EasyTravel

Assessment: JW Marriott Nara | Prince of Journey

[ad_1]

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 2020, marking the JW Marriott model’s debut in Japan and the primary worldwide luxurious resort within the metropolis of Nara.

We had been trying 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 aspect.

JW Marriott Nara – Reserving

I booked this keep utilizing a Marriott Free Evening Award price 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 turn into fairly costly throughout peak season, as Nara is a highly regarded 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 night time – considerably decrease, however nonetheless fairly dear.

If reserving with Marriott Bonvoy factors, you’ll be able to anticipate to pay 44,000–60,000 factors per night time. Based mostly on our present valuation of 0.9 cents per level, reserving on factors may positively be a worthwhile redemption.

My redemption price 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 as a result of expire in December 2022 floating round made this an opportune time to make use of it up.

When you’re reserving a Marriott resort, think about making your reserving by the Prince of Journey affiliate hyperlink, which helps to help the web site.

Click on right here to e book Marriott inns.

JW Marriott Nara – Location

The town of Nara was as soon as the capital of Japan within the eighth century. It’s now dwelling 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. Nonetheless, a vacationer bus is accessible from the cease simply reverse the resort, making it comparatively straightforward to get to Nara Park.

I’d say the JW Marriott is unquestionably among the finest inns within the metropolis when you’re visiting Nara. You might not be proper on the doorstep of Nara Park, nevertheless it’s nonetheless simply accessible by way of the vacationer bus.

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

Nonetheless, 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.

JW Marriott Nara – Shuttle bus

When you occur to have quite a lot of baggage, it could be price taking the practice into the Kintetsu Nara station and taking the shuttle bus.

In the meantime, when 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 automotive.

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 brilliant, inviting, and serene ambiance.

JW Marriott Nara – Exterior
JW Marriott Nara – Entrance
JW Marriott Nara – Foyer lounge

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

JW Marriott Nara – Foyer lounge
JW Marriott Nara – Foyer lounge
JW Marriott Nara – Examine-in desks

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.

JW Marriott Nara – Deer motif

When 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 remedy upon arriving on the resort as a Platinum Elite member on the reserving. 

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge glowing wine

We had been generously upgraded to the Government Suite for this keep. Moreover, we had been additionally provided 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 provided 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 advised the employees we didn’t need to bother them an excessive amount of.

Nonetheless, the resort’s gesture was drastically appreciated. Too many inns will insist on not providing a 4pm late check-out when you’ve been upgraded to a collection, as a result of they don’t need to trouble providing a brand new room. I used to be impressed with the JW Marriott Nara going above and past, and this was actually a really optimistic begin to our keep.

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

JW Marriott Nara – Hallway
JW Marriott Nara – Room 316

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite

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

Nonetheless, I do assume it’s price 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 area 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.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite dwelling space
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite eating desk

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.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite dwelling space
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite dwelling space

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 Government Suite is located on the nook of the constructing, with lovely nook views overlooking town. This was one in all my favorite options of the suite.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite view

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite bed room
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite bed room

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite mattress

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

On the suitable aspect of the TV are an opulent, wealthy brown chaise longue and a small drink desk.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite chaise longue & drink desk

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite make up desk & walk-in closet space
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite make up desk
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite walk-in closet

The lavatory of the suite is opulent, adorned in marble. The area encompasses a double vainness and separate chambers for the bathe and bathroom.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite lavatory
JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite vainness

The lavatory encompasses a hanging soaker tub, which can also be encased in marble.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite bathtub

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Suite half-bathroom

General, I used to be mightily happy with the Government 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 area, particularly because it was the lengthy weekend.

JW Marriott Nara – Silk Street Eating entrance

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

The restaurant has a superbly subtle inside, with timber beams and trendy motifs. Excessive ceilings and floor-to-ceiling home windows enable loads of pure mild to pour into the area.

JW Marriott Nara – Silk Street Eating seating

The breakfast providing features a customizable à la carte menu in your eggs, after which a complete buffet to go together with it. I typically have excessive expectations for a JW Marriott breakfast in Asia, and this one actually 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 comparable 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 provided 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 happy and well-energized for the day forward.

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge entrance
JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge foyer
JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge seating

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.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge seating
JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge seating
JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge seating

Then there have been three-person and two-person seats dotted by the remainder of the lounge. General, it was a pleasant spot to sit down and chill out, or to get some work carried out.

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge seating

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. Nonetheless, I do want it was a bit extra complete with Japanese specialties.

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

JW Marriott Nara – Government Lounge drink choice

On that be aware, the employees had been very skilled and pleasant every time we visited. General, service at this resort couldn’t have been hotter and extra welcoming.

JW Marriott Nara – Different Services

Along with breakfast, Silk Street Eating is open for lunch and dinner. The restaurant affords a fusion of Jap 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 area distinct from lunch and dinner.

Lastly, the Flying Stag is the restaurant’s bar. Right here you’ll find a wide array of conventional teas and pastries, alongside together with your alternative of alcoholic drinks.

JW Marriott Nara – Flying Stag bar

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

JW Marriott Nara – Health centre entrance
JW Marriott Nara – Spa entrance

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

JW Marriott Nara – Health centre
JW Marriott Nara – Health centre
JW Marriott Nara – Health centre

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

JW Marriott Nara – Indoor pool
JW Marriott Nara – Indoor pool

It appeared like a pleasant place to take a dip, though there aren’t any views or home windows from this indoor area. 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.

When 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 dwelling base.

On this keep, our Government Suite had an elegant aesthetic, with traditional JW Marriott atmosphere and gorgeous 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.

General, I used to be extremely impressed with this new JW Marriott property, and would definitely advocate staying right here if you end up on this a part of Japan.



[ad_2]

Source_link