Nara Hotel
Quick Facts
- Location
- Japan, Nara
- Category
- Historic Ruins & Heritage
- Duration
- 30 min outside; longer for a meal or stay
- Opening Hours
- Daily 00:00-24:00 · The hotel runs around the clock; since 1 October 2026 the interiors are open only to guests and restaurant or shop customers, not to sightseers. A major renovation ran from January and the whole hotel reopened on 2 September 2026
- Ticket Price
- Free Admission: No admission; the exterior and the lane outside are free to see · To see inside the main building, stay overnight or book a meal, tea or the bar; the adjacent Daijoin garden charges separately
- Address
- 1096 Takabatake-cho, Nara, Nara 630-8301, Japan
- Coordinates
- 34.6780, 135.8320
Introduction
Nara Hotel opened in October 1909 to house the growing number of foreign visitors after the Russo-Japanese War, and has been called the 'Guest House of Kansai' ever since. The main building was designed by Kingo Tatsuno and Yasushi Kataoka: a two-storey cypress structure in Momoyama palace style, with a tiled roof, Japanese-style chandeliers and a red-carpeted staircase all surviving from opening day. When steam heating replaced the fireplaces in the Taisho era, the mantelpieces stayed, and paintings by Uemura Shoen and Maeda Seison still hang in the corridors. The piano in the lounge is the one Einstein played during his 1922 stay; hidden after the war, it returned for the centenary in 2009. Chaplin, Puyi, Audrey Hepburn and generations of the imperial family have stayed here. The grounds belonged to the Daijo-in monzeki temple, whose garden survives next door, and Nara Park, Kofuku-ji and Kasuga Taisha begin at the gate, so an early walk before the crowds is the real privilege of staying. Two current details matter. A staged renovation began in January 2026, with the main building operating alone for a time before the whole hotel reopened on 2 September 2026 with a renewed west wing and a teppanyaki Hanagiku. From 1 October 2026 the hotel no longer admits visitors whose only purpose is to tour the building: interiors are for guests and for restaurant and shop customers. Older guides saying the lobby and garden are free to wander are out of date; to see the century-old timber interiors, book a night or sit down for tea.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 00:00-24:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 00:00-24:00 |
| Wednesday | 00:00-24:00 |
| Thursday | 00:00-24:00 |
| Friday | 00:00-24:00 |
| Saturday | 00:00-24:00 |
| Sunday | 00:00-24:00 |
The hotel runs around the clock; since 1 October 2026 the interiors are open only to guests and restaurant or shop customers, not to sightseers. A major renovation ran from January and the whole hotel reopened on 2 September 2026
Ticket Information
| Free Admission | No admission; the exterior and the lane outside are free to see |
|---|
To see inside the main building, stay overnight or book a meal, tea or the bar; the adjacent Daijoin garden charges separately
Transportation
Free shuttle from JR Nara and Kintetsu-Nara; 8 and 5 min by taxi
100 on-site spaces for guests
15 min on foot from Kintetsu-Nara, 25 min from JR Nara
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Nara Hotel?
Monday: 00:00-24:00; Tuesday: 00:00-24:00; Wednesday: 00:00-24:00; Thursday: 00:00-24:00; Friday: 00:00-24:00; Saturday: 00:00-24:00; Sunday: 00:00-24:00; The hotel runs around the clock; since 1 October 2026 the interiors are open only to guests and restaurant or shop customers, not to sightseers. A major renovation ran from January and the whole hotel reopened on 2 September 2026
How much is the admission for Nara Hotel?
Free Admission: No admission; the exterior and the lane outside are free to see; To see inside the main building, stay overnight or book a meal, tea or the bar; the adjacent Daijoin garden charges separately
How long should I spend at Nara Hotel?
A typical visit takes 30 min outside; longer for a meal or stay.
How do I get to Nara Hotel?
Bus: Free shuttle from JR Nara and Kintetsu-Nara; 8 and 5 min by taxi; Driving/Parking: 100 on-site spaces for guests
