SETRE Naramachi セトレ ならまち

If you want to stay close to the action, this is the place. Lake and deer adjacent.
However… the hotel rooms look nice but are basically a camper van setup. The room is nice however the mattresses are on a pallet and there is no power near outlets near your head… bring an extension cord? The lights aren't intuitive. It's fine but I expected better for the $. That said perhaps I'm expecting too much… buyer beware lol.

We stayed here for one night and wanted to have a bit of a luxurious experience after a very low grade hotel in kyoto.
The location is the best and we loved the wooden style of the hotel.
The room was beautiful and comfortable and we had a nice view to the pond.
We had the Japanese style breakfast and we didn't really like it. It was just some steamed veggies, rice, pork and some kind of soup, and not a lot of taste to any of them.
We also took dinner since I have celiac and they said that they can make it gluten free, we thought it would be nice to not search for hours for food finally.
But it was pricy and and not great. The only thing that was actually worth the price was the wagyu beef.
The staff recommended us sparkling wine with the meal so we took it but they never said that it will cost extra money, and we only found out when we did the check out.
Aperently it cost us 2, 200 for 2 glasses.
Which was weird to us since there is an open lounge right next to the dining room, that offers free drinks and snacks including alcohol.
So overall the hotel is nice and pretty, the location is good but food is too pricey and not the best.

Beautiful hotel with woody and earthy interior. The snack bar is well stocked with occasional special canales. The breakfast features fresh local produce. The library has rocking chairs and a record player. There are three wonderfully fluffy hens in the courtyard. You can pet them. Note that they don’t provide toothbrush or any other usual single use items.

Room 206. Wood theme, clean, very cute garden. Room with terrace overlook the garden with a giant tree right in front, very nice with fresh air.
Location is super convenient.
Love the breakfast; dinner was okay, pace was a little slow.
Few things for improvement:
Get steamer/cloth iron in the room;
Get slippers in the bathroom and for the terrace.
Have a clear note on how to place other types of trash such as food remaining.
Train overnight staff more.
Also I don’t recommend this hotel to elders. Beds are on leveled up floor, and the height of the stair (step? ) was higher, not necessarily easy. I was def more cautious than I walk down normal stairs, yet still almost fell once.

Wonderful hotel in the very heart of Nara. The infamous deer roam around the entrance. Beautiful, with a really small-scale, warm atmosphere, with wood and natural light everywhere.
After walking around all day long, it was a real pleasure to sit down in front of the small interior garden and watch the sparrows fly and bicker while enjoying the free snacks (delicious cannelés and more).
The room was perfect and the staff extremely helpful. We really enjoyed the free tour of the park in the early morning. We got to see a baby deer. Nice. One of the best hotels I ever booked in Japan.

This is one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I loved the natural elements, especially all the wood, and how serene it felt, particularly with its location right in front of the pond. I especially loved that they had three friendly chickens, and the whole place felt eco-friendly. My partner and I felt completely at peace. My only wish is that we could have stayed one more night. If I find myself back in Nara, I will definitely stay here again.

This hotel is beautiful, cozy and so peaceful. From the room design to the lobby and restaurant, always with a view of the serene courtyard — I wish I could have stayed longer just to relax and take in the atmosphere a few more days.
— The location is excellent, with just a 10 minute walk to the Kintetsu train station with connections to Kyoto, Osaka and more. Also in walking distance are most of Nara's sights: Naramachi with lots of shops, restaurants and breweries, many shrines and temples, and Nara Park (with deer hanging out right outside the hotel doors). The pagoda was under construction when we stayed but would have been a beautiful view right from the rooftop terrace.
— The food was delicious. I still dream about the onigiri rice balls we had for breakfast. Unlimited tea, coffee, juices, beer, whisky soda and other drinks was really nice to have.
— The wood chip foot bath was an intriguing new experience and very nice after a long day of walking around town.
— It was great to be able to choose the level and frequency of housekeeping.
— The included walking tour was great; our guide showed us beautiful spots to take photos and pointed out interesting facts that we would have missed otherwise.
— My husband smokes and was very appreciative of the designated spot on the rooftop where he could go without bothering anyone.
— The shower gel, shampoo and conditioner were so nice.

We had a great 2 days/1 night in Nara and loved Setre Naramachi for its location (close to Kofuku-ji Temple), cleanliness and personal service. Upon check-in, we met with a member of staff who walked us through their services in English — it wasn't just a quick key handout. The hotel organized a special English-speaking guide (he was excellent! ) for the complimentary 7am tour of Nara since 6 of us foreigners had signed up for the next day's tour. We also borrowed the hotel's complimentary bikes to cycle to the Kasuga Shrine on our last morning luckily prior to the rain setting in. How many times do you get to relax in the lounge looking through the window at the garden and notice a chicken facing you on the other side of the glass? It makes for a great picture to send to the kids. Breakfast and dinner were included and, surprisingly, all drinks. The only suggestion I would make is that, rather than a European-inspired dinner, we would have preferred locally sourced Japanese food.
Definitely recommend and would stay again if ever back in Nara (this trip was almost 40 years after my only other visit).

We travelled to Nara for a few days with our toddler, and the Setre Naramachi was a fantastic location. Right across from a gorgeous walking area, beside beautiful structures, and down the street from a vibrant shopping/eating area. Not to mention is a skip and a hop to Nara Park. So, the location cannot be beat! The staff were extremely kind and extremely friendly, and were absolutely doting on our toddler. They made us feel right at home while also being extremely professional. Celia went out of our way to make sure we had a comfortable stay.
The Japanese breakfast was incredible, thoughtful, and highlighted the beautiful local foods from the area — it was so impressive.
Which is why it was such a disappointment with the rooms. Firstly, the room was so bright at night because the window coverings were so far away from the actually window, and they clearly were not cut to size, so tons of light was leaking in. I’m not sure if the room has undergone a renovation recently, but near the beds it smelt extremely strongly of a vinegar smell — kind of like paint or paint thinner or glue. You could see on some of the wood paneling the adhesive glue that has dripped and solidified on the side. I loved the idea that the room was eco friendly, but some of the items seemed a bit worse for wear. For example, the soap bottle was refill friendly, but it looked so scratched and soap caked on that I’m not sure when was the last time it had been thoughtfully cleaned.

Very special hotel, starting from the interesting modern wooden architecture. There are free-roaming chicken in the court-yard, the breakfast was almost entirely custom-prepared based on your dietary restrictions and personal wishes. There is a roof-top terrace. The Nara Park is only a few hundred meters away. The cherry on the cake for me was the turntable and a choice of vinyl records which you could play yourself in the library nook. A store is less than one hundred meters away. There's even a Starbucks right across a little pond with a nice view.

We had a wonderful time. This hotel is not like the others. Starting with the check in, where an employee literally sat down with us and walked us through all the aspects of the stay. I really appreciated the time taken for that. The design of the room was special, too. Spacious and friendly. The chicken in the inner ward gave it all a very particular vibe. Staff was very attentive. The Japanese breakfast was prepared with much attention to details. The lounge, with the possibility to have drinks throughout the afternoon and evening gave the stay an overall very relaxed feeling, almost a feeling of being at home.
If I come back to Nara, I would certainly choose Setre again.

Hotel Setre Naramichi is a gem nestled in the heart of Nara, conveniently close to the enchanting Nara Park. The hotel's design is a testament to elegance and craftsmanship, creating an inviting atmosphere. Guests can indulge in the complimentary afternoon lounge, where a selection of drinks and snacks are available from 3 pm. The rooms promise supreme comfort, featuring spacious balconies and a cozy tatami area that adds a touch of traditional Japanese charm. The staff's hospitality is commendable, always ready to enhance your stay with **complimentary guided morning walks** and **free bike rentals**. The hotel's inner yard is a serene retreat, complete with chickens that provide fresh eggs for guests to take as a unique souvenir. This hotel was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my trip to Japan, with its remarkable rooms and even more impressive staff. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

An absolute gem of a hotel, staff couldn’t be more helpful (Aya in particular was lovely), breakfast was incredible, free drinks/snacks and amenities, free morning guided tour, and right next to the deer park. There were a couple of deer right outside the hotel in fact.

Do yourself a favor and stay at this hotel! First, the service is absolutely fantastic, from the moment you walk in the door you feel like a valued guest. Second, the lovely wooden aesthetic in the rooms and the dining area are just perfect. Next, we loved the included bar in the evening, all guests were very respectful of sound and we enjoyed the library nook/record area for an early evening glass of wine! The rooms themselves are quite spacious by Japanese standards. We chose a hybrid Japanese/Western room are were thrilled with it! Lastly, the included breakfast is so relaxing and great! Oh and you can't beat the hotel's location near the park.

Where should I start?! Everything was simply amazing. Especially the staff, everyone was so kind. Even though our Japanese was very limited, we communicated with Google translate. They were so patient with us and very helpful in every aspect. (Special “thank you” to Aoi-san who checked us in). The hotel was beautifully designed and very well built. We loved the free afternoon lounge (free drinks & snacks from 3pm). The room was super comfortable with nice balcony space. We also loved the tatami area. My daughter loved sleeping on the futon. Such a great practice of using water bottles and water stations instead of single use plastic water bottles. We did not get chance to try their dinner set but the breakfast was delicious and beautifully presented. You could pick your own Onigiri flavors each day, they would make them fresh when you sit down. The best Onigiri I’ve ever had! The only comment was we wished there was more space for our luggages. Other than that, we will definitely be back!

Below is a separate review of the dinner. If you are planning on visiting Nara, if you have the time — you should at least spend a night here. A picturesque Nara aesthetic that is unlike no other. The service here is immaculate — from when you step in, the whole hotel is explained to you. The rooms are quaint and the layout is spacious and minimal. In the middle of the hotel is their bioyard with 4 friendly chicken. Their lounge area also comes with snacks and beverages. The vibe is serene and calming. The location is very close to the park.
We had opted to have their set dinner which I feel wasn't for me. Their breakfast was amazing, but their dinner needed some work. Their servers did a great job with explaining each dish and making sure utensils for the next meal was set — but the most basic aspect was missed. As we were seated — no water was offered and no drinks were ever refilled. I was almost always slightly put off by the temperature of the dishes. Dishes that were meant to be warm were room temperature and dishes that were meant to be cold were also room temperature. They offered a soup with a pastry top but the soup was way too hot to drink and the pastry was so difficult to eat without burning your hands on the ceramic. The last two dishes of the set felt like opposing flavours that never melded well together and almost on the bitter end. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this autumn dinner set.