Where to Stay in Nara (Nara): Shisui by Nara Park and fufu Nara with a Hot-Spring Bath in Every Room

A historic Western-style reception room with green velvet armchairs around a glass-topped table, a coffered wooden ceiling and a rope barrier — The Goninsho no Ma at Shisui, Nara (Nara), where Emperor Showa signed the ratification of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

Most visitors see Nara (Nara) on a day trip from Kyoto (Kyoto) or Osaka (Osaka), but staying the night lets you walk Nara Park early and late, when the crowds are gone. This guide covers two hotels the site owner has stayed at, both on the edge of Nara Park and both with private hot-spring baths: Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara, built around a historic governor's residence, and fufu Nara, a quiet resort designed by Kengo Kuma. Facts come from the hotels' official pages; the "My visit" notes are the site owner's experience.

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Shisui: a historic former governor's residence at the west end of Nara Park
fufu Nara: all 30 rooms have a hot-spring bath on the terrace
Both are close enough to Nara Park to stroll among the deer
Tell the hotel in advance about foods you don't eat

Where the two hotels are

Both hotels sit on the edge of Nara Park, the large park that holds Todaiji, Kofukuji and Kasuga Taisha and is home to the deer. Shisui is on the west side, a walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station; fufu Nara is on the south side, in the quiet Takabatake area.

Where the two hotels are

Based on the official pages of the two hotels (checked October 2026).

Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara

Shisui is part of Marriott's Luxury Collection. Its official concept page says the hotel stands at the west end of Nara Park, next to the Yoshikien garden, and is built around the former residence of the governor of Nara Prefecture. In November 1951, Emperor Showa signed the instruments of ratification for the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Japan-US Security Treaty in a reception room there, the Goninsho no Ma.

A traditional Japanese building with a wide wooden veranda beside a garden path of stepping stones and green trees — A historic building and garden on the grounds of Shisui. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

Hot-spring baths: the official site says 23 rooms, including suites, have a hot-spring bath or an open-air hot-spring bath.
Sushi: Sushi & Bar Shoso is a counter in an old storehouse of the former governor's residence. Marriott's hotel page says its courses use the French technique of declinaison, serving the same ingredient as nigiri and as a small dish.
Getting there: the access page gives about 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara Station, or from JR Nara Station a bus to Kencho-higashi and a 3-minute walk, or about 5 minutes by taxi. Parking (10 spaces, 2,200 yen per night for guests) must be booked in advance.

Who it suits: couples and anyone interested in history who wants to explore Nara Park on foot.

My visit

We stayed here as a couple. It's close to Nara Park, so it's a perfect base for a stroll. As a Platinum Elite member I was offered Champagne Delights free of charge, and the sushi at Shoso, the hotel's sushi restaurant, was delicious. The private open-air bath in our room was wonderful.

A single piece of fatty tuna nigiri on a stone counter, with a softly lit wall behind — Tuna nigiri at Sushi & Bar Shoso, Shisui's sushi counter. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

Champagne at Shisui, with the hotel's logo on the glass. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

fufu Nara

fufu Nara opened on June 5, 2020. According to the operator's announcement, it stands within Nara Park, in the Yugayama area that was added to the park, and its buildings were designed by the architect Kengo Kuma. All 30 rooms have a hot-spring bath on the terrace, and the living rooms are sunken into the floor, a design inspired by the old Japanese way of sitting low. The address is 1184-1 Takabatake-cho, Nara (Nara); see the official site for access and plans.

A dark, modern sunken living area with grey sofas and a woven pouf, and a private open-air bath on the terrace beyond the windows — A room at fufu Nara: the sunken living area, with the hot-spring bath on the terrace behind. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

Who it suits: families and anyone who wants a quiet stay, good food and a long soak without leaving the room.

My visit

We stayed here as a family. Both dinner and breakfast were lavish, and with a sommelier on hand we enjoyed pairing wine with the food. The highlight was Asuka-no-so, a cheese made by recreating the method of so, an ancient dairy product; it tasted like caramel. A farm in Nara Prefecture makes it, and I visited the farm too.

The label of a bottle of 2017 Meursault Tete de Cuvee white Burgundy wine — A Meursault we had with dinner at fufu Nara, where a sommelier helps you pair wine with the food. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

A round grey platter of small seasonal Japanese appetizers in little bowls, with a cup of sake, on a dark table — The first course of dinner at fufu Nara. Photo taken by the site owner.Photo: Sumimasen Guide (taken by the site owner)

Breakfast came with natto soup, which I don't like. If there's a food you don't eat, tell the hotel when you book. The private open-air bath in the room was wonderful.