Start Your Travels Off Right! 10 Nara Hotels with Delicious Breakfasts

source:Contribution of Takumi Yuki

When it comes to Nara, the scenery I saw in textbooks, such as the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, the five-storied pagoda of Kofukuji Temple, and the red pillars and white walls of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, still remain. Nara is famous as a destination for school excursions, but it is a land that becomes even more fun when you go around it as an adult. As a place with a long history, the food is also unique, making it a popular spot for gourmet girls who love delicious food.

Speaking of Nara's local gourmet, it is "cha-gayu". Nara's chagayu is rice cooked with hojicha (roasted green tea), and has been eaten as a temple meal for about 1,200 years. Narazuke is added to chagayu. Narazuke, which uses sake lees, whets the appetite with its sweetness, mellowness, and mellow aroma. In addition, there is no shortage of Nara specialties such as "Kakinoha Sushi" and "Asuka Nabe" using milk.

It is important to choose a hotel with a delicious breakfast when you travel to Nara, where there are plenty of delicious foods. You can enjoy Nara gourmet at breakfast and compare it with Nara gourmet from other restaurants during the day and night. Here are 10 hotels and ryokan in Nara that are highly recommended for breakfast. If you choose the places that you want to visit, you can enjoy sightseeing and breakfast to the fullest.

The hotel is about 5 minutes by taxi from Kintetsu Nara Station. An elegant classic hotel called "Kansai Guest House", built on the bank of "Araike" in the grounds of Nara Park. Designed by Kingo Tatsuno, a master of modern architecture, this dignified hotel makes you feel the long history of Nara. Recommended for girls who want to enjoy a splendid trip to Nara, where Japanese and Western styles are in perfect harmony.

The most popular breakfast here is Yamato no Chagayu. Nara's chagayu is generally cooked with roasted green tea, so the rice is slightly brown, but Nara Hotel 's chagayu is cooked with fragrant green tea. It has a smooth texture and is perfect for breakfast.

The main dining room "Mikasa" where breakfast is served is also one of the highlights. The main dining room of this traditional classic hotel is a mixture of Japanese and Western styles, and the lighting and interior decoration are elegant. You can enjoy a relaxing meal from the morning.

Hotel Obana is about a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. This is a business hotel located near the entrance to Nara Park. Conveniently located for sightseeing, just 1 minute walk from Naramachi, which is lined with old folk house cafes and galleries that are popular among girls. Although it is located in the center of Nara, it is a very good value hotel, so it is recommended for girls who want a reasonable trip to Nara.

For breakfast here, you can enjoy a Japanese and Western buffet. There is a wide variety of menu items such as ``Yamato Chagayu'' and ``Asukanabe'' made with boiled tofu, Unohana, and milk, so you may be confused as to which one to try. When you add pickles to tea porridge, you can enjoy the gentle flavor typical of Nara.

This location is also great. Sarusawa Pond, a tourist spot in Nara, is about a 3-minute walk from the hotel. It's fun to take a walk around the pond in the morning and evening, and it's close to Sanjo-dori, the main street from JR Nara Station, so you won't feel inconvenienced when shopping.

Hotel Nikko Nara is directly connected to JR Nara Station. This is one of the largest city hotels in Nara, and is within walking distance of major sightseeing spots such as Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. From the rooms on the east side of the hotel, you can see the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple and Mount Wakakusa. It's recommended for girls who want to go sightseeing in Nara city efficiently because of its breakfast with Nara's specialties and good access.

The recommended breakfast here is the "Nara Breakfast" corner of the Japanese-Western buffet. The menu includes ``Kakinoha Sushi,'' which has a refreshing aroma of tea porridge, narazuke, and persimmon leaves, and `` Miwa Somen,'' which has a smooth texture that goes down your throat. This is the perfect way to enjoy the classic Nara breakfast menu.

A popular breakfast item in Nara is Kofukuji no Kasujiru, which is famous for its five-storied pagoda. With the full cooperation of Kofuku-ji Temple, we have recreated the kasujiru that is served to temple officials during the Tsuinae ceremony held on New Year's Eve at Kofuku-ji Temple. It's slightly sweet and you can eat as much as you like.

"Oyado Nono Nara" is a hotel that is a 1-minute walk from JR Nara Station. This is a hotel in the Dormy Inn chain that operates throughout the country, and is popular among girls' trips for its relaxing Japanese-style feel. The entire building has tatami flooring and is equipped with a natural onsen. Recommended for girls who want to stay in a hotel but want to take off their shoes and relax.

The breakfast here is a Japanese and Western buffet. Nara gourmet foods include `` Miwa Somen,'' ``Yamato Meat Chicken Osumashi,'' and ``Kuzukiri.'' They are characterized by many foods that are easy on the stomach and easy to eat. Be careful not to eat too much.

The public bath "Yoshino Sakura no Yu" on the 1st floor is a natural onsen. It is fully equipped with an indoor bath, a semi-open-air bath, a pot bath and a sauna, and is available from 15:00 to 10:00 the next day (only the sauna stops from 1:00 to 5:00). You can take a bath all night long, so enjoy the natural onsen without worrying about the time. The women's dressing room is spacious, comfortable and easy to use, which is an important point for girls' trips.

"Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara Station" is a luxury grade of business hotel "Super Hotel". A talented business hotel that has been ranked number one in customer satisfaction by the research firm JD Power for eight consecutive years. It is connected to JR Nara Station by a deck, and is highly rated for its comfort and location. The convenience of paying at check-in and not having to check out is recommended for girls who want to do some sightseeing in the morning.

You can enjoy a Japanese and Western buffet at this hotel. You can eat as much of the daily freshly baked bread and Nara's specialty tea porridge as you like. Enjoy the view of the rotary in front of the station and JR Nara Station from the dining room on the 4th floor. Why not make a sightseeing schedule while eating and see Nara efficiently?

The natural onsen "Asuka no Yu" is a natural onsen that gushes out from 800 meters underground. The men's and women's large communal baths have an indoor bath and an outdoor bath, so you can take a relaxing bath. Although it is reasonably priced, it also comes with a natural onsen, making it a very cost-effective hotel.

Hotel Asyl Nara is a hotel that is approximately 5 minutes walk from both JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station. A fireplace in the lobby creates a warm atmosphere. The interior uses a lot of wood, giving off a Japanese atmosphere even though it is a hotel. Recommended for girls who want to enjoy a relaxing trip to Nara in a casual hotel.

Our special breakfast is the ``Japanese breakfast set'' that uses plenty of ingredients from Nara. You'll be happy with the menu that's perfect for breakfast, such as grilled fish, freshly cooked rice, and carefully prepared eggs wrapped in dashi soup.You can also try the famous "cha gayu".

There is also a large public bath, which is great for relaxing after walking around Nara. If you stretch your arms and legs and take a bath, your fatigue will probably melt away. We also have a shampoo buffet, so let's be healed by your favorite scent ♡

"Nara Royal Hotel" is a hotel about 10 minutes by car from JR Nara Station. You can walk to the popular tourist spot Heijo Palace Ruins, and there is a free shuttle bus from the hotel to Kintetsu and JR Nara Station, so you can explore a wide range of Nara. Recommended for girls who want to enjoy both a delicious breakfast and sightseeing in Nara.

*As of November 2023, the shuttle bus is suspended.

Breakfast here is buffet style. We use locally sourced ingredients, and the rice is "Hinohikari" from Nara. You can enjoy Nara's traditional leafy vegetables "Yamato Mana no Nibitashi", "Kaki Leaf Sushi", "Nara Pickles", and "Miwa Somen Noodles".

"Tenpyo no Yu" on the first basement floor of the hotel is a natural onsen. Because it is a bicarbonate spring, it is called "beautiful skin hot spring", and it is very popular for smooth skin after bathing. There is also a sauna, where you can relax and relieve the fatigue of your trip.

Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara is about a 1-minute walk from Kintetsu Kashihara Jingu-mae Station. This hotel is very convenient for heading to Asukamura and Kashihara, where many ruins from Nara's Kofun period remain. This hotel is also recommended for women who want to enjoy Nara cuisine.

Breakfast is a colorful buffet. The menu includes petit hot dogs, pancakes, salads, and gluten-free options that you can customize to your liking, with a focus on dishes that make use of local ingredients and food culture. There is also Japanese food with a fragrant dashi broth, so even rice lovers will be satisfied. The smoothies made with seasonal vegetables are also recommended.

This hotel has a hot spring source on the premises, and you can enjoy the water in the spacious public bath. There is also a sauna where you can thoroughly wash away the sweat, and a onsen lounge where you can enjoy vinegar drinks and sweet sake after your bath. The public bath is open from 6am, so it's a good idea to enjoy a morning bath before heading out.

"CANDEO HOTELS Nara Kashihara" is conveniently located, about 3 minutes walk from Kintetsu "Yamato Yagi Station". This hotel features an open-air bath with a view of Yamato Sanzan. The beautiful scenery can be seen from the lobby and breakfast area. The mirror-finished decorations throughout the building are also a highlight.

There are rooms with raised sofas and terraces, creating a comfortable space with a modern Japanese feel. Please spend a relaxing time while looking at the cityscape of Nara ♪

The long-awaited breakfast is served buffet style. There are a variety of dishes on the menu, including the high-protein and fiber-rich "Powerful Salad," "Mushroom Kenchinjiru" and the CANDEO Hotels original "Dashi Curry." Eating your fill is sure to give you energy in the morning!

Let's soothe the fatigue of your trip in the large public bath while feeling the beautiful nature ♪ "Sky Spa" has an open-air bath, an indoor bath, and a sauna. The view from the open-air bath is especially spectacular. Enjoy a relaxing time watching the magnificent sunset or soaking up the sun in the morning.

Grandvrio Hotel Nara -Wakura- is a hotel located in Tenri City. The hotel opened in October 2018 and is equipped with natural onsen and a parking lot. About 15 minutes by car from the hotel is Isonokami Shrine, the oldest shrine in Japan, which is popular as the guardian deity of health and longevity, protection from disasters, and success in all matters. It is recommended for women who want to visit tourist spots outside of Nara City.

The breakfast here is a buffet of about 80 kinds of local produce for local consumption. Freshly fried tempura from local ingredients is prepared in front of you in the open kitchen. Breakfast time starts at 6:30, so you can go out after eating breakfast when you want to go sightseeing.

"Yamato Vegetable and Shrimp Tempura" is a crispy, freshly fried dish. It is fried right in front of you, so it's hot and crispy♪

You can also enjoy taking a leisurely bath in the open-air bath at the "Suiren-no-Yu", a large natural onsen for men and women. Hours of operation are 15:00-2:00 and 5:00-10:00. I take a bath early in the morning, so bathing → breakfast → sightseeing! It's easy to make a flow, and you can move actively from the morning.

It is a land that has a strong image of "Nara for school trips", but you can feel a deeper taste if you come as an adult. Why don't you experience the atmosphere of Nara with a relaxing scenery and a breakfast of local gourmet food?