Nara's BEST Hotel? APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae Review!
APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae: A Chaotic Love Letter (and a Few Grumbles) - My Honest Review
Okay, buckle up, because this ain't your average polished hotel review. This is real life, folks. I just survived APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae, and I'm here to spill the tea (and maybe a few spilled breakfast buffet pastries) – the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre.
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- Keywords: APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae, Nara, Japan, Review, Hotel, Accommodation, Accessibility, Cleanliness, Dining, Wi-Fi, Amenities, Location, Budget Hotel, Travel, Japan Travel, Nara Hotels
- Description: A brutally honest and hilarious review of the APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae in Japan. Packed with opinions, anecdotes, and all the messy details, this is the real deal - no sugarcoating!
- Category: Travel, Hotels, Reviews
The Grand Entrance (and My Immediate Panic):
First off, let's talk about location. (Getting Around) BAM! Right smack-dab in the middle of everything. Literally, a stone's throw from Kintetsu Nara Station. Super convenient for those who want to zip around and have no worries about going to and fro. (Airport transfer) That's also a big plus point. Though, if you're coming from the airport, you'll need to arrange that yourself. (Taxi service and car park (on-site) ) Available too.
Now, the hotel itself…well, it's an APA. If you've stayed at one, you know the drill. Small rooms, often, but efficient. But my immediate thought when I walked in? "Wow, this is… compact. Let's just say the room wasn't designed for someone with a claustrophobia.
(Rooms, Room Features, Available in All Rooms)
- (Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free]) The all-important Wi-Fi? Surprisingly solid. I mean, I could stream my anime without too much buffering, so thumbs up.
- (Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Blackout curtains, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Desk, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Mirror, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Wake-up service, Window that opens) All the essentials. I even had a view of… well, another building. But the blackout curtains were a lifesaver. That and the air conditioning. I can't stress how important that is.
- (Additional toilet): Okay, I didn't have this. But I've seen photos. Interesting.
- (Bathtub): Nope. Not in my room. Stand-up only.
- (Bathrobes): Nope.
- (Bathroom phone): Nope. Who even uses those anymore?
- (Carpeting): Yes, mostly. It was… functional.
- (Closet): Tiny. Barely enough space for my tiny backpack.
- (Extra long bed): Nope.
- (High floor): I was on a higher floor, which was nice for the view.
- (Ironing facilities): Yes, in the room, thankfully.
- (Laptop workspace): Yes, there was a small desk.
- (Linens): Seemed clean, at least.
- (Mini bar): Nope. But there was a vending machine down the hall. My life saver!
- (Non-smoking): YES!
- (On-demand movies): Don't recall, didn't check.
- (Private bathroom): Yes.
- (Reading light): Present and accounted for.
- (Refrigerator): Yes.
- (Satellite/cable channels): Yes. And a lot of Japanese TV.
- (Scale): Nope. I wasn't checking my weight.
- (Seating area): Nope. Just a bed and a desk.
- (Separate shower/bathtub): No, just a small shower.
- (Socket near the bed): Yup. Major win.
- (Sofa): Nope.
- (Soundproofing): Barely. I could hear the delightful sounds of the neighbor's snoring (or maybe it was the traffic, who knows?).
- (Telephone, Visual alarm): They were there.
- (Interconnecting room(s) available): I don't know.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Okay-est Part (and the Reason I'm Still Alive):
(Cleanliness and safety, Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment):
Okay, so during COVID, they definitely kicked into high gear. Everything seemed clean. REALLY clean. Like, maybe too clean, if that's a thing. I mean, I’m talking about the full suite of safety measures – hand sanitizer everywhere, staff masked up, and what felt like a professional cleaning crew constantly on patrol. They really do want to be safe (and it honestly was a big comfort). Plus, the whole sanitization stuff. Honestly, it made me feel pretty safe, all things considered. But, like I said, not a massive deal, and the safety measures were all there.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast Buffet Blues (and a Few Bright Spots)
(Dining, drinking, and snacking, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant)
The breakfast buffet. Shudders. Look, I love a good buffet. But this one…was an experience. It had your usual suspects:
- The food itself? Okay, I suppose, but I mainly ate toast and pastries.
- The ambiance? Very loud, very busy. More often than not, I was fighting for a table…and holding my breath. (I'm not even sure why. I'm just a bit of a germaphobe.)
- * Asian breakfast, Western breakfast: Both options were available.
- * There's also a coffee shop
- * There is also a bar, though the hours may vary.
(Room service [24-hour], Snack Bar): Did not use those.
I should also add that there are restaurants and a coffee shop on site.
Services & Conveniences: A Mixed Bag (and the Luggage Storage Saga):
(Services and conveniences, Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center)
- Concierge: Wasn't that helpful, they would have been a bit nicer if they had been more helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: Yeah, they had that. Pretty standard these days.
- Convenience store: Yep, essential for late-night snacks.
- Laundry service: Available.
- Luggage storage: Okay, here's where things got… interesting. I'm not sure they have a good system.
- Daily housekeeping: Yes.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange. Yes.
- * Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, On-site event hosting Also there, I didn't use them.
For the Kids: A Mostly Grown-Up Experience
(For the kids, Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal)
I didn't see many kids running around, nor did I engage in any babysitting, family friendly, kits, or kids meals.
Accessibility: (Wheelchair accessible, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Parking (Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site])
- Elevator: Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Available.
- Wheelchair accessible: Not sure, didn't check.
- Parking (car park) Yes.
**
Solo Paragon's BEST RedDoorz Syariah? (Near Mall!)
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is… well, this is me, trying to navigate Nara like a slightly-lost-but-enthusiastic puppy. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and a whole lot of deer-related rambling. We're staying at the APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae, which, by the way, sounds fancier than it probably is. Cross my heart, it could be a shoebox, but hey, it’s close to the station and that, my friends, is GOLD in Japan.
Day 1: Deer, Disaster, and Dim Sum Dreams
- 8:00 AM: Wake Up (Maybe): Okay, so the "wake up" part is optional. Jet lag hit me hard. I swear, I saw the ceiling fan morph into a demonic spinning top at one point. Finally, dragged myself out of bed, fueled by a panicked realization that I hadn't eaten in, like, a year. Or at least since I last ate on the plane.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast… Or the Quest for Food: The hotel, being an APA Hotel, probably has something to offer but I was too terrified to leave the room just yet. I stumbled down to the lobby, where, miraculously, there was a tiny convenience store. Grabbed a suspicious-looking pastry and some juice. Ate it with the same amount of shame I would feel if I devoured an entire pizza.
- 9:30 AM: Nara Park: The Gentle Giants (and the Annoying Ones): Right, so Nara Park. This is why we came, isn’t it? I was expecting idyllic scenes of Zen-like serenity, deer gracefully nibbling on grass while sunlight dappled through the trees. What I got was… a mob of deer. A hungry mob. I swear, one of them tried to mug me for my map. And the shikika ("deer crackers")? Forget about it. The deer were like crack fiends, swarming you the moment you even thought about buying them. I bought a pack. They were gone in like, two seconds. The deer kept following me like a hungry pack of wolves. I'm convinced they have a secret language. One of them, a particularly smug-looking fellow, nipped at my backpack. That’s how it started
- 11:00 AM: Todai-ji Temple: Giant Buddha and Giant Regret: Todai-ji Temple is impressive, no doubt. The Great Buddha statue is absolutely staggering. But let's be honest, most of my time was spent dodging tour groups and trying not to become another snack for the aforementioned deer. I also squeezed though the hole in the temple pillar. Supposedly it brings enlightenment. I'm still waiting on that. I spent about 30 minutes trying to get my wallet out of where I kept it, I kept getting stuck and eventually had to ask a kind little Japanese girl to help pull me through. I felt like such a fool.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch - Dim Sum, Dodging Deer Edition: Found a cute little dim sum place near the park. Ah, the sweet taste of dumplings! A small victory. But even here, I was traumatized. I swear, as I was trying to eat a particularly juicy sui mai, a deer poked it's head through the window and just stared at me. I quickly closed the window and ate my dim sum.
- 2:00 PM: Kofuku-ji Temple and Five-Story Pagoda: Okay, the Five-Story Pagoda looked pretty cool. I took a picture. Then I saw more deer. My internal monologue was screaming in existential dread.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the Hotel (Deer-Free Zone!): Exhausted. Sore. Slightly traumatized. But mostly just happy to be away from those furry little bandits. I crashed for a while.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner- Time to find a decent restaurant: Time to find a restaurant for dinner. I'm so tired of the convenience store, but I'm also too tired to walk. I decided to simply go to Google Maps. Turns out, it wasn't the best idea. I got into a place that was nice on the map but actually was awful. I ate half of the meal. I left.
- 8:00 PM: Unplanned Shopping: Found a store near my hotel. I was amazed to see a couple of souvenirs that made me laugh. I bought some for my family.
- 9:00 PM: Early Bedtime (Jet Lag's Embrace): Collapsed into bed. Dreamt of deer. Lots and lots of deer.
Day 2: Temples, Tea, and the Search for Sanity
- 8:00 AM: Wake Up (Maybe): I actually managed to peel myself out of bed at a reasonable hour. Victory!
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast- Time to explore the world: I left the hotel. First stop, finding a 7 eleven. Once I was sure I can find what I need, I went to a nearby restaurant (again based on Google Maps). This time better than the last, I think.
- 10:00 AM: Kasuga Taisha Shrine: Lanterns and Lost Souls: This shrine is stunning. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of lanterns line the paths. I was genuinely moved, which is rare for me. Took a moment of silence.
- 12:00 PM: Tea Ceremony (and Possibly Awkwardness): Signed up for a tea ceremony. Thought it would be all serene and graceful. It was… challenging. I spilled some tea. I didn't know the proper etiquette. Felt very clumsy. But, hey, the tea was delicious!
- 1:30 PM: Lunch - Rice, Ramen, and a Prayer for Longevity: The tea ceremony made me hungry. I ate at a family restaurant. Ate until I could barely move.
- 3:00 PM: Exploring the surrounding area: I decided to visit some other landmarks that were in walking distance. I even saw some other parks. I almost got lost in the process.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner- Time to get some beer: After all the places I visited, there was absolutely nothing I could have done other than drinking a couple of beers.
- 8:00 PM: Early Bedtime (Jet Lag's Embrace): Bedtime. A new day, perhaps a new era.
Day 3: Departure (and Emotional Breakdown?)
- 7:00 AM: Last Breakfast (and Nostalgia Nibbles): Ate breakfast. Sad to go.
- 8:00 AM: Check Out: Check out.
- 9:00 AM: Departure: I'm gone.
Final Thoughts:
Nara is… an experience. It's beautiful, it's chaotic, it's adorable, and it's also a little bit terrifying. But would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe I will learn to befriend the deer next time. Or, at the very least, learn to outrun them.
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APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae: My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Review - You've Been Warned!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your typical hotel review. I'm talking about the APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae, a beast I just wrestled into submission… or maybe it wrestled me. Let's just say we've got a complicated relationship. Prepare for a wild ride. Questions? Oh, I got questions… mostly about why I booked it in the first place.
Q: Is the APA Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae actually *near* the station? Because, you know, the name suggests it.
Yes! Thank the travel gods, it *is* close. Like, practically spitting distance. Seriously, you trip, you're probably in the lobby. Excellent for weary travelers, brilliant if you accidentally drink too much sake (ahem). This is its biggest positive. Huge. Saved me from a marathon trek after a long, glorious day of seeing Buddha statues. Seriously, after that, all I wanted was a bed and a nap. Location? A+! Everything else... well... keep reading.
Q: What's the deal with the rooms? Are they coffin-sized like everyone says?
Okay, "coffin-sized" is… a *bit* dramatic. But also... kinda accurate. Remember those airline seats where your knees are practically kissing the seat in front? Multiply that feeling by, oh, three. You're not going to be doing yoga in there, folks. Seriously, I had to strategically place my luggage. One wrong move and I'd be tripping over my own suitcase, sending toiletries flying across the 'room'. But hey, everything *was* spotlessly clean. Super clean. Almost… sterile. Like a hospital room made of beige. The bed? Firm. Like, *really* firm. My back’s still saying hello a week later. Don't expect to be doing cartwheels, unless you enjoy bruises.
Q: The bathroom situation? I need the *real* tea.
Okay, the bathroom. This is where things get… *interesting*. Tiny. Like, you could probably shower, brush your teeth, and use the toilet simultaneously, all while leaning against the door. Everything's functional, efficient, and… well, let's just say I’ve seen bigger closets. The shower? Powerful water pressure, which is a huge plus, but prepare for the whole room to get mildly damp. My tip? Don't expect much flourish, just admire the engineering feat that is fitting everything into a space roughly the size of a phone booth.
Q: Is the breakfast any good? I *need* my morning fuel.
Ugh, the breakfast… Okay. It's… there. Don't go expecting Michelin-star quality. Let's be honest, its the same breakfast as every APA on earth. And the breakfast is always the same everywhere I go, which is comforting! It's a buffet, mostly Asian-inspired (some suspect pre-packaged), with a modest selection. Think rice, miso soup, maybe some sad-looking scrambled eggs and a sausage that might be slightly ambiguous in its origins. I filled up on white rice and coffee every day, which is the only thing I could stomach, but the coffee was alright. Edible, filling...does the job. If you're a foodie? Skip it. Find a conbini for a quick breakfast. If you're just trying to get fueled up for sightseeing? It'll do. Just don’t expect to be blown away. I saw a small old man taking all the eggs. I had to wait a solid fifteen minutes for a refill.
Q: About the Amenities like laundry & wifi?
Wifi: Okay, it worked, I think. It wasn't screaming fast, but I managed to upload some embarrassing selfies and check my emails. The struggle was real sometimes I had to reset my router. Laundry? Yes! Hallelujah! But you'll need to buy a laundry card from the vending machines. I was honestly thrilled, because I was a sweaty mess after hiking around Nara Park. Saved me from hand-washing everything in the sink. The dryer? Effective. Definitely life-saving.
Q: What's the general vibe? Is it… depressing?
Depressing? No, not exactly. Functional? Yes. The decor is beige and efficient, but it's clean. The staff? Polite, but not overly chatty. Picture a well-oiled machine of efficiency. It’s a chain hotel, so don’t expect any surprises. It’s a place you stay for practical reasons. If you're looking for charm, skip it. If you prioritize a bed and a near station location, then it's suitable. It's not going to win any awards for personality, but again, you know what you're getting. No wild surprises. Which is exactly what I wanted after a hectic travel day. I was too exhausted. So I was happy with the no-nonsense approach.
Q: Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Hmm… That’s the million-dollar question, isn't it? Honestly? Probably, yes. If I needed a convenient, budget-friendly hotel near the station, and I was only planning on using it to crash after a long day? Absolutely. But only if my expectations were rock bottom. It's a trade-off: convenience vs. charm, space vs. price. I would check other places first, but if other's are booked and APA is available, I would settle for it. I'm not going to lie, the location is such a massive plus. It seriously made my trip easier. If I was going for a romantic getaway? Nope. Solo trip, needing a place to sleep and wash up? Yeah, I’d probably book it again (though I'd definitely try to snag a slightly larger room if possible). Think of it this way: it’s the reliable, slightly dull friend that’s always there for you. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Now if you excuse me, I have to go stretch out my back from remembering that bed.
