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Neon-lit streets one day, quiet temple gardens the next. This is how you can split your time between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka to make the most of your first trip to Japan.
This is your guide to experiencing cherry blossom season in Japan, including hanami party culture, and top viewing spots like Meguro River, Shinjuku, Kyoto, and Mount Yoshino.
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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.
Looking for a hotel close to the train station in Nara? Novotel Nara is a short walk from Shin Omiya Station, while JR Nara Station is reached by a conveniently short taxi ride. Located in Kashihara, in Nara Prefecture, Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara is beside Kashiharajingu-Mae Station, conveniently connecting to Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond on Japan's excellent train network.
The centrally located Novotel Nara is set in the heart of Nara City, close by the key cultural attractions such as Nara Park and Todai-ji temple. Set in Nara Prefecture's second city of Kashihara, Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara is well-placed to explore this historically significant city, home to the original Imperial capital, Fujiwara-kyo and home of the first emperor, Asuka.
Nara Novotel boasts one of the best bars in town, the Social Lounge, while the rooftop terrace has views of Nara Park and the temples of Nara City. At Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara, choose between Le Sensoriel, serving Japanese classic dishes in its buffet, and Lounge LE CIEL with a flexible design and space for children to play.
Novotel Nara and Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara offer quintessentially Japanese experiences such as onsens (hot pools) fed with mineral waters, Japanese-style rooms with futons, and local cuisines available at its breakfast buffets in its restaurants. The Japanese offerings are matched by Western-style guestrooms and cuisines, as well as such services as Wi-Fi and meeting rooms, car parks and wheelchair accessibility.
While Nara is linked by excellent train connections with the key hubs of Osaka and Kyoto, and railway stations beside its key Accor properties, the Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara offers onsite parking for a fee, while Novotel Nara has onsite outdoor parking, which it charges on a per/day rate, for a stress-free choice for drivers.
Both Novotel Nara and Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara serve breakfast in their hotels - choose from such classic Western options as pastries or eggs and bacon or explore Japanese breakfast dishes in the buffets. Breakfast can either be included in the tariff or as an additional fee; check with the hotel on arrival.
While in Nara, you can benefit from the ALL Accor loyalty programme with getting member-exclusive rates (up to 10% off), earning Reward points on stays and dining, redeeming points for discounts, and unlocking status perks like welcome drinks, late check-outs, or room upgrades at participating hotels like Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara. Join ALL Accor free and enjoy benefits from your first stay.
Price from: 1 night for 1 person in the room category identified within the same price range, excluding additional services and breakfast. This refers to the lowest public price, including all taxes (Some taxes may be payable on arrival at the hotel (for example, tourist tax), depending on current local regulations.) for the accommodation concerned, found on https://all.accor.com/ site today, for a one-night stay in the next 20 days. Varies according to period and availability. The price is only guaranteed at the time of booking. All bookings (foreign) are payable in the local currency where the hotel is situated. Only the amount confirmed during the booking in the hotels local currency is guaranteed. An estimated conversion in your local currency may be given for reference but is not part of the contract. Your bank may charge you bank fees and/or exchange fees at the time of payment.
