From August 1 to October 31, 2026, JW Marriott Hotel Nara will host a seasonal fair dedicated to the Asuka-Fujiwara World Heritage site, offering guests an exploration of the dawn of Japanese culture. The program integrates the distinct culinary and medicinal traditions of the Asuka period into the hotel’s dining, lounge, and wellness offerings, highlighting a time when mainland Asian influences first shaped the region’s identity.
Ancient Culinary Traditions and Dairy Culture
At the hotel’s Silk Road Dining, guests can experience flavors dating back over a millennium. The menu features Asuka-jiru, a traditional milk-based miso soup, and Asuka-nabe, a hot pot prepared with dairy—a rare culinary practice in ancient Japan introduced from mainland Asia. These dishes are served alongside Kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi), a local specialty of the Nara region. Asuka-jiru is available as a rotating item during the breakfast service and is also offered to guests at the Executive Lounge during evening cocktail hours.
Botanical Cocktails and Suite Amenities
The Flying Stag lounge bar introduces the “Kyuto no Shizuku” signature cocktail, priced at 2,026 JPY. The drink is composed of Mimorosugi sake from the local Imanishi Syuzou brewery, blended with Nara honey and accents of ancient citrus. It is presented with a motif of the Fumon-zen, recognized as Japan’s first minted coin. For those staying in suites, the experience extends to in-room welcome amenities, including original cookies made with So—a highly concentrated ancient dairy product—and chocolates infused with red shiso juice from Asuka Village.
Wellness Inspired by Nara’s Medicinal Heritage
SPA by JW offers the “Asuka Stone & Herbal Ritual,” a 90-minute treatment inspired by the stone monuments of Asuka and Nara’s history as a center for medicinal herbs. The ritual utilizes body oils infused with Yamato Toki (Japanese angelica root), a herb long cultivated in the region. The treatment includes a hot stone application and concludes with a service of local persimmon leaf tea accompanied by refreshments made from red shiso and dried fruits sourced from Nara.
Property details
- Property
- JW Marriott Hotel Nara
- Address
- 1-1-1 Sanjo-oji, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
- Official site
- https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/osajw-jw-marriott-hotel-nara/overview/
- Rooms
- 158
- Pricing
- Breakfast: 5,693 JPY; Asuka-nabe & Kakinoha-zushi Set: 5,187 JPY; Signature Cocktail: 2,026 JPY; Spa Ritual: 36,000 JPY
