5-Star Hotels in Nara Prefecture, Japan

The hotel is actually not far from Shin-Omiya Station. If you're carrying a suitcase, just walk along the road by the railway. When you see a drainage ditch with cherry blossom trees, turn left, and you'll find the hotel. If you follow Google Maps along the main road, you'll be on a gravel path the whole way. The hotel is new and even provides toothbrushes and slippers for kids. It would be great if they had a shuttle service on weekdays as well. I hope to return during the autumn leaves season!

A question to think about, ‘What makes a hotel a luxury one?’ To me, it’s luxury because of the hospitality of the staff, quality of the property and the food they provided totally exceed travellers’ expectations, and as a result, we would love to pay more for the experience. Some staff really tried their very best to help me during my stay while some just didn’t. Upon arrival, I tried to communicate with the staff that I’d like to cancel my third night’s dinner because of the change of my plan. At first, I booked six meals in total and I’d only want to cancel one dinner and they said I needed to pay 100% for the cancelled meal because they have already bought the ingredients. Okay, I tried to understand that because they had already taken away my credit card and there’s nothing I could do about that and I thought it must be a very nice meal and that’s why they insisted that. Disappointingly, the portion was so small and paying the same amount of money I could get so much better food in 虹夕諾雅 or any other five star onsen hotels in Japan. As a result, I went to bed feeling hungry and eating the snacks I bought for myself :( The food portions are like a bento instead of a proper meal. ) Also, the Western style breakfast was so overpriced and the avocado in the omelette was not fresh at all. One more thing to note is that the complimentary champagne service they provided to their guests. It’s a nice experience but maybe I’m just a lady travelling alone and I couldn’t speak Japanese at all, the waitress didn’t serve me the same way as she served other people in the cafe. When all of them got two glasses of free drinks, one cocktail and one champagne, she only gave me one champagne and didn’t offer me the cocktail. And the day after, there was a nice staff who served me properly and I finally realized that I am entitled to two drinks. (Sigh)The experience was like buying a Chanel bag. The bag was pricey but the chain of the bag just suddenly fall apart while you are using it for the very first time. My advice is: Don’t use their catering services especially for the in-room dining plan. There are so many better choices out there in the city. The room and the service of the staff are great tho.

This hotel offers excellent value for money. The rooms are spacious, clean, and well-equipped, with attentive service from the lobby staff. The lobby manager who greeted us was a local from Nara. We initially communicated using translation software, but later discovered he also spoke Chinese; apparently, he had studied in Shanghai, China. This young man not only provided enthusiastic service but also recommended and booked seats at nearby izakayas for us. A big thumbs up! 👍

True to its reputation as an established hotel, everything was impeccable. With Christmas and New Year approaching, the lobby was beautifully and exquisitely decorated. The walls of the lobby displayed the hotel's illustrious history, making me feel incredibly fortunate on my first stay. Additionally, the hotel boasts an excellent location, right outside the JR station, making travel exceptionally convenient. It will definitely be my top choice for my next visit to Nara!

I like Mercure very much. There are lounge services in the afternoon and evening. There are quite a lot of drinks, as well as cookies and candies. It is very comfortable to chat with family and friends. The room is quite large. The one we stayed in is a bit old, but the hygiene is still quite good. This time, we included a buffet breakfast and dinner. There are not many categories, but there are still surprises. It includes many specialties of Kashihara Nara, and provides a lot of sauces, which can be DIY. A student team checked in on the second day of the stay, but the hotel management is good, orderly, and food is added in time. The overall feeling is great.