NIPPONIA HOTEL 奈良 ならまち — Hotel in Nara

This hotel was amazing! Everything about our one night stay here was top notch. We had a hard time finding the parking at first, since we didn't do our homework before hand to figure it out, but the Hotel staff ran out to the road to stop us and guide us into the parking. At this point we already knew the service was going to be great. Greeted at the front desk with snack and a sake based (non-alcoholic) drink. The property used to be a sake brewery and they preserved as much of the exterior and sake history as they could, which makes for a beautiful property. Our room was a mix of traditional and contemporary with a tatami room in between the bedroom with two very very very comfortable beds (almost didn't get out of bed in the morning) and the beautiful bathroom. The deep cedar ofuro (bath tub) with the sake bathbomb (provided with the room) made for a perfect way to wind down at the end of a very long day of traveling and exploring Nara. The view from the room was a little garden tucked away in between the hotel and the surrounding buildings, which was really well put together. supposedly the Deer sometimes graze in the garden in the morning, but we weren't fortunate enough to get those morning visitors ;( The course breakfast in the morning was a perfect way to start our day. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and open about there favorite destinations in the Nara city area. I would like to come back to this hotel every time I...

We loved our stay at Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi! The hotel staff were very accommodating and welcoming. The ryokan is adorable and has so much character; it’s beautifully renovated from a Meiji period sake brewery and the preserved historical details are incredible.

We stayed in Room 107 Hinoe, which was the room farthest from the lobby. The path to the room goes through a lovely little garden. The room itself was gorgeous, spacious, and clean, with amazing design and generous amenities (all drinks in fridge included). We especially loved the hinoki bathtub!

The breakfast was delicious and made us regret not booking dinner for the night before. The service was fantastic as well; all interactions were warm and friendly. The staff also helped us hold onto our luggage after checkout while we went to explore Nara.

The hotel is very well located: on a quiet street, but only a short walk to Nara Park, Todaiji, and many other Nara attractions. We also got to see deer on the street next to the hotel at night!

We only stayed one night but would have loved to stay longer. We hope to...

I have traveled to over 8 countries and stayed in countless hotels, hostels, resorts, ryokans, motels, Airbnb’s, you name it. This is by far my favorite hotel in the world. One of the hostesses, Mai (May?), was incredibly helpful and kind during dinner and our sake pairing. And the main host, a gentleman who’s name we did not ask, was incredibly intelligent and skilled in language (he spoke English and Chinese fluently beyond his native Japanese!). The talent at this hotel is immeasurable. They are the kindest staff I’ve ever experienced. The chef’s cuisine was on par with the Michelin stars of France while showcasing the complexity of traditional Japanese delicacies.

This hotel is a wonderful mix of modern hospitality while maintaining the charm of old world Japan. If you are looking to visit Japan, specifically Nara, please stay at this hotel. It was the highlight of our two week Japan trip and the only place in Japan we felt truly and wholeheartedly welcomed. Thank you to the staff and hotel for a...