From a "Place to Stay" to a "Place to Nurture Local Culture". New Lounge "Lounge LE CIEL" Opens [Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara]
Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara opened a new lounge, 'Lounge LE CIEL,' on April 1, 2026. Designed by MUJI, the space features antique furniture and a kids' space, serving as a hub connecting guests with local culture.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 21:00
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The Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara (Location: Kume-cho, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture / General Manager: Yusuke Kitaguchi), a hotel convenient for sightseeing and historical walks in the Kashihara/Asuka area and the Yoshino area famous for its "Yoshinoyama cherry blossoms", opened a new lounge "Lounge LE CIEL" on the 8th floor of the hotel on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Prior to the opening, an opening commemorative event was held on Saturday, March 28, inviting local stakeholders, including Kashihara City Mayor Tadahiko Kameda.
This lounge was opened as a space symbolizing the vision of becoming "a hotel that acts as a starting point for experiencing local culture and passing it on to the next generation," timed with the milestone of Kashihara City celebrating the 70th anniversary of its municipalization on February 11, 2026.
The concept of "Lounge LE CIEL" is "a bright and clean space where you can feel the warmth of wood." The space design and interior coordination were handled by "MUJI Aeon Mall Kashihara." The entire lounge is composed of a flexible layout, providing a maximum of 146 seats. For the furniture, mainly old furniture that has been cleaned and repaired was adopted, realizing a space where materials that let you feel the accumulation of time harmonize with MUJI's characteristic minimalist design.
With the opening of "Lounge LE CIEL," our hotel will prepare traffic lines that naturally guide guests from their stay to local experiences, taking on the role of a "hub connecting culture, people, and the town."
Basic Information of "Lounge LE CIEL"
In the center of the lounge, as a symbol of the space, an antique table that has been carefully used for many years has been placed. In addition, a bookshelf compiling books related to the history and culture of the Kashihara/Asuka areas selected by the hotel staff has been set up, implementing a mechanism where moments during the stay naturally lead to an interest in the region.
Furthermore, a kids' space where families can spend time has been established at the back of the lounge. Artificial turf and logs are placed in one corner of a raised tatami-floored area, creating an environment where small children can play safely. On the other side, school desks and chairs for children have been installed, making it a space to spend quiet time or read. It is a warm place where three generations can naturally share time in the same space: the grandparent generation tells stories, the parent generation relaxes, and the children generation plays and learns.
Business Hours: 15:00 - 19:30 / 21:00 - 23:00
Location: Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara, 8th Floor
Fee: Free (exclusive to hotel guests / included in accommodation fee)
Number of Seats: Up to 146 seats
This lounge was opened as a space symbolizing the vision of becoming "a hotel that acts as a starting point for experiencing local culture and passing it on to the next generation," timed with the milestone of Kashihara City celebrating the 70th anniversary of its municipalization on February 11, 2026.
The concept of "Lounge LE CIEL" is "a bright and clean space where you can feel the warmth of wood." The space design and interior coordination were handled by "MUJI Aeon Mall Kashihara." The entire lounge is composed of a flexible layout, providing a maximum of 146 seats. For the furniture, mainly old furniture that has been cleaned and repaired was adopted, realizing a space where materials that let you feel the accumulation of time harmonize with MUJI's characteristic minimalist design.
With the opening of "Lounge LE CIEL," our hotel will prepare traffic lines that naturally guide guests from their stay to local experiences, taking on the role of a "hub connecting culture, people, and the town."
Basic Information of "Lounge LE CIEL"
In the center of the lounge, as a symbol of the space, an antique table that has been carefully used for many years has been placed. In addition, a bookshelf compiling books related to the history and culture of the Kashihara/Asuka areas selected by the hotel staff has been set up, implementing a mechanism where moments during the stay naturally lead to an interest in the region.
Furthermore, a kids' space where families can spend time has been established at the back of the lounge. Artificial turf and logs are placed in one corner of a raised tatami-floored area, creating an environment where small children can play safely. On the other side, school desks and chairs for children have been installed, making it a space to spend quiet time or read. It is a warm place where three generations can naturally share time in the same space: the grandparent generation tells stories, the parent generation relaxes, and the children generation plays and learns.
Business Hours: 15:00 - 19:30 / 21:00 - 23:00
Location: Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara, 8th Floor
Fee: Free (exclusive to hotel guests / included in accommodation fee)
Number of Seats: Up to 146 seats