02–05
of June 2026 At
JW Marriott Hotel Nara
of June 2026 At
JW Marriott Hotel Nara
An unforgettable journey planned for celebration, connection, and cultural discovery in the historic city of Nara, Japan. Guests will be immersed in the beauty of Nara's landscapes, seasonal charm, and rich traditions, from serene temples and lush gardens to interactive cultural experiences.
"Kanpai" is more than just the Japanese equivalent of "cheers." It is a heartfelt expression of goodwill, connection, and celebration. In Japanese culture, raising a glass together is a symbolic gesture of unity — a moment where barriers dissolve, friendships strengthen, and joy is shared. It embodies togetherness, gratitude, and optimism for the future.
This trip is designed not only to reward exceptional achievement but also to foster meaningful connections among participants.
This ancient city is home to three World Heritage sites, comprising Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, Buddhist Monuments in the Horyuji Area, and Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
Filled with natural beauty, charming townscapes and National Treasures, Nara is less than 2 hours by train from Kyoto and Osaka, and easily accessible from Tokyo.
Unfolding over 3 powerful days — each session is crafted to help you unlock clarity, confidence, and calling.
Raise your glasses to a distinguished celebration of achievement, ambition, and unity — welcome to Kanpai to Excellence, inspired by the heart of Japanese tradition. Kanpai, the timeless toast, embodies respect, gratitude, and well-wishes. Paired with Excellence, it becomes a profound expression of recognition — honouring exceptional dedication, perseverance, and outstanding success.
Guests will be also immersed in an atmosphere that reflects the warmth, richness, and transformative beauty of Nara's fall season, with décor, lighting, and experiences designed to evoke the glowing hues of autumn.
Glow & Gather celebrates the beauty of coming together under the gentle glow of ambient lighting. This theme embodies the essence of cultural harmony; creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the richness of Japan.
It's a reminder that in moments of unity, shared brilliance shines brightest. This evening also offers a warm welcome to Nara, showcasing Japan's cherished Kanpai culture. With an atmosphere inspired by an intimate Izakaya bar, the setting invites guests to relax, connect, and raise a glass in celebration.
Please see below frequently asked questions for your reference. Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact apectopperformer@marriott.com.
Countries requiring visa to enter Japan include Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea. Please check the Japan eVisa website for eligibility of eVisa for yourself.
Please reach out to your local travel agency for the latest information. If you need an invitation letter for application, please send the invitation letter template together with your details to Note-san at Chaiwat.Kulchaisit@jwmarriott.com.
In addition, please check that your passport has a validity of at least 6 months from your departure date of 5 June 2026. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to start renewing or applying for one. Please note that you are responsible for:
You're on vacation, so feel free to dress comfortable and wear casual.
As part of the celebration, your room and tax (for one room) will be taken care of for the nights of Tuesday, 2 June through Thursday, 4 June (3 nights) at JW Marriott Hotel Nara. The celebration will also cover the following:
For the following services, please contact Note-san at Chaiwat.Kulchaisit@jwmarriott.com:
Please take note that airport transfers are not provided. Please make your way to JW Marriott Hotel Nara (address: 1 Chome-1-1 Sanjooji, Nara, 630-8013, Japan)
Here are some routes you can take:
1st Route:
There is a direct Limousine Bus from Kansai Airport to Nara.
The nearest stop to the JW Marriott Hotel Nara will be the Nara Prefectural Convention Center, a 5 mins walk
Tickets can be purchased here: Klook
Bus Timetable: kate.co.jp
2nd Route:
Kansai-Airport Station to Namba Station (Nankai Limited Express Rapit Train)
Tickets can be purchased here: Klook
Osaka-Namba Station to Shin-Ōmiya Station
Then walk about 10 mins to JW Marriott Hotel Nara
3rd Route:
Kansai-Airport Station to Tennōji Station
Tickets can be purchased here: Klook
Tennōji Station to Nara Station
Nara Station - Please wait for the hotel shuttle bus services:
Download Shuttle Schedule ↓
Need help with packing? Here are our most recommended packing items.
The temperatures in Nara in June are comfortable with low of 18°C and high up to 27°C.
Though Nara enters summer in June, due to relatively high precipitation, overall temperatures are not very high. Most days this month see daily highs between 25–30 degrees Celsius (77–86 degrees Fahrenheit) and lows around 15–25°C (59–77°F), with significant diurnal temperature variation. However, because the climate of Nara this month usually fluctuates between rainy and sunny conditions, temperatures are also not very stable. On rainy days, the high may only reach around 20°C (68°F), a cool level. Conversely, on clear days, especially those in mid- and late month, the high can climb to approximately 35°C (95°F).
Nara: Yoshikien and Isuien
Gardens Tour with Tea Tasting
Begin your experience with a visit to Yoshikien Garden, a tranquil and lesser-known space that once served as a temple residence. This garden features three distinct styles—a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea tasting garden—each with its own mood and aesthetic rhythm.
Next, step into Isuien Garden, a more expansive and architecturally layered space, composed of two seamlessly integrated sections from the Edo and Meiji periods. Take part in a matcha tea tasting held in a historic tea house within Isuien, offering panoramic views of the garden and its surrounding natural beauty.
Kofukuji (興福寺, Kōfukuji) used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan during much of the Nara and Heian Periods. The temple was established in Nara at the same time as the capital in 710. At the height of Fujiwara power, the temple consisted of over 150 buildings.
Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is Nara's most celebrated shrine. It was established at the same time as the capital and is dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. Kasuga Taisha was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, Japan's most powerful family clan during most of the Nara and Heian Periods.
Todaiji (東大寺, Tōdaiji, "Great Eastern Temple") is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. Todaiji's main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), held the record as the world's largest wooden building. The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas.
Over 1,400 sika deer roam around the park freely and it attracts a ton of tourists. In the park, you can find some stands selling packs of shika senbei, or deer crackers, to feed the deer. They cost around ¥200 and give you a chance to feed them.
Get dressed in an iconic kimono and stroll through the parks and streets of Nara, immersing yourself in traditional Japanese culture.
View more here
Naramachi (奈良町, literally “Nara Town”) is the former merchant district of Nara, where several traditional residential buildings and warehouses are preserved and open to the public.
The narrow, winding streets of traditional merchant houses now host sweet shops, modern art galleries, hip cafes and boutique ryokan. With shops like Yu Nakagawa, Naramachi is a great place to find contemporary Nara crafts and stylish souvenirs.
Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie, or the “Lattice House,” is a beautifully reconstructed traditional machiya townhouse located in the historic merchant district of Naramachi, Nara. Its distinctive wooden lattice façade allowed residents to look out at the street while maintaining privacy, a hallmark of Edo-period urban architecture.
The house offers a tangible glimpse into how merchant families lived, blending work and home life while maximizing space, light, and ventilation. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed Mondays).
Mochiidono Arcade (Mochiidono Center Gai) is a historic, covered shopping street in Nara, Japan, known as one of the city's oldest shopping arcades, offering a charming mix of traditional shops, modern cafes, souvenir stores (like unique tenugui towels at Akemitori), and eateries, serving as a delightful gateway to the Naramachi area and connecting to other shopping streets like Higashimuki.
Guests can enjoy local culture firsthand by stopping at Nakatanidou, where the iconic traditional mochi pounding is performed in front of the crowd—a must-see for food and culture enthusiasts.
Nara is renowned for its sake, and Harushika Sake Imanishi Seibei Store is a good place to learn about the brewing process. You can tour the brewery and the family’s historic residence and gardens, taste different varieties or drop by the cafe and shop.
Sanjo Dori Street is a major, historic artery in Nara, Japan, connecting JR Nara Station to Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, bustling with souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and national stores, serving as the main path for tourists to see deer and temples, with pedestrian-friendly sections and occasional events like mochi pounding. While there's also a Sanjo Dori in Kyoto, the Nara one is the primary tourist hub for its iconic access to ancient sites.
Higashimuki Shopping Street is Nara's main covered shopping arcade, a bustling hub near Kintetsu Nara Station filled with about 80 shops selling souvenirs, local crafts, fashion, and food, perfect for exploring shops and grabbing snacks.
Board the iconic Ikoma Cable Car and ascend through lush mountainside scenery. Midway, make a stop at Hōzanji Temple, a serene and historic site nestled into the slopes, where you can admire its pagoda, stone stairways, and the peaceful atmosphere of ancient Japan.
Continuing to the summit, arrive at the charming retro amusement park, a little mountaintop haven where you can ride mini attractions and enjoy panoramic views of Nara city spreading across the valley below, especially magical as the sun begins to set.
Create your own chopsticks from historic Yoshino cedar in a workshop in Yoshino, a forested area with over 500 years of history. Learn directly by watching and working with an artisan, and gain cultural insights into how chopsticks are used and respected.
View more here
This offers a hands-on journey into the heart of Uji's historic tea culture. Visitors can choose to roast their own Hōjicha from sencha leaves or grind fresh Matcha using a traditional stone mill, then whisk and enjoy it on the spot. The experience typically lasts around 100 minutes and includes time to relax at the on-site café, where you can sample matcha-based sweets, green-tea soba, and seasonal treats, all while enjoying views of the Uji River. Guests can also shop for freshly made tea, original Uji-Kobo products, and traditional tea utensils to take home.
Uji, just a 25–30 minute train ride from Nara, is a charming town famous for its matcha tea and historic sites. Highlights include Byōdō-in Temple with its iconic Phoenix Hall, the ancient Ujigami Shrine, and scenic walks along the Uji River lined with tea shops and cafés. Visitors can enjoy traditional tea experiences, sample matcha sweets, and explore the Tale of Genji Museum, all within a compact, walkable area that makes for a relaxing, culturally rich day trip. Nara Station → Uji Station (~25–30 minutes)around ¥500–600 one way.
Kyoto’s top highlights include Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates, Kinkaku-ji shimmering in gold beside its pond, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a peaceful walkway of towering bamboo. Visitors also often wander through Gion, Kyoto’s traditional district, where you might catch a glimpse of a geisha or maiko moving between teahouses.
Kintetsu Nara → Kyoto Station (Kintetsu Kyoto): ~45 minutes by Kintetsu Limited Express (paid seat).
Originally developed by local sculptor Inoue Fukichi, this sculpture park was completed by Israeli artist Dani Karavan in 2006. The giant, modern installations are designed to harmonize with the landscape and the expansive park is perfect for picnics and is a must-see for anyone with an interest in art or spectacular spaces. The park is accessible by car or bus, but the two-hour hike through the mossy, canopied forest from Muroguchiono Station is beautiful.
~1 hour away from JW Marriott Nara
Located in Higashimuki Shopping Street, Tonkatsu Ganko freshly prepares their tonkatsu (breaded and deep fried pork loin / fillet cutlets) sets priced around JPY 1200 per person. This restaurant also offers takeout.
Served with rice bowls, Maguro Koya is known for its fresh, high quality tuna dishes and local sake from Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake. Its range of tuna dishes include sashimi, steak, donburi and nigiri. English menus are also offered. Its prices average around JPY 2500 per person, including drinks.
This restaurant is popular among tourists for its prime location, situated along the path leading to historic spots as well as having a close view of Mt. Wakakusa. Although more expensive at around JPY 3000 per person, Kotoya serves large set meals featuring local ingredients and delicacies. Within the restaurant is also a small shop selling local snacks and souvenirs.
This store specialises in Kakinoha-Sushi, a unique sushi originating from Nara, wrapped in persimmon leaves. This unique 2-storey shop sells Kakinoha-Sushi on the first floor, with a restaurant on the second floor where you can get a stunning view of the Great Buddha Hall of Nara.
There are also several vegan options in Nara. One popular option is Onwa cafe, a chef owned and highly rated plant based dining spot. They offer salads, seasonal vegan plates and burgers, among other Japanese dishes. The staff are English speaking, and English menus are also available. They offer a variety of drinks, including teas and alcohol.
Kuruminoki is a chic, lifestyle cafe with a small fashion boutique and a homeware shop where you can stock up on souvenirs. The bottom right image features its seasonal lunch, a healthy meal created using locally sourced ingredients. This cafe also offers ice cream and cake desserts.