Guesthouse Naramachi is a traditional house in the old merchant quarter of Naramachi, offered as a garden-view home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms with showers, a kitchen, a dining area and a private yard. Futon bedding sleeps up to thirteen, so it suits families and groups who want to stay together. There is free WiFi, air conditioning, laundry, luggage storage and a Japanese garden, and the temples and the deer park are a short walk away.
Location and getting around
The house is in the Kitakyobate part of Naramachi, among the lanes of old merchant houses south of the park. Kyobate Station is about a five-minute walk. Gango-ji Temple is around ten minutes on foot, Nara Park and Sarusawa Pond about twelve, and Kofuku-ji Temple about sixteen. Kintetsu Nara Station is a short trip away, and Kansai International Airport is around an hour and twenty minutes by car.
The streets are quiet at night, with cafes and small shops in the daytime, so the stay feels like living in the neighbourhood rather than visiting it. Free parking is available nearby, though the house does not have its own car park.
Rooms and facilities
The house is furnished individually and is arranged around a Japanese garden, at about a thousand square feet. It has four bedrooms with twin futon bedding, two bathrooms with showers and free toiletries, a kitchen, a dining table, air conditioning, laptop-friendly workspaces and a large flat-screen television. Free WiFi is provided, and guests can use the laundry facilities and leave luggage.
Books, tea and coffee are available in the lobby. Check-in is in the afternoon with a fixed evening cut-off and no after-hours check-in, so tell the host your arrival time in advance. Check-out is at ten. Breakfast is not something to assume, so check when you book, and plan to shop at the nearby markets and cafes if you want to cook.
Who it suits and what to know: families with children, groups of friends and multi-generation trips who want a kitchen, a garden and plenty of room, and travellers who prefer the atmosphere of an old Japanese house to a hotel. It is also a good choice for a longer stay in Nara. Sleeping on futons is part of the experience, and it may not suit guests who need a conventional bed.
There is no front desk or restaurant, so it works best for self-sufficient travellers. Because it is a single house, dates fill early for cherry blossom season, autumn leaves and holiday weekends, so book well ahead and check the arrangements before you pay.
Why stay here
- ✓Traditional house with Japanese garden
- ✓Four bedrooms with futon bedding
- ✓Sleeps up to thirteen guests
- ✓Kitchen and dining area
- ✓Two bathrooms with showers
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Kyobate Station 5 minutes on foot
Good questions
How many people can stay?+
The house has four bedrooms with futon bedding and sleeps up to thirteen guests. Check the arrangements when you book.
Is there a kitchen?+
Yes, there is a kitchen and a dining area, so you can prepare simple meals.
Can I check in late?+
No, there is a fixed evening cut-off and no after-hours check-in, so tell the host your arrival time in advance.
