Nara Ugaya Guest House! Where one night with tea porridge breakfast is only 2900 JPY!

A 3 minute walk from JR Nara Station

To be clear a guest house is different from a hotel. At Nara Ugaya Guest House the differences are:  The rooms are shared dorms. One room sleeps 4 people on 2 bunk beds. *There are private rooms but cost more.  The washing area and bathroom are also shared. There is only a shower. If you want to take a long bath head to the local public bath.  Normally there is no dinner or breakfast. For 400 JPY you can have some Chagayu for breakfast.  The common area is where the guests will gather so you can meet fellow travelers.

For those who have stayed at a guesthouse it is easy to imagine what it’s like, but for those who haven’t I will break it down.

The Nara Ugaya Guest House is located 5 minutes’ walk from JR Nara Station. Look out for an orange roof. It is 10 minutes away from Nara Park, and another 5 minutes from Naramachi. They also provide rental bicycles (500 JPY) so you can use them for a great way to see the local area. They will keep your luggage for free if you arrive before check in, so you can do some sightseeing without being hindered by large heavy bags. (after checking out they charge 500 JPY to watch your bags)

A library of books on Nara temples and Buddhist info! A relaxing common area!

Upon checking in the staff will explain all the details of the guest house so first timers can rest easy. They also explain how to use the shower and the fridge here. After listening to the instructions they will ask whether you want Chagayu in the morning or not. Chagayu is 400 JPY added to the fee so if you are staying in the dormitory room at 2500 JPY the total is only 2900 JPY.

When you first enter this is the lobby area you’ll see. It is the common area, with a fridge, free water, and a PC to use as you please. On the shelves are books on the temples and Buddhist statues and artwork in Nara, even die-hard fans will love this lineup. There are also books on local sights as well so you can research what to do the next day if you need to. *Books aren’t allowed out of the common area. Eating is prohibited in the guest rooms so dining is done here. Here you can meet all the other guests and strike a conversation if you want, or ask the staff for tips on where to go, or if you want there are many desks where you can delve into your own world.

A bed where you can sleep soundly and maintain privacy

Next up is the room. At Nara Ugaya Guest House there are private rooms and dormitories. The dormitory can be coed or ladies only, so if you are a lone female traveler you can feel safe here. There are 2 bunk beds in the dormitory rooms, and each bed becomes your personal space. At Nara Ugaya Guest House the beds have curtains on them so you can maintain some privacy if need be. The futons are fluffy and the white sheets are crisp and clean. The pillows are also nice and fluffy as well for a good nights rest.

There is a socket for you to plug in your phone charger at the desk. There are also hangers in the room for your clothes so it’s best to use them. If there are other guests you may have to limit how many you can use though.

If you are lucky you can listen to the owner play the Biwa

If you want to know what Nara Ugaya Guest House has that no other does, it’s the owner who can play the Biwa expertly!

If you are lucky you can hear him play at night when the mood strikes! Seto-san the owner used to be in a band and says he learned how to play the Biwa after starting the guesthouse. This is a rare thing so don’t miss it. By the way Seto-san isn’t originally from Nara but was drawn to its beauty and that is why he started this guesthouse. He also knows all the sights that are worth seeing in Nara. He is definitely the guy to talk to when planning the sightseeing route for the next day.

Start the day with Chagayu

At Nara Ugaya Guest House they can’t cook in the kitchen so for those that want to eat something in the morning have to head to a convenience store or a restaurant but I suggest having the Chagayu tea porridge.

Chagayu in Nara has been a tradition amongst Buddhist monks since the Kamakura Period, and until the beginning of the Showa Period was a household staple. Now it isn’t eaten so much but is still seen and prepared as a traditional Japanese food culture dish.

It isn’t sticky or slimy as normal rice porridge. The sweet potato and pickles accent it nicely, to make you hungry in the morning.