Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi may be a recent addition to Nara's neighborhoods, but the building the ryokan uses has been around since the Edo Period. Built in 1868 as the Toyosawa Sake Brewery, the ryokan's exterior preserves Naramachi's old town beauty, as well as provide an immersive stay experience for guests. The brewery's quality of sake propelled its success, urging the owners to expand with more storehouses and lodgings. All of these would eventually become the eight guestrooms of Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi, while the brewery itself has moved to a larger modern facility. Because of this, Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi is proud to call itself as the World's First Sake Hotel.

Design and Architecture

Guests staying at the ryokan can easily spot the original architecture, including timber beams that once lined the brewery's storehouses and tea rooms. Various classic fixtures with artisanal touches line the rooms, particularly the shoji screens and tatami floors. Tradition does give way to practicality, so expect modern raised beds along with seats and tables for the most part. They do still offer traditional tatami rooms, complete with a chabudai table and zabuton pillows. Another traditional feature you should go without should be an engawa or viewing room facing the garden. It is a hallmark of Japanese home design after all, providing a peaceful biophilic space to enjoy.

A master who learned and cultivated his craft in Switzerland, Grand Chef Shu Ishii is the brains behind the wondrous menu of Restaurant LE UN, the deceptively humble dining spot of Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi. Applying his signature fusion of Kansai and French cuisine, Chef Ishii has used Nipponia's many hotels as vehicles to promote and enrich not just the brand but also the food culture of Kansai toward a wider audience.

His French influences shine immediately the moment you wake up as the breakfast is done in washoku style with gourmet touches. For lunch and dinner, you can experience his true fusion cuisine as you pair the eye-catching dishes with the ryokan's selection of sake, shochu, and even wines and champagnes.

Cultural Experiences

While Kyoto grabs most of the attention from tourists, Nara could be said to be much closer to the hearts of the local Japanese. Its foremost attractions are the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, registered together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These include ancient religious sites such as Yakushi Temple, Kokufu Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and the entirety of Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest. Another well-regarded attraction is Heijo Palace Historical National Park, which is open to the public and has faithful reconstructions of parts of Nara's imperial palace.

For travelers who wish for something more casual yet still authentic, feel free to walk around Nara's old neighborhoods and check out the many shops in machiya houses with Nara's style of architecture. Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi, as a former brewery building, also offers tours of Toyosawa Sake Brewery which fans of the rice wine should not miss out on.

Other Celebrations

Although Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi doesn't have a venue for celebratory functions, you can still try to request a bit of personalized service if you have a birthday or anniversary coming up during the trip. The signature restaurant Luan also offers special celebratory bottles of Hoshoku sake from Toyosawa Sake Brewery. This special type of sake is not sold to the general public, giving your small anniversary a unique touch.