Nara is small, and almost any central hotel puts you within walking distance of the main sights. The choice comes down to three things: whether you want to wake up beside the deer, whether you value the train station for day trips, and how much you want to spend. These seven hotels cover the main options.
Beside Nara Park: Nara Hotel
The most atmospheric choice is Nara Hotel, a landmark that has welcomed guests since 1909. It is about three minutes on foot from the park, with a garden, two restaurants, a bar, deep soaking tubs and free parking. It is the splurge pick for couples and for anyone who wants an old-Japan feel. The trade-off is distance from the stations, about fifteen minutes from Kintetsu Nara, so plan your luggage with a taxi or the loop bus.
At the station: Hotel Nikko Nara
For convenience, Hotel Nikko Nara stands about one minute from JR Nara Station. It has 330 rooms, three restaurants, a spa, a gym and an indoor public bath. It suits travellers arriving by train, families who want facilities and anyone planning day trips by rail to Horyu-ji or Kyoto. Nara Park is about twelve minutes on foot, so it works well as a base even if you spend the day among the temples.
On the old-town side: Hotel Fujita Nara
Hotel Fujita Nara is a classic mid-range hotel about six minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station, with a garden, a bar and two restaurants. It is a good choice for people who want a calm, traditional feel and the lanes of Naramachi on the doorstep. Nara Park and Kofuku-ji are within ten minutes on foot.
Between the stations: Nara Washington Hotel Plaza
For value and a central position, Nara Washington Hotel Plaza sits between the two stations, about six minutes from JR Nara and eight from Kintetsu Nara. Rooms are efficient, with bidet toilets and mini-fridges, and Nara Park is about ten minutes away. It has no parking, so it suits train travellers, and check-out is at ten.
On a budget: Toyoko Inn Kintetsu Nara Ekimae
The budget pick is Toyoko Inn Kintetsu Nara Ekimae, about one minute from Kintetsu Nara Station and six minutes from the park. A free breakfast buffet is included, and rooms are compact and functional. It is ideal if you plan to spend most of the day outdoors and want to save money for experiences like a sake tour.
Luxury on the park's edge: Shisui
For a special occasion, Shisui, a Luxury Collection hotel, stands on the western edge of Nara Park, close to Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji. It has a spa, a sushi bar in a refurbished warehouse and a restaurant inspired by Nara's food history. It is the most expensive choice in the city and the best for couples who want the park at their door.
A calm mid-range option: Hotel Asyl Nara
Hotel Asyl Nara is central, a short walk from the stations and within comfortable reach of the park. It has public baths, a Japanese restaurant and a quiet library lounge, and suits travellers who want a little traditional atmosphere at a sensible price.
Luxury on the park's edge: Shisui
For a special occasion, Shisui, a Luxury Collection hotel, stands on the western edge of Nara Park, close to Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji. It has a spa, a sushi bar in a refurbished warehouse and a restaurant inspired by Nara's food history. It is the most expensive choice in the city and the best for couples who want the park at their door.
A calm mid-range option: Hotel Asyl Nara
Hotel Asyl Nara is central, a short walk from the stations and within comfortable reach of the park. It has public baths, a Japanese restaurant and a quiet library lounge, and suits travellers who want a little traditional atmosphere at a sensible price.
Naramachi evenings
Wherever you stay, plan one evening in Naramachi. The old lanes quiet down after the day visitors leave, small restaurants and bars open their doors, and the walk back to any of these hotels is short and safe. If you stay near the park, the walk home through the dark lanes and past the lanterns is a memorable end to the day.
How to choose
For atmosphere, pick Nara Hotel. For trains and facilities, pick Hotel Nikko Nara. For a calm old-town feel, pick Hotel Fujita Nara. For value in the centre, pick Nara Washington Hotel Plaza. For a luxury treat, pick Shisui. For public baths and a traditional feel at a fair price, pick Hotel Asyl Nara. For a luxury treat, pick Shisui. For public baths and a traditional feel at a fair price, pick Hotel Asyl Nara. For the lowest cost, pick Toyoko Inn. Whatever you choose, book early for the autumn colour weeks and for spring, and consider a night in Nara rather than a day trip, since the park is at its best in the early morning and the evening.
