Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara

Checking in can take a while, as the butler asks quite a few detailed questions and then gives a thorough introduction to the building and its various areas. Some staff members have good English, others not so much, which can sometimes make understanding difficult, but it doesn't significantly impact the overall experience. The breakfast is exquisite. During the tail end of the Golden Week holiday, we had to queue for a table. The Japanese grilled fish was delicious, but other dishes were just okay. The Western options were decent and quite plentiful. The room was clean and tidy, and on our last day, we even saw deer chasing and playing in the courtyard. The hotel has a distinct resort vibe, and Kengo Kuma's design features many highlights. It's a tranquil oasis in a bustling area, and the courtyard is beautifully maintained. Most guests seemed to be older, well-established families, with fewer young people. (As a 'workhorse' who needed to get some work done in the evening, I found there were no power outlets near the desk for my laptop, which really drove home the point that everyone else was truly here to relax and enjoy their vacation). Overall, I had a very pleasant and comfortable holiday. It's a beautiful hotel and definitely worth experiencing.

The hotel's location is excellent; Nara Park is right outside, and deer often come to graze. The cleanliness and amenities are also top-notch. The hotel staff speaks English fluently, and their service is very attentive. The only downside is that the breakfast was exactly the same for two consecutive days, and the à la carte dinner wasn't as good as the room service options. Room service also offered more variety.

For a room costing over 9,000 a night, the photos on the listing and in the reviews before I booked all showed a room like the first picture, with a hot spring bath that had an outdoor view. However, the room we were assigned had a hot spring bath that didn't match the listing photos at all. It was very enclosed with no view. When I asked the front desk, the staff said that room types are assigned randomly and we just happened to get that one. I asked if we could switch, but they said all the rooms were full and we couldn't. Eventually, I contacted Trip.com customer service and requested a refund. After a lot of hassle, they finally said they could temporarily arrange for us to switch rooms (didn't they just say all the rooms were full? How could they arrange it then?). I even started to wonder if it was discrimination. Honestly, they're just using the same room type photos for two different prices. If the better rooms are full, they assign you to the one without a view. It would be fine if they clearly listed what room type each photo represented, but don't bait and switch like that!