FUFU Nara

FUFU Nara

At FUFU Nara, each of the 30 suites opens onto its own open-air bath fed by natural hot spring water, scented with Japanese herbs, with the sound of birds and rustling leaves drifting in from Nara Park beyond the garden. That detail sets it apart from other stays in the old capital: nowhere else nearby pairs a private onsen with walking distance to Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Rooms are individually furnished in wood, from the first-floor Stylish Suites to the 121-square-metre Luxury Premium Suite with its indoor and outdoor baths and space for four. Days can be built around the Tekisui restaurant, where Nara's local vegetables and herbs turn up in kaiseki courses or teppanyaki, and around a spa built with Sisley, using treatments developed from plant-based traditions from around the world. English is spoken throughout, and the concierge, luggage storage, and safe-deposit box cover the practical side of a stay. Parking sits nearby, not on the property, so drivers should plan for that. Couples marking an anniversary, or travelers who want a soak after a day of temples, will find the rhythm easy to settle into. Anyone travelling with a dog or cat, or hoping for a lively bar scene into the small hours, should look elsewhere: pets aren't permitted, and the mood leans toward quiet gardens rather than nightlife. Check-in runs from 3pm, checkout by 11am, and children aged 12 and under can use existing beds without an upgrade. What lingers after Nara's temples close for the day is that hot spring water, and a garden built around trees that once grew on this very land and were kept rather than cleared. Every one of FUFU Nara's 30 suites has its own open-air natural hot spring bath, a short walk from Nara Park's temples. It suits travelers who want to end a day of sightseeing in warm water, not those seeking nightlife or pet-friendly stays. Parking is nearby, not on site.