Enjoy Nara to the fullest and stay here for at least 1 night so that you have 2 full days to explore the town and the hiking trails in the surrounding hills.
Where to stay - hotel tips
Nara is a relatively small city and we recommend staying around Kintetsu-Nara or JR-Nara train stations, which are close to most attractions and all public transport buses pass by.
More distant hotels around Yamato-Saidaiji station, for example, have no advantage over more centrally located accommodation.
Cheapest accommodation
Nara is a tourist city, but considerably less so than, say, nearby Kyoto, and even in high season you'll find good prices at budget hotels.
The cheapest local hotels offer a night in a 2-bed room for prices around 50 usd.
- APA Hotel Kintetsu-Nara Ekimae *** - A popular budget chain of quality hotels, located 2 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara Station
- Comfort Hotel Nara *** - cheap and well rated hotel near JR-Nara station
International chains
If you prefer quality hotels of international chains, we recommend choosing between these two well rated hotels.
Both hotels are about a 10-minute taxi ride from Nara Park, and you can also take the Omiya Route tourist bus line directly to the park or lines 28, 160 and 161 to the train stations.
The hotels are located near Shin-Omiya Train Station.
Luxury hotels
The most luxurious hotels with quality without compromise can be found under the following names:
- Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel ***** - Stylish hotel with a great location between Nara Park and Kintetsu-Nara Station
- Tsukihitei ***** - a stunning hotel in the middle of the countryside in the hills above Nara Park with a mystically peaceful atmosphere
Hotel rates and when to book
Compared to other tourist towns in the area, Nara is relatively cheap.
The average local 3* hotel offers 1 night in a room for prices ranging from 50 usd.
You can find better hotels from international chains at prices between 100 usd and 250 usd.
Expect the highest hotel prices in the fall (mainly November and early December) and spring (March and April). During these periods, crowds of travelers head to Nara to take pictures of the colorful autumn leaves and spring sakura blossoms, respectively.
