[Around Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine] How about a base for sightseeing? 7 Recommended Hotels and ryokan / Nara

Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and the Kasuga Taisha area can be reached in an hour by train from Osaka. It is a power spot in Nara where you can feel the ancient history. Why not pray for good health at the 15m-tall Great Buddha of Nara, and pray for better luck in love at the Futo Daikokusha, a sub-shrine of Kasuga Taisha? You can also expect to encounter cute deer, making this a trip that is sure to be fulfilling.

If you want to take your time sightseeing around Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, we recommend a nice hotel near Kintetsu Nara Station. This time, we will introduce hotels and inns that are convenient as a base for sightseeing around Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Staying at a stylish hotel where you can enjoy a luxurious stay is sure to make you feel refreshed.

Kasuga Hotel is located about a 2-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. Its closeness to the station makes it convenient for when you want to quickly rest your tired body after a long journey. Next door is the World Heritage site Kofuku-ji Temple, offering a quiet and luxurious time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is also a shop on the first floor where you can purchase souvenirs from Nara.

The hotel offers a variety of room types, including Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. Some rooms even have an open-air bath, so you can spend a wonderful time relaxing in the hot water with your loved one without worrying about the eyes of others. The photo shows a 10-tatami Japanese-style room with a "semi-open-air bath made of Koyamaki." The furnishings, which have been carefully designed down to the smallest detail, are also of interest.

In the open-air bath, you can hear the bells of Kofuku-ji Temple at around 6pm in the evening. The sound of the bells will surely make you feel purified. There are two types of open-air baths: the "Large Bath Garden Open-air Rock Bath" and the "Large Bath Garden Open-air Stone Bath". The men's and women's baths are alternated at night and in the morning, so you can enjoy both.

For dinner, you can enjoy a multi-course meal that reflects the four seasons, including local Nara cuisine. The food is colorful and stylishly presented. For breakfast, you can enjoy "Yamato chagayu," known locally as okaisan. It is said that the people who worked hard to build the Great Buddha also ate porridge. Enjoy the meal while thinking about ancient times.

Noboriooji Hotel is located about a 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. If you are unfamiliar with the area and are worried about it, you can contact them the day before and they will come and pick you up on foot. There are only 13 rooms in total, and some of them have a view of Kofuku-ji Temple from the window. It will be a precious time to enjoy the World Heritage Site from a different angle than usual.
　

The guest rooms are modern and stylish. Outside the windows, you can see the beautiful greenery of the Kofuku-ji temple grounds. You can relax and forget about your daily life while lying on the large bed and staring out the window. The view of the temple grounds differs depending on the room, so you'll want to come back again and again.

If you want to enjoy an adult night out, why not visit "The Bar" which seats 12 people? They also have a wide selection of cigars. You will be impressed by the stylish moment with the relaxing evening music. It is open from around 5pm to around 11pm.

We will be having meal at the restaurant "Le Bois". The menu is French dining supervised by Chef Hiroshi Nakamichi of "Restaurant Moliere" in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The food, which is a marriage of ingredients from Nara and Hokkaido, is also stylishly presented. The sound of the piano playing in the restaurant and the delicious food we tasted are sure to become unforgettable memories of Nara.

Sarusawaike Yoshidaya is located about an 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. This historic inn was founded in 1868 and is located right in front of Sarusawaike Pond and the five-story pagoda. In the morning, you can enjoy coffee in the lounge while looking out at the beautiful Japanese garden. The elegant atmosphere is sure to make for a great conversation.

The guest rooms are mostly stylish Western-style rooms with a modern Japanese atmosphere. The beds are made by Kingsdown, an American bedding brand known for helping to relieve fatigue. You'll be able to get a good night's sleep even after a long day of sightseeing in Nara. The photo shows one of two rooms only, the "Room type with a semi-open-air bath facing Sarusawa Pond." You can enjoy a relaxing bath while looking out over Sarusawa Pond.

In the private bath "To no Yu," you can enjoy the illuminated five-story pagoda while being enveloped in the scent of cypress. Relaxing and gazing at the beautiful five-story pagoda will surely help you blow away your daily fatigue. If you walk along the stone-paved corridor, you will find the large baths, "Aogaki" for men and "Kagirohi" for women. The large baths open from around 6:30 in the morning, so it's a good idea to take a bath after a morning stroll.

meal will be served at the Mahoroba meal on the first floor. Local seasonal ingredients such as Yamato beef, Yamato pork, and Yamato vegetables are on offer! You can fully enjoy Nara's food culture. You can feel the attention to detail in each dish, and your stomach will be completely satisfied on this trip.

Setre Naramachi is located about an 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. The location is perfect as a base for sightseeing, as you can reach the cherry blossoms of Nara Park and Shosoin Treasure within a 20-minute walk. The entrance is surrounded by earthen walls, making a big impact. You'll be captivated by it when you check in. It's a great spot for taking commemorative photos of your trip.

There are a total of 32 guest rooms. All rooms are made with Yoshino cedar, giving them a warm and stylish atmosphere. The photo shows the standard Japanese-Western style room, "Suou." There are tatami mats, so you can stretch your legs and relax after a long day of travel.

If you love books, we recommend the Library & Record Room. Supervised by book sommelier Atsushi Horibe, the library offers a wide range of books. There are also many history-related books, so if you research the history of Nara before heading out, you might enjoy your sightseeing even more.

For dinner, you can enjoy fresh ingredients from other Setre Group restaurants, mainly from Nara. The menu, which uses plenty of Yamato vegetables and Yamato Red Beef, is beautiful, almost like a work of art, with attention to detail in the dishes and presentation. It's perfect for a birthday or special anniversary trip.

Asukaso Inn, a hotel in the ancient capital of Nara, is about a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. Located close to the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple, you can enjoy a toast while looking out over the cityscape of Nara at the private terrace lounge, Shirakumo. Seeing Nara from above has a completely different atmosphere, and is sure to become a wonderful memory of your trip. If you stay in a room with terrace privileges, you can use the terrace lounge.

The guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style rooms, so even those who want to stretch their legs and relax will be satisfied. The rooms facing the five-story pagoda offer a view of the pagoda. The photo shows a Japanese-style room facing the pagoda, with a spacious veranda and 10 tatami mats. In this relaxing atmosphere, you can feel the quiet night of the ancient capital.

The open-air rooftop observation bath has calcium carbonate artificial onsen water, which is rare in Nara City. It is said to be effective in relieving fatigue and stiff shoulders, so it will satisfy those who want to soothe their travel fatigue in the bath. You can enjoy a relaxing time while watching the illuminated Kofuku-ji Temple.

For meal you can enjoy authentic Japanese kaiseki cuisine with a touch of the seasons, along with local Nara sake. The photo shows the "Omakase Kaiseki Course." This kaiseki course is full of the chef's attention to detail, and you can feel the story behind it. Each dish is carefully prepared to satisfy your soul.

Shikitei is located about a 5-minute taxi ride from Kintetsu Nara Station. The temple-style building of this long-established inn, which opened in 1899, exudes a wabi-sabi vibe. As it is located near the first torii gate in Nara Park, it is likely to have a unique atmosphere unlike any other inn. As it is located in the center of Nara City, it is also a perfect base for sightseeing in Nara.

There are a total of nine guest rooms. The rooms have been renovated several times, so you can feel the history while still staying here in comfort. Each room has a different atmosphere, and many guests are impressed by the beauty of each room. The rooms overlook the lush Nara Park, making it a great place to spend a relaxing, quiet time.

The inn's bath, "Furo-yu," has granite flooring and a cypress bathtub. It can accommodate a maximum of six people, so you can enjoy a quiet bath. If you want to cool off after your bath, we recommend taking a stroll to the small garden. There you can admire the magnificent "Akahada-yaki" pottery works.

* Akahada ware: Pottery produced mainly in Yamatokoriyama City, which was opened by order of Toyotomi Hidenaga, lord of Yamatokoriyama Castle during the Momoyama period.

meal is "Yamatoji Kaiseki" served in Akahada ware. The menu is inspired by tea ceremony kaiseki and uses plenty of local ingredients, making it very satisfying. meal is also carefully designed to look good, so it's fun to try to guess what the menu is inspired by as you eat.

Nara Hotel is located about a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. On weekends and holidays, a free hotel bus runs between the hotel and Kintetsu Nara Station and JR Nara Station. The hotel is located on a hill in Nara Park, adjacent to the Former Daijo-in Garden, a designated cultural property. The hotel was founded in 1909, and the hotel has a classic atmosphere reminiscent of the Meiji and Taisho periods. You'll feel like you've wandered into the world of a movie or drama.

The guest rooms have high ceilings and a spacious atmosphere. You can feel the splendor of the time of the hotel's founding in every corner of the rooms. The beds are equipped with "duvets" and "pocket coil mattresses" that gently wrap around your body, blowing away the fatigue of your travels. The photo shows the "New Wing Standard Twin" where you can fully enjoy the beauty of the greenery in the courtyard.

The Tea Lounge on the first floor of the main building has wide windows. You can enjoy the view outside while savoring original cakes made by the patissier and black or herbal teas from Ronnefeldt. It's a great place to take a break and relax when you get hungry during your trip.

At the main dining area "Mikasa" on the first floor of the main building, you can enjoy traditional French cuisine while feeling like you have traveled back in time to the Meiji era. Wines from around the world are available, so it is also recommended for wine lovers. You can also ask a sommelier to help you choose a wine that goes well with your meal. You can spend a heartwarming time at an elegant dinner at an inn that is also known as the "Guest House of Kansai."

The areas around Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine are attractive spots where you can get power. If you want to enjoy sightseeing at your own pace, we recommend staying at an attractive hotel or ryokan in the area. Use one of these accommodations as your base to enjoy sightseeing in Nara without any worries.