Tuesday, September 1, 2026

  1. A modern stag sculpture looms above the lobby bar, nodding to the deer that still wander Nara's ancient streets, and the rooms echo traditional local homes with earthy tones and unhurried simplicity. Japan's first JW Marriott holds a Michelin Key and a Forbes Four Star, and it earns both moods, whether you're here on a corporate card or a once-in-a-while splurge. The spa is serious, and the restaurant covers teppanyaki, sushi, and kaiseki under one roof.

    Two honors, in evidence:

    The record strongest first

    One number, weighted & current 91

    How we score

Nearby in the record closest first

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Eat Score

The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

    How we score →

    Drink Score

    The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

      How we score →

      Stay Score

      The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

        How we score →

        Do Score

        The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

          How we score →

          Best Place Score

          The Best Place Score rates the area around a point, not any one place. It runs on the scored places nearby: more good stuff within reach, higher score. If it looks low, we probably haven't found enough critics out here yet.