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JAPAN / NARA

Shisui NaraThe Luxury CollectionA birthday with an in-room hot spring in Nara.

9 — 10 JUL, 2024 1 NIGHT

Shisui Nara's king room with a hot spring bath, wooden interiors, soft lighting, a sofa and king bed — KING ROOM / PRIVATE ONSENShisui Nara / 2024.07

ABOUT THIS STAY

For my birthday,
two days in Nara.

On a visit home from Sydney, I went to Shisui, a stay I had been looking forward to. I am grateful to my girlfriend for arranging this birthday trip. I enjoyed the room's hot spring, champagne at Zeze, and dinner and Japanese breakfast at Suiyou.

There were times when orders were not communicated properly and the wrong items arrived. Still, the birthday celebrations and delicious food made this an unforgettable stay.

Hotel: Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara
Stay date: 2024.07.09 — 07.10 / 1 night
Room: King / In-room hot spring / Second floor of the Karoku building
Location: Nara, Japan
Official website: Shisui Nara — Official website ↗

The room, meals and Garden Delight reflect my July 2024 stay. Rooms on the official hotel website ↗

Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara

Official Marriott website

Check rates on the official website

Shisui Nara, in photographs.THE PHOTO JOURNAL

33 PHOTOGRAPHS

Through the Japanese gate, to chilled Japanese black tea.ARRIVAL & GARDEN

The understated Japanese entrance lifted my spirits on arrival. At check-in, I had chilled Ajisai Japanese black tea, a welcome break from the heat. I walked past wooden corridors and garden views towards the room.

01Shisui's gate, a Japanese entrance fitting for Nara.

02Crane paintings and bonsai at reception.

03Chilled Ajisai Japanese black tea, welcome in the heat.

05Through a wooden corridor to the garden.

A wooden room, larger than expected.KING ROOM

Our room was at the far end of the second floor of the Karoku building. A large blue decorative plate greeted us inside. There was a birthday message, citrus meringue and Muscat grapes. Finding my favourite fruit waiting made me happy.

07The king room with a hot spring on the Karoku building's second floor.

08A spacious room in calming wood tones.

09The blue decorative plate that caught my eye on entering.

11Citrus meringue. I do not often eat it, but this was delicious.

12Welcome fruit: my favourite Muscat grapes.

13Slippers and geta sandals were provided too.

The room's highlight: a hot spring.PRIVATE ONSEN

A wooden tub and greenery outside the window. The water was a little hot, but having a hot spring to enjoy at leisure in the room was lovely.

14The in-room hot spring beyond the vanity area.

15The wooden tub and greenery outside the window.

Champagne at Zeze.GARDEN DELIGHT

I enjoyed Garden Delight at the cafe Zeze. Champagne and rice crackers put me in an even better mood. I had actually visited for afternoon tea earlier too, so it was funny to be back so soon.

This reflects what I experienced during my July 2024 stay.

18Champagne and rice crackers at Garden Delight.

Birthday dinner: the Tokika menu at Suiyou.DINNER AT SUIYOU

We sat down while the garden was still bright, and it was dark by the end. For my birthday, I also had Nara's Mimuro Sugi sake, fruity and easy to drink. The course began with tea porridge made with Tsukigase tea; everything from sea bream and Yamato beef to dessert was delicious.

This reflects what I experienced during my July 2024 stay.

19The sky was starting to change colour on the way to dinner.

20A toast with Nara's Mimuro Sugi sake, overlooking the garden.

21Suiyou's Tokika course, starting with Tsukigase tea porridge.

22Colourful dishes to savour a little at a time.

23A leisurely dinner, one dish at a time.

25The Yamato beef I was looking forward to.

A different face after the lights came on.SHISUI AFTER DARK

Shisui at night had a calm Japanese atmosphere. The room's hot spring looked different from daytime too.

28The wooden buildings looked even quieter after dark.

29Back in the room, enjoying the hot spring at night too.

Japanese breakfast I could eat every day.JAPANESE BREAKFAST

I returned to Suiyou the next morning for a Japanese breakfast in two servings, Ichi no Zen and Ni no Zen. It had been a while, and was delicious enough to eat every day. Afterwards, I used the sweets ticket provided during the stay for Japanese confectionery too.

This reflects what I experienced during my July 2024 stay.

30Back at Suiyou the next morning, starting with Ichi no Zen.

31Then Ni no Zen, a Japanese breakfast I could eat every day.

32Delicate Japanese sweets after breakfast.

Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara

For an in-room hot spring stay in Nara, check which room types include one and the meal conditions.

Please check the official website for current rates, availability, and booking conditions.

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UNTIL THE NEXT CHECK-IN

Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara2024.07.09 — 07.10

Shisui NaraThe Luxury CollectionA birthday with an in-room hot spring in Nara.

For my birthday,two days in Nara.

Shisui Nara, in photographs.THE PHOTO JOURNAL

Through the Japanese gate, to chilled Japanese black tea.ARRIVAL & GARDEN

A wooden room, larger than expected.KING ROOM

The room's highlight: a hot spring.PRIVATE ONSEN

Champagne at Zeze.GARDEN DELIGHT

Birthday dinner: the Tokika menu at Suiyou.DINNER AT SUIYOU

A different face after the lights came on.SHISUI AFTER DARK

Japanese breakfast I could eat every day.JAPANESE BREAKFAST

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For my birthday,
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