Nara : book your hotel

Step into Japan's storied past in Nara, once the nation's capital. Just about an hour from Kyoto and Osaka, you'll spot the sweeping rooftops of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, along with Kasuga Taisha shrine, rising from the wooded paths of Nara Park as the landscape shifts through the seasons. Arrive to admire the spring sakura (cherry blossoms), photograph autumn's rich tones, or enjoy the hush of snowfall in winter. Nara's scenery always feels alive. Wander at your own pace, and you'll still find the city's best-known locals, the free-roaming Sika deer, calmly making their rounds in Nara Park.

As Japan's first permanent capital, Nara lays claim to the world's oldest wooden building, the 1300-year-old Horyu-ji temple, as well as the world's largest wooden building, the Todai-ji temple, with its 15-metre-high bronze Buddha. From your base at Novotel Nara, visit the National Museum for Japanese Buddhist art, or wander past the 17th-century townhouses of Edo-period Naramachi. There are eight shrines, temples, and palaces in Nara that make up its UNESCO World Heritage site. Outside Nara City, it's a short drive from Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara to the historic village of Asuka, the home of Japan's first emperor and the country's roots in Buddhism, dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries.

Set in Kashihara, in the countryside of Nara Prefecture, Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara offers a quintessentially Japanese hotel experience; choose a stay in its traditional Japanese rooms with futon beds, explore new tastes with a Japanese breakfast and find joy in the experience of a traditional onsen, with hot springs and saunas in the hotel's basement. Afterwards, make like a local and relax in the onsen lounge with cold amazake (a fermented rice drink). Kashihara offers a look back at Japan's origins - come for the archaeology and architecture, and the histories of the ancient capital. Here, the serenity and sacred histories are woven into a rare experience to uncover Japan's origin story.

Ideal for families, business travellers and those seeking wellness, Novotel Nara’s effortless hospitality wins over all guests. As a family friendly hotel, the hotel is non-smoking, and offers facilities for its littlest travellers. In addition, its streamlined traditional Japanese rooms feature minimalist design that's not only beautiful, but whisks everything away from curious little hands, keeping children safe from harm. Family rooms and suite style accommodation is available so the whole family can stretch out. There’s also a kids' space with books and rainy-day activities for baby’s first stay, while older kids can explore the literature and crafts that make Nara unique. Novotel Nara also has its own onsen, with two large, public hot baths for a soothing stay at this affordable Nara hotel.

Nara's hotels are business-ready, with meeting rooms in Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara, which is located near Kashiharajingu-Mae railway station for easy train connections to Kyoto and Osaka. At Novotel Nara, start the day with a gym session or city walk before business, and end in the large, modern or wood-lined public baths to clear the mind and relax the body. It has three meeting rooms, Earth, Wind and Water, the largest accommodating up to 144 people, and its dining facilities include the executive lounge, the all-day Italian restaurant Trattoria Ponte Nara, the Social Lounge and a rooftop terrace. The Novotel Nara is a three-minute walk to the Nara convention centre. Rooms at both Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara and Novotel Nara offer Wi-Fi, parking, and onsite onsen access for a smooth transition from business to leisure.

Slide into the provided tatami slippers and lean into local traditions at Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara. Pick the style that suits your trip: modern Western accommodation or calm Japanese rooms with futon bedding, slippers, and robes. Keep things beautifully simple and stay in: a standout highlight is the soothing on-site onsen experience available at the hotel. Bathe in mineral-rich waters and share a memorable introduction to Japanese spa culture, included for guests.