Tsubakiso

Location: Tsubai-cho 35, Nara, jp

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Ryokans

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Luggage storage
• Safety deposit box
• Fax/photocopying
• Ironing service
• Non-smoking throughout
• Kid meals
• Fruits
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Cashless payment available
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Invoice provided
• Smoke alarms
• Guest room sealed after cleaning
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Key access
• Food delivered to guest room
• CCTV outside property
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
• Face masks for guests available
• 24-hour security
• Delivered food - securely covered
• Security alarm
• Thermometers for guests provided by property
• Free wired internet
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Japanese garden
• Vegetarian menu options available

Rooms Available

• Twin Room with Garden View - 2F

  2 Twin Futons

  Overlooking the garden

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator and free bottled water

  Sleep - Tempur-Pedic bed, a down duvet, and turndown service

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, slippers, and free toiletries

  Practical - Computer, yard, and phone

  Comfort - Climate-controlled air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Smoking And Non-Smoking

  Room/bed type depends on availability at check-in

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bathroom
  • Slippers
  • Satellite channels
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bottle of water
  • Free newspaper
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Yard
  • Turndown service
  • Free WiFi
  • Down comforter
  • Room and bed type depend on availability check-in
  • Smoking and Non-Smoking

• Twin Room with Garden View - Ground Floor

  Features tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. Includes a low table with floor cushions, an air purifier/humidifier, an LCD TV and an electric kettle with green tea. Each room has an private bathroom. Guests staying for two nights or more will receive a simple Western or Japanese breakfast once free of charge. However, you cannot request either Western or Japanese breakfast.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Minibar
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Slippers
  • Alarm clock
  • Electric kettle
  • Executive lounge access
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Coffee machine
  • Linen
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Chocolate or cookies
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Yukata
  • Adapter
  • Feather pillow
  • Mobile hotspot device
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Window
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Air purifiers
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Twin Room with Garden View - First Floor

  Features views of the Japanese garden on a quiet street view. Has tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. Includes a low table with floor cushions, an air purifier/humidifier, an LCD TV, a micrwave, a refrigerator and an electric kettle with green tea. Each room has an private bathroom. Guests staying for two nights or more will receive a simple Western or Japanese breakfast once free of charge. However, you cannot request either Western or Japanese breakfast.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Minibar
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Microwave
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Slippers
  • Sofa
  • Alarm clock
  • Electric kettle
  • Executive lounge access
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Coffee machine
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Chocolate or cookies
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Yukata
  • Adapter
  • Feather pillow
  • Mobile hotspot device
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Window
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Air purifiers
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Twin Room with Patio

  Features a patio on a quiet street view. Has tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. Includes a low table with floor cushions, an air purifier/humidifier, an LCD TV, a micrwave, a refrigerator and an electric kettle with green tea. Each room has an private bathroom. Guests staying for two nights or more will receive a simple Western or Japanese breakfast once free of charge. However, you cannot request either Western or Japanese breakfast.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Minibar
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Slippers
  • Sofa
  • Alarm clock
  • Electric kettle
  • Executive lounge access
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Bidet
  • Coffee machine
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Chocolate or cookies
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Yukata
  • Adapter
  • Feather pillow
  • Mobile hotspot device
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Window
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Air purifiers
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Apartment

  This apartment features a traditional Japanese style building, the independent building, across the garden. Guests are only able to stay in this separated building. None of other guests is able to stay either. Besides, there are two different exits. This apartment features three rooms with a living room, a dining room with a kitchen, and a bedroom. At the end of the hall, guests can use a bathroom and bathtub. Those rooms are separated by fusuma, Japanese old-fashioned style's sliding door. The apartment is located on the second floor in a building with no elevator. Guests staying for two nights or more will receive a simple Western or Japanese breakfast once free of charge. However, you cannot request either Western or Japanese breakfast.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Minibar
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Microwave
  • Washing machine
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Slippers
  • Kitchen
  • Private entrance
  • Sofa
  • Alarm clock
  • Electric kettle
  • Executive lounge access
  • Tumble dryer
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster
  • Bidet
  • Coffee machine
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Shower chair
  • Bottle of water
  • Chocolate or cookies
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Yukata
  • Socket near the bed
  • Adapter
  • Feather pillow
  • Mobile hotspot device
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Window
  • Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
  • Air purifiers
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

• Natalja (10/5): - The host was so very kind and thoughtful and the japanese breakfast in the garden was simply amazing. The room also was very cozy with a lovely view of the garden.
• AMCOBOS (10/5): Fabuleux - Accueil fabuleux par une dame adorable parlant quelques mots d'anglais. Petits cadeaux de bienvenue, boissons dans le frigo, café, thé... Petit déjeuner excellent, on peut laisser ses bagages en gardiennage. Auberge traditionnelle, très bien placée et au calme. Un petit paradis chez une dame en or. Rien à signaler
• yu-shan (10/5): Excellent sejour!! - Notre séjour était excellent : l’hôtel était très bien situé, la chambre était très confortable et surtout, Mme Hirasawa, la propriétaire était super sympa et très attentionnée (elle a rendu notre séjour inoubliable)! Merci Mme Hirasawa :)
• David (10/5): Amazing Ryokan in a great location with a wonderful host - This was a wonderful Ryokan in a great location, only a ~6 minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara station. Furthermore, the host (Noriko) was absolutely wonderful. She was so welcoming and made us feel right at home. As for food, we ordered a traditional Japanese breakfast which was fantastic. When we return to Japan we plan on revisiting Tsubakiso and Noriko because we also only scratched the surface of exploring Nara and its surrounds. I really don't have anything negative to say. We had such a great experience that we plan on revisiting when we next visit Japan.
• Tim (10/5): -
• Ruben (10/5): - Che dire, una vera esperienza Giapponese. Accolti in casa e accuditi dalla padrona, gentile e disponibile. La nostra stanza, dotata di ogni comfort è in realtà un mini appartamento, vista giardino. La colazione, ottima, è tutto ciò che si può desiderare se si vuole fare un'esperienza di vita reale in Giappone. Tutto fatto in casa, personalmente dalla padrona, che ha cercato di soddisfare ogni nostro desiderio.
• Vincent (10/5): -
• Vui (10/5): Exceptional - The room is super nice, you can experience the traditional of Japanese room.
• Arnaud (9/5): A charming Ryokan, a big room, with lovely staff and great location -
• Timothy (10/5): Wonderful peaceful stay. - Very authentic feeling home, situated in what feels like a quiet neighbourhood. The view was fantastic, even on a rainy day. The garden is wonderful and the accommodation was lovely. The Japanese breakfast was a whole experience and the lovely ladies were so accommodating. 10/10.
• Chengeng (8/5): Very good - Love the view from the room Nothing
• Jie (10/5): Really exceptional experience - Tubakiso was probably one of our most favourite highlights on our trip. What a lovely place, and our host was so friendly and welcoming. The Japanese style breakfast was also a must-to-do. It is perfectly clean and stylish. Highly recommend. Nothing
• Burcu (10/5): Exceptional - It was an absolutely an amazing experience to stay at Tsubakiso. They were really kind and helpful with everything during our stay even we were spoiled with some snacks and breakfast even though we booked the room without the breakfast option:)
• Gratsiela (10/5): It was amazing. - We really enjoyed the traditional housing—it offered a unique experience and a great opportunity to get to know a traditional Japanese home.
• Onkur (9/5): Wonderful stay with very friendly owner - Very central and convenient location, just a few mins walk from Kintetsu-Nara station and ~10 mins walk from JR Nara station. The host was lovely and extremely friendly; we were leaving early in the morning, but she still brought somen noodles with broth, fruit, and some Nara specialty sweets. Futons were extremely comfy and helped for a restful night. Price was high when booking through 3rd party. Building smelled a bit of smoke.
• klmsmm (8/5): Traditional inn with a thoughtful innkeeper - This traditional inn is well located to train and bus stations. We easily walked to and from the different stations we used. The innkeeper is very thoughtful and has maps to many of the areas you might want to visit. It was very hot during our visit to Japan and she greeted us with cool towels and lemon water after we were out for a few hours.
• Deborah (10/5): This is the most divine place, central location but quite and easy to reach on foot with luggage. Breakfast was amazing. - This is the most divine place, central location but quite and easy to reach on foot with luggage. Breakfast was amazing. Host was so generous. Nothing.
• Owen (10/5): We had a great time and really wish we could have stayed longer and explored Nara further. - This was a beautiful old Japanese style building. The balcony room had this lovely little entry way, and the tatami mat and futon was lovely. The garden is beautiful with manicured trees. The location is right in the middle of town, but is still very quiet and peaceful to stay in. The host was amazing, so friendly and helpful, and the Japanese breakfast was amazing. It is an amazing older style building - so if you like things very new maybe not the place to stay. Nothing, it was exceptional
• Greg (8/5): Very good -
• Yaron (10/5): Great authentic warm Japanese experience - Authentic. True loving care. Esthetic. Great location Nothing
• ducttapeduo (6/5): Overpriced and underdelivered - Starting with a positive, the host is a kindly woman who made a fantastic and complex Japanese style breakfast. But...We thought we were going to be staying at a highly functioning ryokan at the price paid to stay here. (We had been traveling in Japan for a month already). What we got was a friendly welcome by our very sweet host to a living room that smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, a cluttered room furnished with sleeping pads that were of worn foam and not moved out of the way during the day, shabby thrown together furnishings, scarce electrical outlets for charging phone or camera battery, cluttered bathroom. All of this would have been acceptable at a lower price point, but not at the price charged.
• GVVAGL (8/5): Personal Hotel - This is a small hotel that is also a personal residence - two tatami rooms and an annex with a kitchenette. The rooms are a little tired but clean. The hostess is very helpful and the location is perfect. It is a short walk to Nara park and the major shrines. The area of Naramachi is a delightful walking area with old houses and small boutiques. A find!
• ravi101048 (8/5): A place of warmth and Japanese hospitality - This is a unique place very different from standard hotels. You will get a warm welcome from the owner who goes out of her way to be helpful. If you want a shiny place with the antiseptic feel of a five star hotel this is not the place for you. We had a large bedroom with traditional comfortable mattress on the floor and a small side room with chairs looking into a garden. There was a coffee machine and a kettle to make tea. We got to know the owner and even met her granddaughter on her way back from school. The place is centrally located on a quiet side street and close to shops and sights such as temples and museums as well as restaurants and train stations. The traditional Japanese breakfast was wonderful. One of us asked for and got a delicious vegetarian breakfast. We left the place feeling like we had visited a good friend.
• 日本人 (8/5): 奈良公園アクセスべんり - 歩いて数分で、猿沢池に、いけるロケーションです。。お宿の主の、こころくばりも、すてきで、また、伺いたいと、思います。朝食の和食は、十分すぎるくらい満足しました。
• allanmc (8/5): 5 Star Hospitality - This property is not your standard hotel experience, it's a character filled home with a very interesting and friendly owner, who goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. Rooms are a bit tired, considering the property is 85+ years old that can be expected. The Japanese breakfast on the first day was outstanding. Get involved in local life and stay at Tsubakiso. it's an easy stroll from the station and surrounded by shopping and restaurants. Nara Park came be reached in 10-15min walk. I highly recommend this place for the adventurous traveler, it's like visiting a long lost, friendly relative (who just happens not to speak the same language)..great stay.
• European123 (6/5): A very basic Ryokan , but well located. - The place is fine for just sleeping and within walking distance of all the attractions. However , it is not very clean and expensive for what it offers. The lady who owns the place speaks little English, but is very friendly and helpful. She offered to do our laundry which was appreciated.
• CodyKow (6/5): a small ryokan - owner stays on ground floor. very friendly lady. the room is small - not for more than 2. felt crammy. owner did offer another small room for 1 on ground floor. however, as family with small kid, we thought it was better staying together. the ryokan had seen better days and coukd do with a bit of sprucing up.
• Simon (8/5): Something new - Hirosawa was very welcoming but make sure you go to the right door! She took us to the room which was warm and looked comfortable, and made tea for us while explaining all about Nara (all the major temples/shopping etc are within a short walk). The ryokan facilities are relatively basic but that is probably the point of staying in one. The shower, however, was amazing and rarely have we slept in such comfortable beds. But the high point was the outstanding Japanese-style breakfast (costs extra) which isn't to be missed. But even the standard breakfast the last day was very pleasant. Overall, a very welcome change from the corporate hotel alternative.
• Verified traveler (10/5): A home away from home- a highlight of our trip - Morioka was the added extra at our stay. She was so welcoming friendly & generous. The beds in this ryokan were XTRA good. To stay in a home that had seen 3 generations was so warm. It was very convenient to the station & up the street to all the eaterys of Nara. A highlight of our trip.
• Nina (6/5): minshuku accueillant dans maison ancienne - l"hôtesse est particulièrement aimable (et bavarde), nous remmet à notre départ de jolis cadeaux. Lepetit-déjeuner, quoiqu'un peu cher, est particulièrement soigné et délicieux, nous avns pris la formule un peu moins chère, 2ooo yen, qui était superbe. chambre agréable, toute petite salle de bain.
• Kelvin89 (8/5): Friendly, hospitable owner in a lovely little ryokan - I stayed here for 2 nights and must say the thing that makes this ryokan better than any other is the lovely host that is Noriko. She is hospitable, charming and very welcoming into her home that she loves and has looked after for years. If you're looking for something modern and new, then this wouldn't be the place for you but in a town like Nara, this is the perfect place to stay to take in the sights and sounds of the town. There are signs of aging in the building but this is expected in such an old building. I had no issues with the location and found it very easy to find. It was easily within walking distance to Nara park, Todaji Temple and Isuien Garden (which was absolutely beautiful). I stayed in a twin room with a patio view and it was clean and comfortable. I had breakfast both mornings and the Japanese breakfast was perfect! On my check out, Noriko gave a small parting gift which goes to add to her kind nature and how much she does appreciate people sharing her house which she holds much pride in. If you want to stay somewhere out of the hustle and bustle, then this is perfect for you.
• sixtysix66_66_66 (8/5): Charming option - We recovered from a negative first impression of this inn to enjoy our stay here and would recommend it to others. I wouldn't feel right giving this inn an excellent rating given that the condition of the place and the quality of the furnishings etc is not up to the standard one would expect of accommodation in this price range. But everything else was truly magical and exceptional. I wouldn't say as one reviewer did that this place is overpriced. This was the only place we have stayed at in Nara but I did quite an extensive search through listing information and reviews for Nara and am pretty sure that the price is in line with the others. I conclude only that Nara is an expensive place especially in November as it is high season. But first the positives 1. Location - close to both train stations, the sights and restaurants. We especially liked Kichiza Den-emon which was very close. 2. The breakfasts were exceptional - fine restaurant quality and beautifully served in the magical separate dining room in the garden. 3. The owner was very friendly - one day she met us with her homemade plum wine after we got back from sightseeing. Her English wasn't that good but communication was not a problem except when I called from the train station to ask if we could drop our luggage off early. 4. I slept the best here of all the places we stayed at in Japan. Even though the walls were paper thin, no one in the house made much noise and we were well protected from any street noise. The futon looked similar to those we had in two other traditional Japanese rooms we stayed in but it must have been much higher quality or doubled up as the difference was noticeable. 5. The free laundry - no ironing - was a real treat. Didn't sound like much beforehand but it was so nice not to have to pay a fortune, have the clothes leave the premises or worry about finding an empty washer/dryer, detergent or coins. 6. No problems with water temperature for the shower or the wifi. This is an old building which in the case of the separate dining room added to the charm. However, it appeared to have been redecorated in a very cheap looking style some time ago and was very cluttered. The first day I felt like I was walking to our room through the owner's very cluttered messy living room - like many very low end places we stayed in when we were younger. The next day I realized it was a common living room area - which made me feel better even though it was still very unattractive. The room was adequate even though dated. Everything in it was also dated and cheap looking (furniture, towels, iron, etc.) and the toiletries in the bathroom were all big bottles of cheap brands. Somehow a half full bottle of Listerine didn't look too inviting! Some other quibbles - not too important but worth mentioning. Both mornings she said 8:45 am. quite a few times, but then called shortly after 8:30 and then banged on the door to get us to come. Second, the breakfast options kept changing. Supposedly you have to reserve - only necessary to order the night beforehand. The wonderful Japanese breakfast was massive - 2500 yen per person. Delicious but way too big - I would have preferred trying the items over 2 days. We had the option the first day to have a complimentary continental breakfast. So for the second morning we asked about the complimentary continental breakfast but it had turned into a 2000 yen per person extravaganza. We pared it down to a 1000 per person more continental style breakfast. I guess the dining room is small and can't accommodate all the guests if the inn is full and that is why the options change. So all in all I would recommend Nara and this place - both magical especially after the day tourists leave. I just think it would have been more enjoyable to have been better prepared for the reality of the place.
• tmdsgy (6/5): lovely owner but overpriced - It is difficult to write this review because the owner is so lovely. The ryokan is a bit rundown and not worth $202/night. The location is great and the beds comfortable. At around $100/night it would be terrific
• Sharon (6/5): Wonderful owner, overpriced. - The bed was really comfortable. The location is great. The place is a bit funky and rundown. It was worth maybe $100/night if breakfast had been included. It is hard to write this review because the owner is a lovely person, but $200/night was an outrageous price.
• pullittogether (10/5): Family-run inn dispenses gracious hospitality - Our family of five stayed for two nights at Ryokan Tsubakiso. It was the highlight of our Japan trip. We arrived from east and west and were greeted by Noriko, who poured tea while we caught up as we relaxed on the tatami mats of the spacious family room. We occupied three rooms of this charming inn, two in the 90-year-old original house and one in the newer annex across the garden. All were lovely, thoughtfully appointed, and comfortable. The futons were clean and comfortable and made jet lag quickly forgotten. Breakfasts on our two mornings -- one traditional Japanese, one Western -- were simply outstanding. Noriko is a beautiful soul, and her desire to share her home and culture through welcoming guests is genuine. The house creaks and groans, but you would too, if you were 90 years old.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Überteuerter Ryokan - Grundsätzlich war das Gästehaus in Ordnung und die Besitzerin sehr freundlich. Allerdings ist der Preis pro Nacht jenseits von dem, was es wert ist.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Cerca del paruqe de Nara - Muy agradable y recomendable, si buscas una estancia tradicional
• mkevorkian (10/5): Wonderful stay at Noriko's house - We stayed for two nights and were impressed with the hospitality and spectacular Japanese breakfast. Noriko was so welcoming that we felt like we were staying at a relative's house. She even did all our laundry, which was a lot more than we thought we might get. Yukata kimonos were available for all of us, including our 9 year old. Very centrally located and convenient to both the train station and the park.
• sqchristensen (8/5): Authentic ryokan experience albeit a bit out of the way - This place honestly has a bit further from the center of action than I’d anticipated, and a bit more resource-intensive than I had hoped for a ryokan, but if you’re willing to just take that in stride and jump in with two feet, it’s a fantastic experience. I don’t think we could have asked for a more authentic, enjoyable ryokan experience. It’s run by a couple of adorable elderly, extremely gracious women, who are half the fun. The rooms are really pretty, with nicely painted sliding doors, tatami mats, pretty plants and lanterns. WIFI was sometimes off, but generally on and highly functioning. My recommendation if you do stay here, make sure you grab some meals here. We did breakfast here one of the days and it was, in a word, beautiful. Very relaxing, right in the middle of their garden. A great way to start the day.
• ooi (8/5): old traditional ryokan but friendly host - the host cant speak well English but can understand. She is old friendly lady. we stay at the ryokan for 1 night only. The location is nice and close to the nara park with about 10-15min walking distanct.The room was big and the tatami bed was very comfort.WiFi works very well and is complimentary. The Japanese style breakfast is something special but expensive even after giving discount(2k yen per person) by the host. If you drop at JR nara station, there will be 10-15min walking distanct with big luggage. but there is 5min walking distanct only if you drop at kintetsu train station. The price of the room we book is pretty expensive if compare to ryokan pricing. So if you don mind the higher price of the ryokan I would recommend you to stay here.
• EmzieM (10/5): Fabulous value for money and authentic hospitality - I went to Nara, travelling alone, for a few days and hadn't booked in advance. As luck would have it, Ryókan Tsubakiso was available and I couldn't have been happier. Noriko was super hospitable and the accommodation was great for the price. I highly recommend it!
• Verified traveler (10/5): Hospitality from the host is extraordinary great! - The hospitality from the host is extraordinary great! The location is nice close to the sightseeing points around the city. Easily accessible by train or bus.
• dkmerrifield (10/5): We were made to feel very welcome!! - We stayed at this Ryokan for two nights, and we felt like we were visiting an old friend at her house. Both the owner and her assistant made us feel very welcome. We were given tea upon arrival, shown our room and all the amenities, and told we were invited to breakfast the next morning (which we didn't have to pay for). The breakfast was a feast, and we had a great time. The futons we slept on were memory foam (the first time I've had those in Japan), and they were very comfortable. The hotel iteself was very quiet, and we slept very well. The hotel itself is very old, and it shows. If you need someplace that's shiny and modern, this may not be the place for you. However, if you're looking for an authentic Japanese experience with a touch of personal charm, I highly recommend this hotel. I would return in a heartbeat!
• quailegg (10/5): 非常好的體驗 - 店主婆婆人特別好，剛進房間婆婆就準備了冰茶和點心，第二天出門時為我們準備了裡面可以塞冰袋的毛巾！圍在脖子上用來祛暑！還準備了便攜菸灰缸讓我們帶出門去（雖然我自己也有準備）！臨走時候又送了我們好多小禮物，有明信片和茶巾。地點很方便，去奈良公園走走就可以到，旅館是85年的老式建築，房間裡床墊很舒適，我們在二樓的房間裡乾淨整潔，櫃子裡毛巾浴衣和洗衣袋都整齊疊著。推開窗戶看到整個旅館就是一個小花園，非常好的傳統奈良體驗！極力推薦！
• Olivier (8/5): A nice old house in Nara - This old house in the center of Nara is a perfect place to enjoy the traditional way of living in Japan. The owner is very welcoming and service oriented. The traditionnal Japanese breakfast is amazing!
• Torgeir (10/5): Fantastisk service - Fantastisk service på dette hotellet, kanskje fordi jeg var den enste gjesten. Gammel Ryokan, kun ni rom, meget koselig. Jeg anbefaler dette hotellet.
• 123v_i_n_z321 (8/5): Good ryokan in Nara - I recently spent five nights at this ryokan. It is a family run accommodation, conveniently located and at walking distance from Nara's main attractions. The JR station is less than 10min away. The room I was in was simple but clean, the bathroom a full-plastic cabin. Breakfast was not included but I can really recommend it. Go for the Japanese breakfast (vastly superior to the continental version). The lady running the place is of exquisite kindness. She even took care of the daily laundry for no additional charge. WiFi works very well and is complimentary. Note that the accommodation is not cheap, but November is high season in Nara. Perhaps better rates can be negotiated by directly calling the place.
• majanddaz (8/5): Family friendly - My husband, 6 month old baby and I stayed at Tsubakiso for 11 nights in November 2013. We enjoyed our stay very much as we were made to feel so welcome by the owner who went above and beyond to look after us and our baby. It is a small B&B style ryokan, so if you are after the anonymity of a big hotel, this is not the place for you. The owner is incredibly friendly and genuinely enjoys the company of her guests. Our room in the new part of the building was perfectly clean, if a little faded. The main tatami room was adjoined by a small sitting rom with a bar fridge. The bathroom was typical of a Japanese house. The room set up was well suited for travelling with our baby. The ryokan is very well located about 5 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara station and 10 minutes walk from JR Nara station. All the major tourist sites are within walking distance, as are plenty of shops and restaurants. Although Tsubakiso is in the central part of Nara, it was very quiet at night. Although we didn't include meals in our booking, we were given complimentary breakfast a number of times and it was wonderful. The owner was very generous in this way.
• Yuji Fujimura (8/5): 奈良の古刹が徒歩圏内 - 奈良出身なものですから、現地でこのタイプの宿泊をしたのは初めてでしたがとても良い経験になりました。 友人や外国からの知り合いが奈良での宿泊機会がありましたら、是非勧めたいと思います。
• MarkB183 (10/5): Wonderful experience, amazing food - I have stayed here twice now, once by myself and once with my wife and young son. The Okami who runs the place is warm and welcoming with comparatively good English which makes the stay that much more relaxing. We had amazing food for dinner and breakfast, it is like food-art in presentation and great flavours. The location is convenient from the JR station and easy walking distance to shops and the major tourist attractions. I highly recommend this ryokan.
• Elenithai (6/5): Not traditional but old - I stayed in this ryokan with my parents in July 2010. I wanted something very special and for them so thats why I booked here, although it was very expensive (150 € per person per night). I was very dissapointed when we arrived. The house is a real japanese house, but it is old and shabby and not very profesionally run. The owner received us wearing an old pijama, a dirty appron, and one sock in (the other not). The rooms were located in the building in the right part of the garden. The owner's house is also there, so you pass through her living room (with all her things) to get to the room. The rooms are decorated with old japanese furniture, and some horrible & cheap plastic flowers. We had two rooms, one in the lower floor, one upstairs. The one in the ground floor was small, with a separate toilet. To get to the room you had to go through a corridor with old carpets that did not look very nice nor clean. The toilet was clean, but it was an "all-included-plastic-cubicle" - like in a cheap hostel, not the bathroom that you would expect in a 300€/night hotel. The room goes directly to the bushes in the small garden, there is a mosquito net in the door but not in the window. There is no locker in the door, so your room stays opened during the night. The furniture consisted in a table with two chairs, that were pilled up in the corner at night to prepare the bed. The room upstairs was bigger. The separate toilet had a very old and small japanese bathtub. We did not use it, because, although it was clean, it looked so old and shabby. This room goes to the terrace, but the terrace was terribly dirty and full of pieces of junk. Both rooms had a wardrobe were the yukatas and the towels were pilled up. The towels were just simple old towels (each one with a different colour, different textures…) not the usual nice and white hotel towels. Opening the wardrobe and finding all the towels there, just pilled up gave us the impression of dirtiness. The owner is nice, but her english is not very good, so it is difficult to communicate with her, although she tries to help a lot - maybe even too much. Both days that we were there she was dressed with old and dirty clothes, like a housewife. As I said, we were very disappointed with the rooms and the hotel. It might be traditional, but for 150€ per night per person, we were expecting something both charming and traditional and professional. It was really like going to someone’s house and staying there, with all the mess. I would not recommend this ryokan to a friend. Not for this price. I have heard similar stories from other people staying in expensive ryokan in Nara, so maybe this is the standard. However, the breakfast was very good. We had breakfast in the main building, Japanese and western style and both were good quality and abundant. And you can use the owner's computer for internet for free.
• xraylab (8/5): Very very friendly - This is a nice ryokan, a little worn but still very romantic. The owner is so incredibly friendly (but not at all pushy) it is a little embarrassing (like you just dont deserve to be treated so nicely). Excellent location, short walk from the JR station, near the covered shopping streets and easy walk to the important temples, deer park, etc. Food is excellent. Only complaint I had was the futons were too soft.

Photos