Overview: JW Marriott Nara | Prince of Journey

We visited the JW Marriott Nara throughout a fast side-trip to Nara between our time exploring Kyoto and Osaka.

The property lately opened in July 2022, marking the JW Marriott model’s debut in Japan and the primary worldwide luxurious resort within the metropolis of Nara.

We had been wanting ahead to a quieter keep right here on the JW Marriott Nara, breaking apart the 2 larger metropolises within the Kansai Area that we’d be exploring on both facet.

JW Marriott Nara – Reserving

I booked this keep utilizing a Marriott Free Evening Award value 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors from my companion Jessy’s account. I topped it up with 6,000 further factors, for a complete award price of 56,000 factors.

Money charges on the JW Marriott Nara can grow to be fairly costly throughout peak season, as Nara is a very fashionable vacation spot for each overseas and home vacationers.

We occurred to be visiting throughout an extended weekend, so on the time of our go to, money charges had been upwards of ¥80,000 ($758 CAD).

Common charges for a room right here sometimes fall round ¥50,000–60,000 ($470–565 CAD) per evening – considerably decrease, however nonetheless fairly dear.

If reserving with Marriott Bonvoy factors, you may anticipate to pay 44,000–60,000 factors per evening. Based mostly on our present valuation of 0.9 cents per level, reserving on factors might undoubtedly be a worthwhile redemption.

My redemption value 56,000 factors was nearly what I might’ve anticipated this property to cost. Plus, the truth that I had a Free Evening Award that was resulting from expire in December 2022 floating round made this an opportune time to make use of it up.

JW Marriott Nara – Location

The town of Nara was as soon as the capital of Japan within the eighth century. It’s now house to a few of Japan’s oldest temples and gardens, centred across the well-known Nara Park.

The JW Marriott Nara is centrally situated in Nara’s enterprise and political centre, a good distance from Nara Park. Nevertheless, a vacationer bus is accessible from the cease simply reverse the resort, making it comparatively simple to get to Nara Park.

I’d say the JW Marriott is certainly among the finest resorts within the metropolis in the event you’re visiting Nara. You will not be proper on the doorstep of Nara Park, but it surely’s nonetheless simply accessible through the vacationer bus.

In the event you’re coming into Nara from Kyoto or Osaka, the closest prepare station to the resort is Shin-Omiya Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line. It’s a couple of 10-minute stroll from the prepare station to the resort.

Nevertheless, the resort has a free shuttle bus that runs each half-hour to Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara line. This station is one cease past the Shin-Omiya, and is a extra central hub nearer to Nara Park.

In the event you occur to have quite a lot of baggage, it might be value taking the prepare into the Kintetsu Nara station and taking the shuttle bus.

In the meantime, in the event you’re flying to Nara from inside Japan, Osaka Itami Airport is the place most home flights fly into. It’s a 40-minute journey to the JW Marriott Nara from right here by automobile.

For worldwide travellers, Osaka Kansai Worldwide Airport is about an hour’s journey to the resort.

JW Marriott Nara – Examine-in

The property’s exterior is a darkish metal façade, however upon getting into the resort, the foyer of the JW Marriott Nara has a vibrant, inviting, and serene environment.

The wood-filled house encompasses a seating space with gentle furnishings. Then, marble-clad check-in desks are nestled on the again between tall bookshelves and nature-inspired art work on the wall.

You’ll discover a constant modern Japanese magnificence all through the resort, with loads of motifs consultant of the well-known freely roaming deer at Nara Park.

In the event you’re a Platinum Elite or above member, you’ll expertise elevated service right here on the JW Marriott Nara. I used to be fairly impressed with our therapy upon arriving on the resort as a Platinum Elite member on the reserving. 

As an elite member, you’ll be invited the Govt Lounge to finish the check-in course of there. In our case, we had been proactively supplied a glass of glowing wine as we accomplished our check-in.

We had been generously upgraded to the Govt Suite for this keep. Moreover, we had been additionally supplied 4pm late check-out as a part of our elite advantages.

Because it seems, our upgraded suite can be occupied the next day, so we had been supplied the usage of a separate room for our 4pm late check-out. We had solely wished the late check-out as a matter of comfort, so we declined and informed the workers we didn’t need to bother them an excessive amount of.

Nevertheless, the resort’s gesture was enormously appreciated. Too many resorts will insist on not providing a 4pm late check-out in the event you’ve been upgraded to a collection, as a result of they don’t need to hassle providing a brand new room. I used to be impressed with the JW Marriott Nara going above and past, and this was definitely a really constructive begin to our keep.

We had been handed our keys, and made our option to Room 316 on the third ground.

JW Marriott Nara – Govt Suite

I believe the Govt Suite can be inside attain as an improve possibility for a Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite member staying at this resort.

Nevertheless, I do assume it’s value noting that we might have had a neater time securing this specific improve on the account that the resort knew prematurely that we had been coming.

The suite encompasses a refreshing palette of pure tones, with touches of gray and muted blues. The furnishings had been elegant, with summary artwork dotted all through the dwelling house and bed room.

The suite opens as much as a spacious dwelling space. Upon entry, a eating space is to the suitable, and a Nespresso espresso maker sits within the pantry on the left.

Transferring additional into the dwelling space, the room encompasses a lengthy, quilted sofa and two armchairs centred round a contemporary glass espresso desk. Two leather-based ottomans present further choices for seating.

The welcome reward ready for us on the espresso desk was extremely spectacular. The resort had printed Prince of Journey logos on the macarons utilizing the resort’s new meals printer, which was a much-appreciated gesture.

A big flat-screen TV sits on an ornamental wall that separates the dwelling space from the bed room.

The bed room of the Govt Suite is located on the nook of the constructing, with stunning nook views overlooking town. This was considered one of my favorite options of the suite.

The king mattress is the room’s centrepiece, with a grand summary headboard and leather-based bench on the foot of the mattress.

The mattress is accompanied by two modern gold accent lights hanging over marble-clad bedside tables.

A studying chair sits within the right-hand nook of the room, adjoining to the flat-screen TV.

On the suitable facet of the TV are a luxurious, wealthy brown chaise longue and a small drink desk.

Between the bed room and the primary lavatory is an open space with a make-up desk. Right here, you’ll additionally discover a walk-in closet.

The toilet of the suite is opulent, adorned in marble. The house encompasses a double self-importance and separate chambers for the bathe and bathroom.

The toilet encompasses a putting soaker tub, which can be encased in marble.

Furthermore, the suite options one other half-bathroom close to the entryway with a single self-importance.

Total, I used to be mightily glad with the Govt Suite on the JW Marriott Nara. Based mostly on my impressions on this higher-tier suite, I’d think about the bottom rooms and junior suites are additionally fairly spectacular certainly.

JW Marriott Nara – Breakfast

Breakfast is hosted downstairs at Silk Street Eating. It was fairly a busy house, particularly because it was the lengthy weekend.

We needed to wait some time earlier than being seated, however we had been kindly invited to sit within the foyer close by and have a espresso earlier than being invited in to have breakfast.

The restaurant has a fantastically refined inside, with timber beams and fashionable motifs. Excessive ceilings and floor-to-ceiling home windows enable loads of pure gentle to pour into the house.

The breakfast providing features a customizable à la carte menu in your eggs, after which a complete buffet to go together with it. I usually have excessive expectations for a JW Marriott breakfast in Asia, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint.

On the buffet, there was a Japanese rice bowl station with all of the trimmings, in addition to congee and miso soup.

Furthermore, the buffet was jam-packed with different breakfast staples corresponding to Asian-style bowls and Western-style pancakes, waffles, salads, and an abundance of pastries.

The resort additionally appears to have a “factor” for glowing wine, as we had been supplied a glass to go together with breakfast.

Whereas we’ve been responsible of overindulging in breakfast mimosas out in the Maldives, we had been feeling much less enthusiastic to drink at breakfast previous to a time out at Nara Park.

On the entire, breakfast on the JW Marriott Nara left us glad and well-energized for the day forward.

Though JW Marriott is on the extra approachable finish of the posh resorts, the Nara location’s breakfast providing was no shabbier than the opposite luxurious resorts we visited on this journey.

JW Marriott Nara – Govt Lounge

The Govt Lounge was a heat and alluring house with a pleasant ambiance, located on the second ground. The design options heat woods with daring gold accents and bespoke lighting.

Within the centre of the lounge was a extra relaxed part, with two giant couches and some armchairs subsequent to petrified stable wooden espresso tables.

Then there have been three-person and two-person seats dotted by way of the remainder of the lounge. Total, it was a pleasant spot to take a seat and chill out, or to get some work performed.

The lounge was open from 12pm till late on the time of our go to, however could also be open for breakfast too as soon as the resort’s occupancy grows full with Japan’s reopening to worldwide travellers

The lounge’s night unfold was fairly good, with a good mixture of Japanese and Western meals. Nevertheless, I do want it was a bit extra complete with Japanese specialties.

Nonetheless, it was an honest providing, which got here alongside a pleasant drink choice as nicely. Plus, the lounge workers are all the time enthusiastic to give you some glowing wine. 

On that word, the workers had been very skilled and pleasant every time we visited. Total, service at this resort couldn’t have been hotter and extra welcoming.

JW Marriott Nara – Different Amenities

Along with breakfast, Silk Street Eating is open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant gives a fusion of Japanese and Western delicacies.

Azekura is the signature restaurant on the JW Marriott Nara, the place reservations are required. The choices encompass teppanyaki, sushi, and kaiseki served in a delegated house distinct from lunch and dinner.

Lastly, the Flying Stag is the restaurant’s bar. Right here you could find a big selection of conventional teas and pastries, alongside together with your selection of alcoholic drinks.

The health centre and spa are situated on the fourth ground of the resort.

The health centre encompasses a good vary of kit, together with treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, free weights, and benches. Jessy and I went down for a fast exercise and located it to be house to work up a sweat.

The spa options an indoor plunge pool, a jacuzzi within the nook, and lounge chairs dotted across the room.

It appeared like a pleasant place to take a dip, though there aren’t any views or home windows from this indoor house. Furthermore, it was a well-liked spot for households to frolic about, and we noticed many right here over the course of the lengthy weekend.

Conclusion

The JW Marriott Nara is a superb new luxurious property with a central location in Nara, conveniently located alongside the bus path to Nara Park and its many vacationer points of interest.

In the event you’re like many Nara vacationers who’re desirous to work together with the well-known deer within the park, the handy shuttle throughout the road makes the JW Marriott a worthy house base.

On this keep, our Govt Suite had a classy aesthetic, with traditional JW Marriott atmosphere and beautiful nook views.

Plus, between going above and past to supply us a 4pm late checkout in a separate room and proactively providing glowing wine at each meal sitting, the distinguished service right here on the JW Marriott Nara didn’t go unnoticed.

Total, I used to be extremely impressed with this new JW Marriott property, and will surely suggest staying right here if you end up on this a part of Japan.