Nara : book your hotel

Dive into a journey of Japan’s grand history in Nara, the former capital. An hour from Kyoto and Osaka, the curved roofs of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji temples and the Kasuga Taisha shrine peek through the forests of Nara Park, which blaze with colour in every season. Come welcome the sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring, snap the burnished colours of autumn, or listen to the shush of winter snow - regardless of the weather, Nara’s most famous residents, wild Sika deer, continue to roam free 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. History hunters will know 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 Welcome Baby hotel, the hotel is non-smoking, and offers facilities for its littlest travellers including child seats and baby baths. 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. The rooms can accommodate up to five futons, 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. The basement also has its own onsen, with two large, public hot baths for a soothing stay at this affordable Nara hotel.

Got a deal to break? Nara's hotels are business-ready, with 19 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 hotels offer Wi-Fi, parking and onsite onsen access for a smooth transition from business to pleasure.

Slip on the tatami slippers and soak up Japanese culture at a stay at Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara. The choice is yours: a contemporary, Western-style guestroom or the serene, traditional Japanese rooms equipped with futon beds, those slippers and robes. Simplicity is key to a Japanese stay, and you don't even have to leave your hotel; one of the best features of this hotel is its own relaxing onsen onsite. The pools are fed by natural mineral waters that let you explore Japanese spa culture together for a unique experience that's free to guests.