We are spending our first night in Nara. After the long flight from Osaka, followed by the drive to Nara, everyone was all beaten up. It's been already 12 hours since we left the Hong Kong International Airport so it kind of felt like a long grinding journey to get our ass over here.
Fortunately, our hotel was just a stone's throw away from our dinner venue and we had the comfort of having our van instead of relying on our tired feet.
Miroku Nara by The Shared Hotels is located just an alley up from Sarusawa Pond (猿沢池) and a short stroll from Kofukuji Temple (興福寺) which is currently under renovation. One would think that it would be pretty easy to locate even without a map but with the sky darkening by 7pm, we needed more than just Google Map to find the alley up from Naramachi Street.
Thankfully, once we found it, everything went smoothly from that point on. Check-in was a breeze and we were in our second-floor rooms within minutes.
Mom was particularly happy with the Japanese-style décor. The tatami setting offered a stunning view of a lush green park nearby. I was hopeful we might see a deer or two from the window, and lo and behold, there was one just wandering by!
There was enough space in the room for a small living area.
I was really looking forward to it as I have not slept on a tatami bed for years.
Apart from the Japanese décor which was receiving raving reviews, the bathroom's simple yet elegant design were also getting some pretty nice feedback from our team.
One of the reasons we chose to stay close to Nara Park (奈良公園) was the opportunity to experience wildlife up close. I got my chance early the next morning while jogging around Sarusawa Pond!
For those who are arriving by car like us, it's worth noting that while the hotel doesn’t have its own parking lot, there’s a paid parking area (about 5 spaces) right just a one-minute walk from the hotel (somehow it wasn’t shown on Google Map).
This parking setup was even better than most paid systems in Japan, using a sensor/camera instead of a card system. Once the system detected our car, it was locked in until payment (cash or card) was made the next morning. That was very convenient!
The hotel features a café and bar called MIROKU Terrace, which is open until 11pm. It was a lovely spot for drinks and small desserts. Breakfast is also served there, but unfortunately, it requires advance booking, which we weren’t aware of.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at MIROKU. The only downside was the absence of a concierge or bell service onsite, which meant that a few of us with bad backs had to drag our luggage up the staircase (there's no ramp!). This initially caused some frustration from our folks.
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Price: ￥￥
Address: 1116-6 Takabatakecho, Nara, 630-8301, Japan
Closest Metro/Train Station: Kintetsu-Nara
Tel: +81 (0)742 93-8021
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