Nara Park Hotel
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Amagatsuji Station · 17 min walk (Kintetsu Kashihara Line)
- Hours
- Check-in: 15:00, Check-out: 10:00; Day-use onsen: 11:00–21:00
- Admission
- Day-use onsen: ¥1,000 (adults), ¥500 (children ages 4–12), free (ages 3 and under); overnight room rates vary
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours (onsen only) or overnight
- Best time to go
- Late July to late August, when the hotel opens its seasonal outdoor swimming pool alongside the onsen baths
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Nara Park Hotel is a relaxed, traditional ryokan located just outside the bustling city center, offering a peaceful retreat with authentic futon bedding and scenic mountain views. It is highly worth visiting for its soothing natural hot spring baths (onsen) and excellent kaiseki dining. Guests can expect a classic Japanese hospitality experience, complete with a seasonal outdoor pool and spacious banquet facilities.
What Japanese guides note
Despite its English name, Nara Park Hotel is not located inside Nara Park or adjacent to Todai-ji; it stands over five kilometers west in the Hōrai district near the Heijō Palace site. Day-use visitors should note that large group tour reservations periodically close the public baths for multi-hour blocks in the afternoon and evening. Those interested in the reconstructed ancient court banquet must reserve at least one week in advance for two or more guests.
Details from local sources
- The hotel draws simple thermal spring water on site at 32 degrees Celsius at a rate of 67 liters per minute, with sodium bicarbonate and metasilicic acid components. [source]
- Guests ordering the Tenpyo no Utage banquet wear historical court robes in the Omiya no Ma hall, where drink options are restricted to shiroki cloudy sake and dokudami herbal tea. [source]
- The hotel operates free shuttle microbuses from JR Nara, Kintetsu Nara, and Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji stations strictly on an advance-reservation basis. [source]
- The hotel kitchen serves so, a reconstructed Nara-period condensed dairy food developed from records on excavated wooden tablets and ancient texts. [source]
Insider Tip
Skip the city-center rush; take the hotel's complimentary shuttle service to and from Yamato-Saidaiji Station for a hassle-free arrival.
Frequently asked
Is Nara Park Hotel located inside Nara Park?
No. Nara Park Hotel is located in the Hōrai district of western Nara, more than five kilometers west of Nara Park and Mount Wakakusa. Travelers visiting the central park temples must take the hotel shuttle, a local bus, or a train from Yamato-Saidaiji Station.
Can day visitors use the hot spring baths without staying the night?
Yes. Non-staying guests can use the indoor baths and outdoor garden onsen between 11:00 and 21:00. Admission costs ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children aged 4 to 12, with rental towels available at the front desk for an additional fee.
How does the hotel shuttle pickup service work?
Free microbuses pick up guests from JR Nara Station, Kintetsu Nara Station, and Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station in the afternoon. The service runs strictly by advance booking; buses will not depart if no prior reservations have been registered.
Our Nara walking tours
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