Nara: Suimontei

Month & Year: April 2026
Room / Suite: Residence

We only stayed at Suimontei for two nights during our road trip. Jenny found it by pure luck after most of our bucket-list stays were fully booked. Nara itself was high on Misa’s wish list, both for the famous deer and for its historical importance as Japan’s former capital.

This exclusive design residence is a restored 1923 Sukiya-style house that blends original craftsmanship with mid-century modernist furniture and contemporary art. Featured in house and design magazines, it feels more like a private home than a hotel — available to just one group (max. two guests) per night.

It’s only a Katzensprung from Nara’s deer park and temples. One night we were even surprised by a small deer gang outside — still not sure who was more shocked, us or them. A small tip: the male deer can be a bit aufdringlich, so it’s best to buy the locally sold deer cookies if you plan to walk through their territories. If you are sensitive to animal scents, we highly recommend staying at Suimontei and choosing any other stays a bit farther away from the deer parks.

For lunch we highly recommend the Omurice (japanese omelette rice) at Emiru, simple, loved by locals, and a dish we still think about.

Due to our flexible road trip by car, we regret not booking breakfast and dinner (we had to return the rental in Kyoto). Suimontei’s chefs prepare seasonal set courses with Nara’s freshest ingredients, offering flavours unique to that particular day and time. The restaurant is also open to non-staying guests.

Discover Suimontei: https://suimontei.jp

Eatch lunch at Emiru: https://tabelog.com/en/nara/A2901/A290101/29015307/