Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi

Concept

NIPPONIA HOTEL Nara Naramachi has been reborn from a former residence of the Toyosawa Sake Brewery, offering guests a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of sake and the rich history of Nara.

During your stay, you can indulge in a variety of sake-themed experiences, including relaxing sake lees baths, guided brewery tours, and exclusive tastings of limited-edition sake at our restaurant. Amid the serene flow of time, discover the depth of Nara’s culture and heritage while savoring the flavors and traditions of
Japan’s national drink.

History of Nara

Nara flourished as Japan’s capital from 710 to 794, and its majesty and grandeur are still evident today in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. During the Edo period (1603–1867), beautifully preserved machiya townhouses in the Naramachi area became centers for the refined culture of sake
brewing. Like the hidden water veins
of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, this rich history quietly flows beneath the surface, leaving traces in the town’s streets and architecture. Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the depth of Nara’s history and the artistry of its sake culture.

Expand Your Itinerary

It is only a fifteen-minute walk from the hotel to Kasuga Taisha, a Shinto shrine established in 768 that helped inspire the design of Japan’s iconic torii. The path to the shrine leads through Nara Park with its free-roaming deer. Once thought of as messengers of the gods, the animals today are protected as natural monuments
and symbols of Nara.

Also found on the park grounds is the Todaiji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure and home to the biggest bronze statue of the Vairocana Buddha. Furthermore, because of its proximity to Nara Station, Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi is the perfect base from which to explore the Kansai region, including Kyoto and Osaka.

Our Story

Founded in 1868, Toyosawa Sake Brewery has long been known as one of Nara’s historic sake makers, producing sake by hand with little mechanization. Over the years, it became the official supplier to Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and expanded with storehouses and residences that now form the Nipponia Hotel Nara
Naramachi. Today, this historic site
has been carefully preserved and reborn as a boutique hotel, offering guests a chance to experience both tradition and modern comfort. Enjoy exclusive sake only available here, relax in a soothing sake-lees bath, and take part in tours of the active brewery. At Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi, history, culture, and hospitality
come together to create a truly
memorable stay.

Rooms

Based on the concept of a “Sake Hotel,” Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi offers just eight exclusive guestrooms, created from the restored buildings of the historic Toyosawa Sake Brewery.

Each room preserves the unique charm of traditional Japanese architecture—soaring brewery ceilings, exposed wooden beams, alcoves, transoms, and even a tea room—while also providing the modern comforts travelers expect.

With every guestroom featuring its own distinct character, your stay promises both authenticity and relaxation in equal measure.

Restaurants & Dining

At Le Un, our counter-style restaurant is set in a renovated traditional Japanese house with an earthen floor, creating a unique and intimate dining experience. Enjoy dishes crafted from the finest local ingredients of Nara, thoughtfully paired with specially selected sake from Toyosawa Sake Brewery.

Guests can savor freshly pressed sake delivered directly from the brewery, as well as exclusive and seasonal varieties available only here. Our chef prepares each dish in full view, offering a lively and immersive experience, while our sommelier also recommends wines, champagne, and shochu to complement your meal.

At Le Un, taste, sight, and aroma come together to provide a luxurious experience that can only be enjoyed at Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi.

Our Difference

At the world’s first sake-themed hotel, “SAKE HOTEL,” guests can fully immerse themselves in the world of Japanese sake. In collaboration with Toyosawa Sake Brewery, the hotel offers brewery tours and exclusive sake tastings available only on-site. In your room, unwind in a sake-lees bath or a fragrant hinoki cypress bath, said
to promote circulation and
beautify the skin, for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating stay.

Welcome

Our mission is to present our guests with the gift of time. Time that seems to flow endlessly through Japanese nature and culture. Time set aside for making lifelong memories with your loved ones. Time that you will one day reflect back on with a smile.

We strive to give you those experiences through the art of Japanese hospitality, accommodations that tell rich stories from Japan’s great past, and the breaking of language barriers by our English-speaking staff. We hope to see you soon.