Visit Nara

Waqoo Horyuji hotel in Ikaruga Town sits on the approach to Horyuji Temple, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site that was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku. The hotel, which opened in September 2019, comprises two buildings: Saiho Kan and Toho Kan, with a combined 58 rooms. Saiho Kan offers superior twin, deluxe and Japanese-style (tatami) rooms, while Toho Kan features standard double, superior twin and deluxe rooms. Waqoo Horyuji serves as an excellent base to explore the temple grounds, Ikaruga and the wider Nara area. The nearby temple complex is easily accessible on foot, and central Nara is only 30 minutes away by bus or train. While here, try one of the hands-on experiences offered by the hotel. The activities (for which there is a charge) are held in a large, tatami-floored room and allow you to try such traditional Japanese arts as calligraphy, flower arranging, and tea ceremony. In the evening, grab a seat in Toho Kan's gallery bar to enjoy informal, illuminating lectures about Nara's history and culture. The hotel also offers a free morning tour of Horyuji Temple, exclusive to its guests.