Novotel Nara
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Worth booking if you want a clean, modern 5-star hotel in Nara with a 9.0 guest score and you do not mind taking transport to the temples. If you want to walk out of the door into the park, it is the wrong base.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
Novotel Nara is our Luxury pick in the city. It is listed as 5 stars, an estimate provided by the property, and guests give it 9.0 out of 10 from 614 reviews. It suits travellers who value a spotless room, attentive staff and facilities such as a gym, a restaurant, a terrace and family rooms.
Guests note it is convenient for the conference centre, so it also works for people in Nara for an event.
Skip it if your plan is to stroll between temples and the park on foot. Guests say it is far from the city centre and the park, and the walking estimates below back that up.
Location and getting around
The address is 7-1-45 Omiya cho Nara City. The location score is 8.2, the weakest part of the profile.
Straight-line estimates put Kōfuku-ji 2.3 km away, around 29 minutes on foot. Yakushi-ji is 2.7 km, around 34 minutes, and Tōdai-ji is 3.1 km, around 39 minutes. Those last two are far, so plan on public transport or a taxi. We have not verified routes, so check them on a map.
What guests say
Staff come up first: friendly, helpful and attentive, with a warm welcome. Cleanliness is the other strong point, with guests calling the hotel spotless, modern and well maintained.
The clear downside is location. It suits the conference centre but sits far from the centre and the park. Room size, noise and renovation condition have not been assessed by us, so read recent reviews on those.
Price compared with our other Nara picks
The reference price was 142.99 euros a night. That is a reference price seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults, not a live quote. Check today's price for your dates.
It was 8% below the sample median of 155.49 euros. Henn na Hotel Premier Nara, our Budget pick, is a 4-star hotel scoring 8.6 at 96.14 euros. Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Spring, our Best Value pick, is a 4-star hotel also scoring 9.0 at 103.08 euros.
So you pay about 40 euros a night more than the Best Value pick for the fifth star, the gym and the restaurant, with the same guest score. Weigh that against the extra travel time.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 8 eligible hotels in Nara. Our Luxury slot goes to 5-star hotels first, and Novotel Nara held joint second place on guest score among them all.
A 9.0 rating, praise for cleanliness and staff, and a price under the city median made it the luxury choice, despite the distance.
Before you book
Breakfast is a buffet, but inclusion in your rate is not confirmed. Check it.
Plan your transport to the temples and park before you arrive. Confirm cancellation terms, room size and gym and restaurant opening times for your dates.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is Novotel Nara close to Nara Park and Tōdai-ji?
No. Tōdai-ji is about 3.1 km in a straight line, roughly 39 minutes on foot, and guests say the hotel is far from the park. Plan on public transport or a taxi.
Is Novotel Nara a good choice for a conference?
Guests describe it as convenient for the conference centre. Check the exact venue address against the hotel on a map.
Is breakfast included?
Breakfast is a buffet, but whether your rate includes it is not confirmed. Check when you book.
How much does a night cost?
The reference price seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults was 142.99 euros a night. Check today's price for your dates.
Does Novotel Nara have a gym?
A gym is listed among the facilities. Opening times and any fees should be checked for your dates.