ANDO Hotel Nara Wakakusayama — Nara's hillside resort with a kids' pool and wide city views
Did you know that among all the hotels in Nara, only a handful have a swimming pool — and ANDO Hotel Nara Wakakusayama is one of them, with a separate kids' pool to boot? For families who want their children to experience both Nara's famous deer and a proper swim in summer, this hotel delivers both in one trip. Perched on Wakakusayama Hill above Nara Park, the atmosphere feels genuinely resort-like: quieter, airier, and with city views that hotels on the flat simply cannot match.
The reason ANDO Hotel Nara Wakakusayama stands out for families is something you can barely find anywhere else in Nara — an outdoor swimming pool plus a separate kids' pool. In a city where most hotels centre on hot-spring baths, having somewhere children can actually splash around in summer is a genuine edge. A score of 8.9 from 448 reviews on Booking reflects that guests who make the trip up the hill are rarely disappointed.
"Guests who've stayed consistently say the hilltop atmosphere genuinely feels like a resort, the kids loved the pool, and the city views from the rooms were even better than they expected."
The hotel sits on Wakakusayama Hill above Nara Park, giving it wide city views and a sense of space that hotels hemmed in by neighbouring buildings simply cannot offer. For families wanting to relax properly, the hillside setting lets you escape the bustle of the centre while staying close to all the key sights. Getting between Kintetsu Nara Station and the hotel is handled by the hotel's own shuttle service, so there's no need to haul luggage up the slope under your own steam.
The flagship family option is the Quad Family Room, which sleeps four. Helping to reduce the per-head cost is a policy that children aged 0–2 stay free. Families travelling with a baby or toddler don't pay extra for the room. In addition to the outdoor pool, the hotel has an indoor public bath, ideal for cooler weather or visiting outside of summer when the outdoor pool is closed.
One critical thing to know before booking: the outdoor pool is only open in summer — roughly mid-July to the end of August. If your trip falls outside that window and the pool is the main draw, check the exact open dates before you commit. Coming during the autumn-leaf season or cherry blossom time means the outdoor pool will still be closed, and while the indoor bath is a decent substitute, the two experiences are not the same.
Something many returning guests mention is the Nara city views from the hillside, which are wide and clear, particularly on a crisp morning. The resort feel — so different from a standard city chain hotel — adds a dimension to a Nara trip that goes beyond the usual: see the deer, come back and properly relax, rather than treating the hotel as just somewhere to sleep between sights.
It's worth being straight about the trade-off: being on a hill means you cannot simply walk to Nara Park whenever the mood strikes. Every excursion to the deer park or the main temples requires the hotel shuttle or a taxi, which adds a layer of planning that families with young children should factor in carefully. Those who want maximum flexibility to wander in and out of the park at will may prefer a hotel in the city centre.
In short, ANDO Hotel Nara Wakakusayama is the best fit for families visiting in summer who want their children to have both the Nara deer experience and a real pool, or for anyone who prefers a resort atmosphere with views over a standard city-centre property. At a starting price of ¥22,000 per night for a Quad Family Room sleeping four, the per-person cost is reasonable for what you receive.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Outdoor pool + kids' pool — almost impossible to find at a Nara hotel
- ✓ Quad Family Room sleeping 4 · children aged 0–2 stay free
- ✓ Resort atmosphere on Wakakusayama Hill with wide city views
- ✓ Indoor public bath + hotel shuttle from the station
- ! Outdoor pool open in summer only (roughly mid-July to end of August) — check before booking
- ! On a hill — need shuttle or taxi every time you go to Nara Park
- ! Cannot walk to Nara Park as easily as city-centre hotels
- ✓ Beautiful Nara city views — atmosphere unlike any standard hotel
- ✓ Quad Family Room comfortably fits four guests
- ✓ Indoor bath open year-round regardless of season
- ✓ Attentive staff and convenient hotel shuttle
- ! Shuttle-dependent for every outing — less flexibility than in-town hotels
- ! Outdoor pool not open year-round — timing matters
- ! At ¥22,000/night, priced above many Nara city-centre options
- 💡If you're visiting outside summer — the outdoor pool is only open around mid-July to end of August → the indoor public bath is still available year-round, but if the kids' pool is the main goal, confirm exact open dates with the hotel before booking.
- 💡If you want to pop in and out of Nara Park freely — the hillside location means every visit requires the hotel shuttle or a taxi → plan your sightseeing schedule carefully, or consider a city-centre hotel for more spontaneous access.
- 💡If you're travelling with children aged 3 and over — the free-stay policy applies to ages 0–2 only; older children are charged separately → confirm the family room rate including older children before completing your booking.