11 Best Ryokan and Hotels in Nara

Photo courtesy of NIPPONIA HOTEL

This article contains some of the best ryokan and hotels that you can find in Nara Prefecture. Because Nara is not too far from Kyoto and Osaka, we recommend any of these locations for people living or traveling in the Kansai area who are looking for a close getaway.

We will be breaking down videos with timestamps to allow you to see everything down to the smaller details of the ryokan.

Table of contents

1. Hanaya Tokubee
2. ANDO HOTEL Nara Wakakusayama
3. MIKASA RYOKAN
4. KAMENOI HOTEL
5. FUFU Nara
6. Nara Hotel
7. NIPPONIA HOTEL
8. Setre Naramachi
9. MIROKU Nara
10. Hotel & Gallery TENPYO naramachi
11. BRANCHERA VILLA ASUKA
12. Conclusion

Hanaya Tokubee (花屋徳兵衛)

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

0:20~
Hanaya Tokubee is a ryokan that draws water from Dorogawa Onsen, an onsen with rich history in Nara. It is located at the foot of a well-known mountain used for Buddhist retreats. Because of its high altitude, this area is known for being a good place to get away from the heat during the summer.

0:45~
Close to the town you can find a location to drink what is called “Gorogoro Mizu,” some of the cleanest water in the country. You will notice that people bring large containers to get as much water as possible. There are many other nature spots and local neighborhoods to visit as well.

4:16~
On the whole, Hanaya Tokubee has a relaxing and at-home atmosphere. It has a history of over 500 years, making the rooms all very retro. Only one has a private onsen attached so unless you reserve it, you will be looking at using the public bath.

6:02~
The public bath at Hanaya Tokubee is open 24 hours, which is quite unusual for ryokan that usually have specific hours for cleaning. There is also a rentable onsen available for 2,000 JPY for 50 minutes at a time. The garden surrounding the rentable onsen is lit up at night so it is recommended to try it out in the evening.

6:41~
The food at Hanaya Tokubee uses local ingredients and is seasonal, so you can enjoy a warm hot pot in the winter or fresh river fish in the summer. There is lots to explore even in this countryside area, so an after-dinner stroll would be a good way to end the night.

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ANDO HOTEL Nara Wakakusayama (ANDO HOTEL 奈良若草山)

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0:54~
ANDO HOTEL Nara Wakakusayama is a hotel located not too far away from the central area of the prefecture. The welcome amenities include shaved ice and tea.

1:34~
All the guest suites are very clean, modern, and use many aspects of Japanese architecture. This video features the most luxurious room at the hotel, a penthouse that occupies the majority of the sixth floor. It has a fireplace, a sitting area, and large windows that look over Nara’s city area, accommodating up to five people. The rest of the sixth floor is dedicated to rentable onsen. If you are not staying in the penthouse which has a private bath, you can use the rentable onsen or the public bathing area on the second floor.

10:48~
ANDO HOTEL Nara Wakakusayama has two Japanese restaurants located on one of the top floors of the hotel. Three meals a day are served with a variety of menu items and region-specific ingredients, mostly freshly-grown in Nara.

17:12~
If you choose to reserve the rooftop penthouse, you can ask the hotel staff to get a fire going for you while you are at dinner. After dinner, taking a bath in the private onsen and then enjoying the company of loved ones around the fire with a couple of drinks could be a potentially perfect end to the night.

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MIKASA RYOKAN (奈良　万葉若草の宿　三笠)

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1:06~
MIKASA RYOKAN is a modest-looking but high-quality ryokan. Although slightly tucked away outside of the city, with a car you can have very good access to sightseeing spots in Nara. The lobby area has a souvenir shop and an area to choose a yukata to wear. You will also receive matcha as a welcome drink.

2:56~
There are many different types of rooms to accommodate each guest’s needs and wants. You can reserve a suite that has a private onsen (some of the rooms even have two), a suite with a nice view, or a large suite if you are traveling with a big party. There are also standard rooms for those on a budget.

4:12~
The onsen at MIKASA RYOKAN contains minerals that are good for the skin. Both indoor and outdoor baths are open in the evening and the early morning. The outdoor bath in particular is very pretty and we recommended you try it out during a time of the day when you can still see the surrounding scenery.

5:56~
The dinner menu at MIKASA RYOKAN changes monthly with a variety of different dishes. You cook the meat yourself to make it just to your liking while enjoying a variety of fresh vegetables and rice dishes. This is recommended for those who want to experience traditional Japanese cuisine.

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KAMENOI HOTEL (亀の井ホテル 奈良)

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

0:08~
KAMENOI HOTEL, previously named “Kanpo no Yado,” is a hotel closer to the inner-city areas of Nara. They offer a variety of travel packages, from plans with more luxurious foods or rooms to others that are aimed at families with young children.

1:30~
The room that is featured in this video is a very standard Japanese-style guest suite. You can choose between western-style and Japanese-style, and some rooms are significantly bigger for those with a more flexible budget. The nicest rooms have a private onsen attached.

3:23~
Taking a walk around KAMENOI HOTEL, you can see that there are many things to do on the premises. You can find a garden, a souvenir shop, massage chairs, an observation deck on the top of the building, and even a karaoke room. You can have a great time without even having to leave the hotel.

5:32~
The public bathing area is spacious, designed with ancient Nara in mind. The outdoor bath area is lit up at night, giving it a golden glow. It may be worth noting that even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can use the bath between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

6:26~
KAMENOI HOTEL is at a convenient location which makes it easy to go see all the sights that Nara has to offer. You can visit a variety of temples, shrines, and nature spots using the local trains and buses.

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FUFU Nara (ふふ奈良)

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0:18~
FUFU Nara is one of the newest and most expensive hotels on our list. Established in June 2020, it is operated by a group that owns many luxury hotels, which means that staying here will cost you around 30,000 JPY even with its cheapest room. The interior is Japanese-modern with a calm atmosphere and you can find a Japanese garden outside.

1:16~
The guest suites are made with the same taste as the rest of the hotel using many dark tones and modern decor. You can find switches on the walls which lets hotel staff know when you want something delivered or picked up, or if you want your room cleaned. There are many amenities like FUFU Nara’s original snacks, free drinks, and an extensive room service menu. All rooms come with a private onsen big enough for two people.

4:48~
The hotel’s restaurant is in a separate building from the guest suites so you will get a nice walk through the garden. The meal featured in the video is breakfast; you can see that there is a large amount of food with all kinds of ingredients. It is prepared with the theme of “Japanese food that is kind to the body” in mind, giving guests a healthy start to the day.

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Nara Hotel (奈良ホテル)

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0:15~
Nara Hotel is located in Nara Park, which is not too far out from the main city area. Inside Nara Park as well are temples and museums, so you can visit many tourist spots by just stepping outside the hotel.

1:12~
Architect Ginko Tatsuno who is responsible for buildings like Tokyo Station designed this hotel. It was built over 100 years ago with the idea of blending Japanese and Western styles. Well-known individuals have also stayed at Nara Hotel such as Audrey Hepburn and Albert Einstein; the piano that Einstein played during his stay remains in the lounge.

2:48~
There are many different types of guest rooms, with the first one shown in the video being of the higher-quality suites. The second room featured is one of the standard rooms. Nara Hotel is another high-quality lodge with lots of history and as a result, the average stay costs around 25,000 JPY. Of course, you can find other more cost-effective options as well.

4:05~
Nara Hotel has multiple places to eat (a Japanese restaurant and a French restaurant, shown in order in the video), with meals prepared by highly-trained chefs. Each restaurant has seasonal events where they serve special dishes for a limited time. Many banquets and events are also held at Nara Hotel so you can find multiple banquet halls.

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NIPPONIA HOTEL (NIPPONIA HOTEL 奈良 ならまち)

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0:16~
NIPPONIA HOTEL is a hotel with the theme of Japanese sake. Although it opened in 2018 as a hotel, it was originally a sake store with over 100 years of history. The sake shop is still in business but has changed locations to a place about 15 minutes by car from NIPPONIA HOTEL.

1:01~
Before you get to the hotel lobby, you will pass through a restaurant. This restaurant serves food that is specifically meant to taste good when eaten along with sake. We recommend that you try the types of sake that you can only get here.

2:02~
There are only eight guest rooms at NIPPONIA HOTEL, making it a relaxing accommodation for those who want a quiet getaway. All the rooms will give you the feel of a high-quality modern ryokan, with traditional Japanese-like decor but with some of the newest technology installed.

3:44~
The restaurant that you saw upon entering the hotel is where you will enjoy breakfast and dinner. The food is French that is arranged to match the Japanese historical theme of the hotel, with everything from appetizers to dessert. You will get to watch the food being prepared right in front of you as well.

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Setre Naramachi (セトレならまち)

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0:17~
Setre Naramachi is a hotel situated in a good location accessible to various sightseeing spots in Nara. The concept is to give visitors a taste of Nara, using locally made materials in the design and construction. The interior has the same clean and modern taste as the exterior, with soil from Nara used for the walls.

1:21~
In the hotel alone there are plenty of places to explore. Some of these include a tea room where free workshops are held, a lounge with free drinks, an outdoor garden terrace area, and a library where you can listen to records.

3:23~
There are five types of rooms that you can choose from, all of them with a modern and stylish design. They are not the most spacious, but some will give you nice views of the outside or have a balcony area.

4:03~
Setre Naramchi serves French food that is made with ingredients directly from Nara. We recommend that you try some of the drink options as well, as the menu makes a point to list which drinks go well with each food.

4:34~
On the top floor, there is an open-air terrace that is well lit up in the evening. This area has a great view of the best spots of Nara as well as the mountains that border Osaka Prefecture. Spending time with your family and friends here with a few drinks and snacks before bed would be a great way to end the night.

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MIROKU Nara (MIROKU 奈良)

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

0:16~
Like quite a few of the other hotels on our list, MIROKU Nara is close to Nara Park which is a great location for exploring the area. Opened in June 2021, it is a newer lodge and you can see that the technology is also up to par with self-check-in and check-out. There are amenities and other items you might need in the lobby that are free to take back to your room.

1:01~
There is an area on the first floor that operates as a cafe in the afternoon and a bar at night. When the weather is nice, we recommend using the outdoor space of the cafe. On the basement floor, there is another shared area where you can drink tea and enjoy the hotel’s selection of books.

2:16~
The room featured in this video is called the “Junior Suite,” which goes for about 12,000 JPY per night. This is the most expensive option at MIROKU Nara but there are many other options for smaller and more cost-effective guest rooms, making this hotel one of the more budget-friendly ones on our list.

3:45~
Note that MIROKU Nara does not serve dinner; however, the first-floor bar serves light dishes and is well lit up at night. You might want to eat out somewhere and come back to enjoy a drink and the nighttime scenery here. Although there is no dinner, there are breakfast options and you can choose between western-style and Japanese-style food.

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Hotel & Gallery TENPYO naramachi (ホテル天平ならまち)

Click below to play YouTube video↓↓

0:16~
Hotel & Gallery TENPYO naramachi is not a ryokan but still has a taste of Japanese history. The hotel underwent construction and was refurbished in April 2021 giving the lodge an overall modern feel, but there are also historical artifacts on display. As the name suggests, there is an art gallery with rotating exhibits and a Starbucks connected directly to the hotel.

1:59~
The concept of Hotel & Gallery TENPYO naramachi is calligraphy, so you will see kanji written on the walls of all the rooms, including the second-floor lounge. Outside, there is a spacious terrace surrounded by the sightseeing spots of Nara Park.

2:55~
This video shows one of the guest rooms with a balcony. You can notice the calligraphy on the walls and the carefully chosen decorations. Rooms that have a balcony connect to the outside terrace area.

3:43~
The guest rooms only have a shower room so if you would like to enjoy a bath, you will have to go downstairs to the public bathing area. This does not use water from a hot spring, but you can still experience the Japanese bathing culture.

3:49~
Food is not served directly through the hotel, but some plans include dinner at an old Japanese restaurant just a quick walk away. Here you can find dishes that are specific to Nara and other traditional Japanese cuisine.

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BRANCHERA VILLA ASUKA (ブランシエラ ヴィラ 明日香)

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0:16~
BRANCHERA VILLA ASUKA is located in the southern part of Nara City which is rich in nature. It was originally an old Japanese house (about 150 years old) that has been refurbished but still retains many of the traditional aspects in terms of architecture.

1:15~
There are only two guest suites available at BRANCHERA VILLA ASUKA. This area, called the “Hanare,” has a large number of rooms and features a garden outside with a small pond. The room is extremely spacious and can fit up to eight people.

2:51~
The second area is what would be considered the main building. You can see the differences in decoration between the two rooms, but both are luxurious and can accommodate large parties. A kitchen also makes it easy to store and cook your own foods if needed.

4:33~
When booking this hotel, you can choose to have meals included or to just pay for the room. The dinner is a traditional Asuka dish which is a hotpot that uses milk. For breakfast, you can choose between two types of bento. Even if you are not booking a plan with food, there are many restaurants in the area that sell local cuisine as well.

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Conclusion

What did you think?

In this article, we introduced all kinds of accommodations, from traditional ryokan with hundreds of years of history, to some of the newest modern luxury hotels.

Nara is a quick trip for those who are living in the bigger-city areas of Kansai, so we recommend checking out any of these ryokan or hotels if you are looking to make a short trip.

Enjoy your journey in Nara!

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