dining room, a visual feast and by far the best meal we ate during our trip. Kankaso was expensive compared with the other Ryokans we had selected but absolutely worth every penny.

• The Best Ryokan We Stayed In

  Gabriella

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Japan and stayed at a few Ryokans during our travels. Nothing compared to Kankaso. The location was perfect and the food was outstanding. The woman who runs the ryokan was so sweet and works so hard to make sure everything is perfect -- it is. We loved every minute of our stay here and will definitely be back the next time we visit Japan.

• wonderful

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had a wonderful stay at Kankaso in Nara. The staff were lovely and were able to accomodate our special food requirements. The food was amazing with each delicious dish prepared with great care and artistry. The location of Kankaso was perfect, being inside the Nara deer park and close to the main attractions in Nara.

• Outstanding

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The stay at Kankaso in Nara was one of the highlights of journey through Japan and S.E. Asia. The Ryokan is very unique and gives visitors a peek into traditional Japanese culture. From the moment we arrived and saw our names featured on a placard at the entrance, to the zen style gardens, the beautiful ornate wooden structure, and our double door tatatmi room, it felt like being transported back in time. We were the only ones staying there and we benefitted from an annex room in the back of the property surrounded on three sides by their ornate gardens. you are given a special kimono to wear upon entry which surprisingly was very warm given the cold temperatures in Jan. The Okami was wonderful and her service and attention to detail was impeccable. We bathed in the bath that has a gorgeous view over the gardens. Dinner was an experience out of this world. Multiple courses consisting of fish, tofu, soup etc,. were exquisitely prepared well beyond many 5* western restaurants. Your bed is made up for you and we found the mattress on top of the tatami to be very comfortable. Japanese breakfast the next morning took a little getting used to but was prepared with the same delicate touch as dinner. This is truly an experience worth treating yourself to. Yes, perhaps you will spend a little more than the average hotel but consider that it includes breakfast and dinner and personalized service second to none. Kankaso is the closest accommodation to the main temple in Nara -literally steps away so no transport required. The staff are incredible and you will be hard pressed to find better in this world. Go ahead spoil yourself.

• Lovely stay at Kankaso

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Japan

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed staying here. The inn itself is gorgeous and the garden is stunning--not to mention that the inn is right next to Todai-ji, the temple famous for having the enormous Buddha statue. The staff was very helpful despite our extremely limited Japanese. They went out of their way to make us feel welcome, especially the older woman, whom we affectionately called "Grandma" because of her kindness. Kankaso was by far the best accommodations we had for the trip. The hot bath has a lovely view of the garden and the cherry blossoms were blooming while we there there so we could look at the trees while we bathed. It was wonderful. We did not purchase any meals but I selected 5 because I'm sure the food was just as excellent as the rest of the place.

• Outstanding experience

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: FRANCE

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Excellent Accommodations Perfect Location for vists and especially for after-diner walks (pedestrian area) Perfect cuisine, among the best we had in Japan Outstanding attention and helpfulness from the host

• Absolutely wonderful

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We recently spent ten days in Japan and stayed one night in Kankaso. We didn't go to another Ryokan during our stay so I can't compare but Kankaso was absolutly amazing. It is very close from the Todai-ji but you won't hear any noise. The day we stayed there we were the only guests so it was very enjoyable and relaxing, the staff is very nice and will try its best to help you and try to make your stay perfect, but they don't speak english and it can be a little difficult to be understood. The food was amazing, they will bring you at least 20 different things to eat and everything was exquisite. Long story short, although the night is quite expensive it is totally worth it and it had clearly been one of the highlights of our trip to Japan.

• Incredible experience

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The staff was very friendly, the property is beautiful, and the food was outstanding. This was our favorite experience during our vacation in Japan. It was expensive, but the experience is worth every penny because of the meals, service, etc. The staff does not speak much English, but we were able to understand everything after asking a few questions. We reserved time in the private bath which is very clean and has a beautiful view of the garden. Kankaso is located in Nara-koen, right on the path to Todai-ji. It was fun having deer right outside the gate.

• Great traditional ryokan

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Brazil

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  It was my first stay at a Ryokan and I wasnt disappointed. I dont disagree with other reviews about nothing: food was great (dinner and breakfast), staff was quite helpful (despite their speak only japanese) and location was perfect (in front of Nara park and Todaiji temple). The best thing, at least for me and for my wife, was the dinner: you can schedule a private bath at their onsen and just after your bath the dinner is served at you room :) Only point of attention was the structure which was too old (Im talking about the carpet and internal walls at the common area), because "traditional" doesnt mean "old"...

• Highly recommend

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: UK/Japan

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Booked as a treat for myself and my boyfriend who was visiting me in Japan - this was our first ryokan experience and it was wonderful. Location is fantastic, we walked there from the station and it's right in the park and next to the temple. The day we stayed the chef was away so we couldn't order an evening meal, I was told by the reservations people that there was a restaurant within walking distance but it closed at 7. However walking to the property it was clear that there were plenty of places to eat nearby so we were absolutely fine! And breakfast was served the next morning, so we were still able to experience the wonderful food. The private bath was great, our room was incredible, this was the nicest place either of us have ever stayed! The woman who looked after us didn't speak any English but was lovely and very kind (although she did direct all her questions to my boyfriend who speaks no Japanese at all's, even while I was answering them!). You should stay here, it is perfect.

• Food wonderful. Rooms shabby.

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 1

  Kankaso is one of many ryokans we have stayed in. This was the most traditional by far. As stated in a previous review, "Traditional doesn't mean old." The bath was renovated very nicely, with new fixtures, granite in one room, cedar in the other. It was clean and relaxing. The downstairs toilets were also modernized recently. There were clean and pleasant. Our upstairs bedrooms were spacious and certainly once were grand -- decades ago. The walls were dirty, old, soiled, and the paintings were brittle, crusted and discolored with age and exposure. The upstairs toilets were squat style and the kind innkeepers failed to inform us of the downstairs wester toilets. Service was pleasant. Dinner and breakfast were fabulous feasts. The grounds were lovely and nicely maintained. We enjoyed the experience, but it was very over-priced. We have enjoyed similar accommodation (old, dated, dirty) for much lower prices. We would have been less critical had the price been lower. For the five-star price we were charged, we expected impeccable room interiors.

• Wonderful hosts, wonderful place and great food

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Switzerland

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My girlfriend and I stayed here as a treat. We wanted to experience a real ryokan during our stay. This place was just great - from the wonderful welcome of our hostess, to the room which was sort of like a small house that you would reach using a wooden gangway, separate from the rest of the building and surrounded by a garden. Our hostess didn't speak much English (but then we don't speak any Japanese...), but managed to make herself understood clearly and with a smile. Upon arriving in the morning, she showed us on a map which route to take to visit Nara with the amount of time we had so we could see the city and sights, and we were able to leave our luggage until check-in. After our tour of Nara, we checked-in and she offered us the use of a private bath which was really relaxing after all of the walking. The evening meal was sumptuous, and though we visited two restaurants with 2 and 1 Michelin stars while in Japan, this was flat out our favourite meal during our trip. After the meal, she made up the beds and we had a good sleep. Yes, this place is expensive, but it is worth it. Had we not stayed in a good (or should I say great) ryokan and had the wonderful kaiseki meal, we really would have missed an extraordinary experience. We highly recommend it and thank our hostess for a wonderful memorable stay!

• Roykan de rêve

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Nous avons séjourné 2 nuits dans ce ryokan et avons été très impressionnés par la taille de notre chambre qui était en fait une suite avec salle de bain et toilette. Séjour inoubliable à Nara dans son parc aux cerfs, notre chambre donnait sur un jardin privatif magnifique et nous avons profité de deux dîners servis en chambre tout à fait délicieux. Nous recommandons absolument ce ryokan pour la beauté de l'endroit et la qualité de ses repas.

• A dream

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Finland

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  What can I say: it was a dream! The Ryokan was full, but we felt like we were the only guests there. From the front yard onwards it was like stepping in history, and as a shogun and his wife. The room was traditional but very nice and quiet, the garden lovely. The family bath was a wonderful experience and the dinner afterwards like fireworks of palate. Everything was lovely, everything was good and everybody was so helpful that it really made an everlasting impression. The ryokan is ideally situated, all the main sights within easy walking distance. But still, the ryokan was by itself almost the most impressive thing we saw or experienced there. We will be back!

• Fabulous Ryokan

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: US

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My son and I stayed at Kankaso for 2 nights. The welcome, our hostess, the service, food were all perfect. The bath was hot. A beautiful bath area with a a large glass overlooking a garden. The location was central. We were served tea and cookies, with warm towels each time we return to the ryokan. The bath was drawn for us even twice a day. The hostess speaks no English, but all our requests were met. The small common area looks tired, the hall carpet could use a replacement and there are scratches on the wall in our rooms. But these are minor detail. Our rooms, bath and toilet were spic and span clean. The kitchen too was tidy and clean. To my surprise, Kankaso has wifi! It was raining when we checked out and our hostess gave us each a brand new umbrella to take. What hospitality!