A luxurious holiday at the historical Nara Hotel where many international VIP guests stayed

Nara Hotel welcomed its 100th anniversary

Nara Hotel is built on the top of a hill in Nara Park. It was opened in 1909 as the state guest hall of Kansai region and it welcomed its 100th anniversary in 2009. The hotel has been welcoming domestic and international guests with a very high level of hospitality. The main building was designed by the prominent architect of Meiji and Taisho periods Kingo Tatsuno, who also designed Tokyo Station and Japan Bank’s headquarters. The building reminds of a classical old wooden residence which impresses with its solemnity.

The interior keeps the classic atmosphere

The first things that grab your attention in the nostalgic interior are the fireplace with small shrine gates and the red carpet on the big staircase. You can feel the classical elegant atmosphere from the hotel’s first years everywhere around. You will instantly forget about your daily worries and will enter a world of luxury and relaxation.

A popular painting of the famous painter Shoen Uemura is hanging over the front lobby. More paintings by eminent painters can be found on the second floor, which makes this hotel a true classical gallery. At the shop you can buy postcards with those paintings and take them as souvenirs from your stay.

For staying overnight I recommend the main building

There are 4 types of rooms (suite rooms, deluxe rooms, standard rooms and Japanese-style rooms) in the main building and the new building. You can choose between staying in the pleasant classical main building or the new one which was opened in 1984 and embodies the architectural style of Yoshino region.

Nevertheless, I recommend staying in the main building if you want to taste the classical atmosphere. On the photo you can see the standard double room. It has a high coffered ceiling, classical old lamps, a fireplace and furniture which remind you of the old times. The yukata (light kimono) prepared for the guests have deer patterns which remind you of the local attractions.

A traditional French cuisine

There are two restaurants: the main dining room “Mikasa” and the Japanese “Hanakiku”. Mikasa is quite spacious and decorated with famous paintings. Generations of chefs have been preparing classical French cuisine here using local ingredients like Yamato chicken and Yamato pork.

For breakfast you can choose between 3 meals, of which I recommend the local Yamato tea porridge set. From the large windows you can see Kofukuji Temple’s five-storey pagoda and Mt Wakakusa. This restaurant is highly recommended for special occasions such as birthdays or wedding anniversaries.

The garden of the former Daijoin Monastery

One great sightseeing spot located just south of Nara Hotel is the garden of the former Daijoin Monastery. Daijoin was built in 1087 and served as a temple of the imperial family between Heian and Edo periods. It was destroyed by a fire in 1180 but was rebuilt at this place afterwards and served as a temple until Meiji period when it was abolished.

The garden was destroyed during the revolts of Muromachi period, but was later reconstructed by the famous landscape architect of the Golden Pavillion in Kyoto - Zeami. It was Nara’s best garden until the beginning of Meiji period. Reconstruction and excavation works began in 1995 and were completed with the garden’s public opening in April 2010 for the celebration of 1300 years of Nara as Japan’s capital.