Refresh yourself in luxury in Nara! 6 recommended luxury hotels and ryokan for staycations

A new lifestyle suddenly appeared on our horizon. As we got used to this lifestyle, we feel like we understand ourselves better than before. What do we like and dislike, what makes us happy, and what do we want to value? We had a conversation with ourselves that we hadn't been able to face before, and now we have time to think about the future, so I'm sure it was a wonderful opportunity for many people to get to know "themselves". We've found our own rhythm, we're refreshed, and every day is fun and fulfilling! But sometimes we wish we could go on a trip... Why not face that feeling?

If you're going on a trip, we recommend a "staycation"! Even if you can't visit many tourist spots, a relaxing trip while enjoying the charm of Nara at a lodging should be a safe and comfortable experience. Since you won't be sightseeing this time, why not take a luxurious trip at a high-class lodging that's a cut above the rest? Spectacular views, delicious food, saunas... an extraordinary time spent at a lodging in Nara awaits you.

Fufu Nara, located in a corner of Nara Park, is about a 20-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. It is a convenient location for sightseeing, as it is within walking distance of popular tourist spots such as Todaiji Temple. The building was designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, who has worked on numerous buildings including the National Stadium. The calm wooden exterior blends in with the scenery of the ancient capital, making it a perfect start to your high-end trip.

All guest rooms are suites, offering stylish spaces that fuse history and modernity with the designs of Kengo Kuma. The "Fufu Luxury Premium Suite" in particular is a room that boasts an area of over 120 square meters, allowing you to feel the atmosphere of the garden without leaving your room. Relax and unwind as you please, reading a book on the spacious sofa or taking a nap on the tatami mats. This room is perfect for trips with your partner or friends.

The room is equipped with an open-air bath filled with natural onsen. It is luxurious to be able to enjoy it as much as you like, whenever you like, while feeling the scent of the trees in the garden. You can sit on the sofa on the terrace and gaze at the view, or enjoy a drink after the bath... It will soothe your body tired from traveling, and make your body and mind lighter.

meal is at the Japanese restaurant "Tekisui". The large windows overlooking the garden and the open space make your time at meal even more luxurious. Enjoy Nara's kaiseki cuisine, which uses Yamato vegetables and Japanese herbs, and is gentle on the body. Breakfast is also rich in Nara's ingredients and is well-balanced and filling.

Auberge de Plaisance Sakurai is located about a 10-minute drive from Sakurai Station. This auberge has a tranquil rural landscape as far as the eye can see, and the sounds of nature are pleasant to the ears. By the way, an auberge is a restaurant that also provides accommodation. Enjoy the delicious food brought about by the rich nature, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There are a total of nine guest rooms. The warm interior, made with precious wood from Nara, and the open space seem to be connected to the scenery of the four seasons. Sitting on a chair on the deck and looking at the rural scenery, you will feel that your worries are insignificant. Take a deep breath and completely freshen your body.

Outside the restaurant's large windows, a tranquil rural landscape spreads out before you, and a pleasant breeze blows through. Depending on the time, orange light shines in at dusk, beautifully illuminating the dining table. The chef carefully selects the finest ingredients, thinking about how to bring out the best flavors in each ingredient. Enjoy a luxurious dinner with French cuisine that focuses on local produce from the Kansai region.

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The main dish is made with ingredients that can only be found here, such as Yamato beef, Yamato pork, and Yamato chicken, making this a French dish from Nara that can only be enjoyed here. Yamato vegetables that have been passed down since ancient times add a gorgeous touch to the dish. The food is as pleasing to the eye as a work of art, so it's exciting to look at. Enjoy a wonderful time filled with gourmet food surrounded by tranquil scenery.

Nara Hotel is located on a hill within Nara Park. Since it was founded in 1909, it has been a classic hotel representing Nara with a long history. The stately, classical space, with its Japanese-style chandelier in the lobby and the large red carpeted staircase, will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Meiji era. In 1983, Audrey Hepburn apparently had her family photographed with the chandelier in the background. Just from that story, you can get a sense of the long and proud history of Nara Hotel.

There are a total of 127 guest rooms, split between the modern new building and the classic main building. The "Deluxe Classic" in the main building is a special room that strongly retains the atmosphere of the time of the hotel's founding. The coffered ceiling, blinds, and carpets with the Hosoge motif of the Shosoin Repository welcome travelers with their elegant furnishings. Why not travel back in time more than 100 years and experience the feeling of visiting the time of the hotel's founding?

This is the "Deluxe Parkside" room in the main building. Based on the concept of elegance that colored the Nara period, the greenery of Nara Park can be seen from the windows surrounding the room on three sides, creating an even more elegant atmosphere. Open and bright, with a sense of dignity that offers a glimpse of the glamorous court culture, this is a symbolic room that represents Nara Hotel. Just spending time surrounded by elegance will make your manners more beautiful than usual. Why not try experiencing court life?

meal are served in the main dining room, Mikasa. Stepping inside, you'll be greeted by an interior that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to the Meiji era, with the view of the ancient city of Nara, with the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple looming above you. The masterpieces and furnishings on the walls enhance the value of the time and space, creating a truly luxurious experience... Enjoy the marriage of French cuisine, which has been handed down since the restaurant's founding, and carefully selected wines.

NIPPONIA Tawaramoto Maruto Soy Sauce is located about a 10-minute drive from Tawaramoto Station. This was originally used as a soy sauce brewery for Maruto Soy Sauce, the oldest soy sauce brewery in Nara, founded in 1689. The brewery was forced to close after the war, but after 70 years it has been revived as a soy sauce brewery where you can stay overnight. Why not try a world that is a little different from the usual hotel accommodations and become a brewer instead of a traveler?

There are a total of seven guest rooms. The storehouses, known as "Yamato-mune" (Yamato-style buildings), showcasing the traditional Nara architectural style, have been reborn as guest rooms. The names of the rooms are derived from the conditions of the time. For example, the "Minori" room is named after the fact that soy sauce production was supported by raw materials harvested from the land around the Yamato River. It is a luxurious room where you can fall asleep while looking at the architecture that still retains the appearance of the time.

This is the room called "Kurabito." Apparently, the brewers used to watch over the work from the windows facing the inner garden. You can almost see the faces of the people who devoted themselves to brewing work back then. Come and experience the path that has been taken by so many people since the company's founding, protecting and passing on the Maruto Soy Sauce Distillery.

Of course, the dishes are made with Maruto Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce, which has been revived for the first time in 70 years. The ability to enjoy fresh, locally grown ingredients with locally made soy sauce is a luxurious experience, packed with the flavors of Nara. The restaurant also has a tasteful atmosphere, and even the furniture and tableware show the passion of the artisans who worked on it. Why not create special memories at the "soy sauce brewery where you can stay," which has been relit for the first time in 70 years?

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"Ume, Yamazoe" sits at the foot of the mountain in Yamazoe Village, where untouched nature remains. It is an experiential accommodation facility based on the concept of a "slightly inconvenient hotel" that was renovated from a house that was over 100 years old. There are no radio signals or convenience stores nearby, but instead there is abundant nature, meal that connects the body with the environment, and the daily lives of the people who live in this village. Why not listen to your inner voice while surrounded by the things you can only encounter in a slightly inconvenient place away from everyday life?

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There are only three guest rooms: "Ibuki" which feels like a hideaway, "Tsumugi" which has an open feeling, and "Mebuki" where light pours in. The thick main pillars and beautiful transoms have been carefully preserved, unchanged even after the renovation. Spending time in this "house" that has watched over this land for many years is sure to teach you important things. Turn off your smartphone and take your time to honestly face each and every action you take, such as breathing, walking, and looking at the scenery. Here, you may be able to see things that you would not see in an ordinary assembly line.

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The suite room "Mebuki" comes with a private semi-open-air bath, and the most attractive feature is the veranda. This room was created with the wish that guests "wake up to the sight of the morning sun slowly peeking out from behind the mountains." Sit on the veranda and enjoy the rich nature, whose expressions change with the seasons and time of day. As you gaze upon the ever-changing scenery, which is never the same for even a moment, you may gain new sensibilities and discover a new you.

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"Ume,sauna" is an outdoor Finnish-style sauna, which is rare in Japan. Recently, there has been a sauna boom, and Finnish-style saunas are on the rise, but what makes this sauna different from other saunas is that it is located outdoors. While listening to the crackling sound of the firewood, you can face yourself in the hot sauna room. Once you have worked up a sweat, you can enter the cold bath and feel refreshed by being exposed to the clear outside air. Through this routine, you will realize that you are a part of nature.

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meal here are prepared based on the idea of "Shindo Fujitsu." Shindo Fujitsu means that the body and the environment are inseparable, and that "local, seasonal foods and traditional foods are good for the body." The vegetables grown in Yamazoe Village are filled with love, regardless of their shape or color. Seasonal ingredients are made into dishes that preserve the original flavor of the ingredients, and are kind to the body, mind, and environment. Enjoy each bite slowly, feeling the ingredients and receiving love.

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Sasayuri-an Ozunu is located about a 15-minute drive from Nabari Station. Surrounded by beautiful rice terraces, it is a villa that can be rented exclusively and is also known as an inn in the sky. As the name suggests, it is said that you can sometimes see a sea of clouds in the early morning. From the hearth room, the inn's pride and joy, you can get a panoramic view of the outside scenery and have the garden all to yourself. The beauty of this sight is truly out of the ordinary.

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The elegant thatched roof makes you feel as if you are visiting grandma's house in the countryside. Although thatched roofs are rarely seen these days, the tradition that has been alive in Japan's climate continues to protect people's lives. Cool in summer and warm in winter, they warmly welcome travelers. You can spend a peaceful time feeling the warmth of the trees.

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There are three types of gardens around the building: the dry landscape garden, the Japanese garden, and the tea garden. The beauty of Japan is concentrated there, and you can enjoy a view that can only be seen from this inn. When you stare blankly at them, your mind somehow becomes calm, like the sea is calm... You can sit on the veranda, drink tea, or just do nothing, and while you're here you'll forget about your busy daily life.

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There are no plans that include dinner, but special dishes using the hearth can be reserved for groups of two or more, so if you want to enjoy the hearth to the fullest, make a reservation. You can enjoy luxurious hearth dishes that make the most of the flavor of the ingredients, such as Iga beef steak and Iga beef misuji shabu-shabu. They also have alcoholic drinks such as champagne and wine. Gather around the hearth and laugh together. This is an irreplaceable time here.

Nara, the ancient capital. The unique atmosphere of a place where World Heritage sites and many shrines and temples are gathered will make your trip even more wonderful. The luxury accommodations in Nara have everything: history, spectacular views, charm, relaxation, and more, and yet they are also unique and very attractive. So, how about immersing yourself in the classics this time? Or would you like to be surrounded by soothing rice field scenery? Enjoy an extraordinary staycation at a luxurious accommodation in Nara♩