May 8, 2008
Nara, Japan
After my walking adventure in Kyoto, I finally made it to Nara, ...but the TIC was already closed at 5 pm when I arrived. *sigh* Lucky I had already confirmed a booking at a ryokan before I left the Philippines, and called the ryokan's owners up for good measure while I was in Kyoto to tell them I would be checking in later than I had expected.
If you read my other post on "Where I Stayed in..Nara", you will already know a bit about Seikan-so: http://cuh888.multiply.com/journal/item/43/Kitty_Trail_Japan_2008_-_Where_I_Stayed_in..Nara
I guess for a first-time experience in a ryokan, it wasn't as harrowing nor as as glamorous as some people review or make out the experience to be when one stays in such places.
The ryokan I had chosen was not in the category of the 30K yen per night...but certainly had a nice and charming garden - it lead to my only regret - that of not asking for a room facing it. Oh well....the category of where I stayed would be the "inexpensive" ryokan...but it had privacy, was quiet and clean, and unless you wanted to party all night in Nara, had a curfew of 11 pm if I remember correctly.
Situated in Nara, which is Japan's first permanent capital, the ryokan was in a location good enough for me to easily view main tourist spots of the city without too much hassle. Nara remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.
The ryokan's owners are friendly, helpful and speak English, which is a plus. I got an earful about how to trek about the city (the streets are designed in a grid pattern, so it would be difficult to get lost...at least in my opinion) and where to go. I decided to sign up for a Japanese-style breakfast the next day, (which I later learned was cooked by the woman I had talked to on the phone).
If I followed the path out of the ryokan and turned left, I would come upon restaurants and shops after 5 to 10 minutes walk, and thereafter, I would also come upon the route to Nara Park and other temples in Central Nara.
I checked-in, laid out things and did a brief inspection of the bath and gardens, then resolved to eat dinner and take a bath later that night (the shared bath has a curfew). Pictures below were hastily taken and shows first impressions.
P.S. descanso in our Cebuano dialect means to take a break or rest...probably had its roots from Spanish...
P.S. 2
Address: Higashi-Kitsuji-cho, Nara 630-83277. Phone: 0742/22-2760. seikanso@chive.ocn.ne.jp.9 units (no bathroom attached). 4200 yen per person. breakfast 472 yen to 735 yen extra. in room: hot water pot with tea, no phone. Loop bus 1 to Kitayobate stop. 25 mins from JR Nara station. If from Kintetsu Nara station, less than 15 minutes walk.
Nara, Japan
After my walking adventure in Kyoto, I finally made it to Nara, ...but the TIC was already closed at 5 pm when I arrived. *sigh* Lucky I had already confirmed a booking at a ryokan before I left the Philippines, and called the ryokan's owners up for good measure while I was in Kyoto to tell them I would be checking in later than I had expected.
If you read my other post on "Where I Stayed in..Nara", you will already know a bit about Seikan-so: http://cuh888.multiply.com/journal/item/43/Kitty_Trail_Japan_2008_-_Where_I_Stayed_in..Nara
I guess for a first-time experience in a ryokan, it wasn't as harrowing nor as as glamorous as some people review or make out the experience to be when one stays in such places.
The ryokan I had chosen was not in the category of the 30K yen per night...but certainly had a nice and charming garden - it lead to my only regret - that of not asking for a room facing it. Oh well....the category of where I stayed would be the "inexpensive" ryokan...but it had privacy, was quiet and clean, and unless you wanted to party all night in Nara, had a curfew of 11 pm if I remember correctly.
Situated in Nara, which is Japan's first permanent capital, the ryokan was in a location good enough for me to easily view main tourist spots of the city without too much hassle. Nara remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.
The ryokan's owners are friendly, helpful and speak English, which is a plus. I got an earful about how to trek about the city (the streets are designed in a grid pattern, so it would be difficult to get lost...at least in my opinion) and where to go. I decided to sign up for a Japanese-style breakfast the next day, (which I later learned was cooked by the woman I had talked to on the phone).
If I followed the path out of the ryokan and turned left, I would come upon restaurants and shops after 5 to 10 minutes walk, and thereafter, I would also come upon the route to Nara Park and other temples in Central Nara.
I checked-in, laid out things and did a brief inspection of the bath and gardens, then resolved to eat dinner and take a bath later that night (the shared bath has a curfew). Pictures below were hastily taken and shows first impressions.
P.S. descanso in our Cebuano dialect means to take a break or rest...probably had its roots from Spanish...
P.S. 2
Address: Higashi-Kitsuji-cho, Nara 630-83277. Phone: 0742/22-2760. seikanso@chive.ocn.ne.jp.9 units (no bathroom attached). 4200 yen per person. breakfast 472 yen to 735 yen extra. in room: hot water pot with tea, no phone. Loop bus 1 to Kitayobate stop. 25 mins from JR Nara station. If from Kintetsu Nara station, less than 15 minutes walk.
- Sep 1, '08 3:30 PM
ReplyDeletedelete reply
meannlim wrote on Sep 2, '08
hi pretty girl! miss our dinners together!
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stormlizard wrote on Sep 2, '08
Looks very nice. I stayed at the "Nikko Nara Hotel" a bit different.
John.
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cuh888 wrote on Sep 2, '08
meannlim said
hi pretty girl! miss our dinners together!
hi Ms. Eskinol *pahingi naman 1 year supply* hehehe...
who else will come over here for our next EB? mag food-trip-exploration na lang tayo, even without the excuse of an eyeball..*wink*
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cuh888 wrote on Sep 2, '08
stormlizard said
Looks very nice. I stayed at the "Nikko Nara Hotel" a bit different.
John.
hmm..yes that would be more of a Western-style hotel right?
Some Westerners might not be too happy with the idea of sleeping on the floor (though the tatami was certainly quite clean), eating nearly on the floor (my breakfast pics to be posted later), and having common bathroom...hehehe
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oselle wrote on Sep 3, '08
sarap humiga :)
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oselle wrote on Sep 3, '08
nice :)
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stormlizard wrote on Sep 3, '08
I did sleep on the floor twice, in Tokyo, but for one night only, and on the Amkusa Islands I stayed for three days in a 100% Japanese Hotel. I was in fact the very first Westerner to stay there, it had existed for 35 years.
Even the Hotel register was designed for writing in the traditional Kanji style.
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cuh888 wrote on Sep 3, '08
stormlizard said
I was in fact the very first Westerner to stay there, it had existed for 35 years.
Even the Hotel register was designed for writing in the traditional Kanji style.
wow, that for me is thrilling! did you have problems in communicating with the staff of the hotel then?
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stormlizard wrote on Sep 3, '08
cuh888 said
did you have problems in communicating with the staff of the hotel then?
No, it was not really so difficult, the lady that owned it could speak a little English, I can a little Japanese, and I had help from my friend if I needed anything special.