In which quarter house in Nara?

Where to sleep in Nara? Prepare your trip to Japan best and find the area you need when visiting Nara!

Nara is a beautiful Japanese town of about 365,000 inhabitants with a rich historical and cultural heritage. This is not surprising when one knows that it was the first fixed capital of Japan (from 710 to 784). Nara is a must-see during a stay in the Kansai region, and the presence of more than a thousand sika deer in the city is not to delight its visitors...

Located a few dozen kilometres away Kyoto and d Osaka , it is possible to visit it on the day, during your visit to one of the two major cities. That said, to fully enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the multitude of things to see in Nara, it may be better to stay there one night or two.

We find many in Nara ryokans (Japanese traditional hostels), Airbnb apartments, hostels and hotels in more or less modern style, for all budgets. However, make sure to book in advance because the small town attracts many curious ones. (You can consult this hotel comparison to find the best offer!) So, where are you staying in Nara? Here are some information that could help you choose.

Naramachi

If you are looking to sleep in Nara in an authentic atmosphere, direction the narrow streets of Naramachi , the oldest and most picturesque neighborhood of the city. It is also the former shopping district of Nara, and that is why today the souvenir shops have more traditional shops, more traditional boutiques and machiya (old Japanese houses, open to the public for some) or some cafes.

Ideally located, this neighborhood is only a quarter of an hour’s walk, about JR and Kintetsu stations in Nara. You will then stay close to many places of interest such as the Gango-ji Temple, classified as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, museums Shiryôkan and Kogeikan ( Nara Craft Museum ), machiya Koshi-no-le or Imanishike Shoin.

Nishinokyo

Quiet, to the west of the city, the Nishinokyo district (proche de eponymous station ) will especially delight lovers of great and ancient temples who can discover Toshodai-ji, Yakushiji and Saidai-ji, three temples founded between the 7th and 8th century. From Nara, Nishinokyo is easily accessible by train or by bus (about 15 minutes drive).

Note, however: the hotel offer is quite limited!

Nara city centre

Where to sleep in Nara? You can opt for accommodation in the city centre, not far from Kintetsu Station. Unsurprisingly, it is in this neighborhood that the many restaurants, cafes and shops in the city are concentrated (Hygashimuki shopping arcade, Sanjō-dōri Avenue, ...), but it is also an excellent drop point to visit many must-sees (Kôfuku-ji and Tôdai-ji temples, Nara National Museum, its huge park...).

Around Nara

As explained above, it is quite possible to visit Nara on the day while staying in Kyoto or Osaka, its two great neighbors.

Kyoto

Kyoto station

Good to know. : to find where to sleep in Kyoto during your stay, visit our article « In which quarter house in Kyoto? »

Osaka

Like Kyoto, Osaka is less than an hour away from Nara, but it may be better to prefer the area around the Central Station (Umeda) so as not to waste more time in transport (see “ In which quarter house in Osaka? ". You will thus stay in one of the busiest districts of Osaka where the atmosphere is significantly different from that of Nara!