Miroku Nara
Modern Japanese minimalism with serious design intent. The Michelin Guide calls it the work of 'an all-star team of young and hip architects, designers, and art and music curators.' Common areas swing between calm refinement (first through fourth floors) and something more primal (the basement, where thick cedar columns and stone make it feel like a contemporary shrine precinct). The vibe is community-first — locals and guests share the café terrace, and deer occasionally wander up to say hello.
Book breakfast in advance when reserving — it fills up and guests report being turned away day-of
Why It Matters
Michelin Guide-listed and Tablet Hotels-curated. Deer from Nara Park literally graze outside the café terrace. The breakfast program is supervised by Kuruminoki, one of Nara's most respected local cafés. Every material choice — Yoshino cedar, Asuka stone, local textiles — is traceable to the Nara region. Rare for a boutique hotel at this price point to have this level of design coherence.
MIROKU is a 44-room lifestyle hotel sitting at the southern edge of Nara Park, right where Araike Pond faces the primeval Kasugayama Forest. The name itself references the beauty of the deer-filled foothills and Maitreya Bodhisattva — a hotel name that actually means something. Opened in September 2021, this is the Nara outpost of THE SHARE HOTELS brand, and it leans harder into Japanese material culture than the brand's city properties: raw Yoshino cedar logs in the basement lounge, Asuka stone underfoot, and ceramics and textiles by local craftspeople throughout.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
"The Roots of Nara" (Superior)
From JPY23,000 / nightThe hotel's signature room concept. Located in the basement, the design uses raw Yoshino cedar logs and recreates a mountainside scene outside the window. Hollywood twin with tatami living area, low table set, and counter. Darker than above-ground rooms — intentionally so. Divides opinion but design obsessives love it. 5 rooms total.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm) · 35 sqm
Junior Suite with Japanese-style
From JPY37,500 / nightThe top-tier room overlooks Araike Pond and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Hollywood twin layout (two W1100mm beds) with a living set, desk, mini sink, and a tatami raised platform. Futons can be laid on the tatami for up to 4 guests. Three rooms of this type exist.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm) · 56 sqm
Moderate
From JPY18,000 / nightNo-frills Western-style room with 2 single beds and a double sofa bed. Compact at 25m² but clean and well-considered. Eight rooms in this category. Can sleep up to 4 with the sofa bed deployed.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm) + double sofa bed · 25 sqmModerate Loft
From JPY19,000 / nightA fourth-floor room with a loft. Two single beds on the main level plus 2 floor beds in the sleeping loft above, making it genuinely practical for families of 4. Sofa set included. At 25m² the footprint is similar to the Moderate but the vertical space changes the feel. 6 rooms.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm) + 2 loft floor beds · 25 sqmStandard Queen
From JPY12,000 / nightThe entry-level option. Small at 17m² with a queen bed (W1600mm), sofa, and side table. Good for one or two guests traveling light. 10 rooms available, making it the most bookable category. Rates start from ¥12,000 — the best value in the building.
Queen (W1600mm) · 17 sqmSuperior with Japanese-style
From JPY23,000 / nightHollywood twin with a view toward Kofuku-ji's five-story pagoda. Tatami raised platform with 2 floor beds, sofa bed, low table, and desk. The most plentiful room type at 9 units. Can sleep up to 4 with futon on tatami.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm floor beds) · 32 sqmSuperior with Japanese-style and Mountain View
From JPY25,000 / nightHollywood twin room with views of the Kasugayama Primeval Forest and Kofuku-ji's five-story pagoda. Tatami raised platform with 2 floor beds, sofa bed, low table, and desk. Sleeps up to 4 with futon arrangements. Only 3 rooms of this type.
Hollywood Twin (2x W1100mm floor beds) · 35 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The hotel's interiors feature a curated collection of contemporary art and local craft products reflecting Nara's material culture. Ceramics, textiles, and objects throughout the building are all sourced from regional makers.
The hotel regularly hosts pop-up events in the first-floor public space: local craft sellers, bakeries, and specialty shops. Recent events include a flower branch shop and a bakery pop-up. Check the Events page before your stay.
Nara's famous wild deer from the park wander up to the café terrace. It actually happens — guests consistently report it, especially in the morning at breakfast. No intervention required, just sit outside.
Kofuku-ji Temple (4 min walk), Sarusawa Pond (5 min), Nara National Museum (10 min), Todai-ji Great Buddha (15 min walk through the park), Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Naramachi merchant district — all accessible on foot from the hotel.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Elevator provides access to upper floors. Note: there are steps at the main entrance with no reported ramp — a known accessibility limitation for guests with heavy luggage.
Complimentary WiFi throughout the property.
Vending machines available adjacent to the TEA TABLE lounge.
Luggage can be stored before check-in and after checkout.
Available at the front desk: air purifier, humidifier, steam iron, ice pail, nail clippers, Bluetooth speaker, mobile charger.
Coin-operated laundry machines adjacent to the TEA TABLE lounge. From ¥500 per use (100-yen coins only).
Rather than pre-stocking rooms, toiletries (toothbrush, razor, hairbrush, cotton, nightwear) are available at a self-serve bar at the front desk. An eco-first approach — take only what you need.
A guests-only lounge in the basement designed with Yoshino cedar and Asuka stone in a dry-garden aesthetic. Tea sets and a water server are provided. One of the most thoughtfully designed spaces in the building — quiet and underused.
There is no swimming pool on-site.
A small shop corner in the café featuring local Nara products including Kuruminoki original goods and Nara groceries.
Limited on-site parking available for a fee (approximately ¥2,500/day based on guest reports). Not guaranteed.
No spa, fitness center, or wellness facilities on-site.
BUILD YOUR MIROKU NARA BY THE SHARE HOTELS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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