La Trace
ラ・トラース
French in Nara & Saidaiji Area, Nara, 5 min walk from Nara Station
Our analysis
- #1of 5 French restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area
- 45%of high-end restaurants in Nara have a higher dinner budget
- ★Michelin Guide 2026
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥15,000–19,999Closed Tuesdays and SundaysBook online: TableCheck
All 25 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 17
Inside 6
Entrance 2
In our ranking, La Trace is 1st of the 5 French restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area and 1st of 9 in Nara. Its dinner budget on Tabelog (¥15,000–19,999) is lower than that of 45% of the high-end restaurants in Nara in this guide. Its record: one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026 (one of 9 in Nara in this guide) and Tabelog 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. From abroad it can be booked online in English on TableCheck and OMAKASE; 4 of the 9 French restaurants in Nara can be. Good for a seat at the counter, a less expensive lunch (from ¥13,200, 14% below its least expensive dinner course), and dining alone (Tabelog's users recommend it for one). Course prices that sources agree on: ¥15,400 on both Tabelog and its website; ¥13,200 on both Tabelog and its website.
How it compares
French restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Nara | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Trace | #1 | ¥15,400 | ¥13,200 | Online in English (TableCheck) | ★ · Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Nara | Tue, Sun |
| Le Bois | #2 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥8,000–9,999 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 2 min, Nara | — |
| Diningroom in the Naramachi | #3 | ¥13,000 | ¥8,800 | Online, Japanese only | — | 8 min, Nara | — |
| La forme d'éternité | — | ¥12,650 | ¥5,500 | Online, Japanese only | — | 4 min, Nara | Mon |
| L'Artisan KANOYA | — | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | budget ¥3,000–3,999 | No public phone or online | — | — | Tue, Wed |
For international visitors
Easy to book from abroad
Takes bookings online in English and has a menu or staff in English.
| Menu | English |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Website | In English |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats |
How to book La Trace
- Book online in English on TableCheck or OMAKASE, the booking services the restaurant uses.
- Call 050-5589-7946 (+81-50-5589-7946 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Reservations: required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- Dining alone: recommended for one by Tabelog's users; say you are one when you book. Solo dining in Nara.
Courses and prices
As the restaurant lists them on Tabelog. Prices are per person.
Chef's Omakase Lunch Course
Lunch · 11 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table · 2–4 guests
- Seasonal ingredients
What is served (4)
- For example, in one season:
- Amuse-bouches, 2 Appetizers, Homemade High-Hydration Bread,
- Fish, Meat, Palate Cleanser, Dessert,
- Post-Meal Tea, and Tea Sweets.
¥13,200
per person, tax incl., ≈$90
Cheapest
Chef's Omakase Dinner Course
Dinner · 11 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table · 2–4 guests
- Seasonal ingredients
What is served (4)
- For example, in one season:
- Amuse-bouches, 2 Appetizers, Homemade Brioche,
- Fish, Meat, Palate Cleanser, Dessert,
- Post-meal Tea, and Tea Sweets.
¥15,400
per person, tax incl., ≈$100
¥2,200 more than the one above
From October 1st: Chef's Omakase Dinner Course
Dinner · 11 dishes · 2 hr 30 min at the table · 2–4 guests
- Seasonal ingredients
What is served (4)
- For example, in one season, the menu includes:
- Amuse-bouches, 2 Appetizers, Homemade Brioche,
- Fish, Meat, Palate Cleanser, Dessert,
- Post-meal Tea, and Tea Sweets.
¥16,500
per person, tax incl., ≈$110
¥1,100 more than the one above
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
On Instagram
Prices
| Dinner | ¥15,000–19,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥10,000–14,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥15,000–19,999 at dinner, ¥6,000–7,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | Service Charge Notice for LA TRACE At LA TRACE, a service charge of 10% will be added to your bill. We appreciate your understanding and support. |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | 18:00–22:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 12:00–15:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–15:00 |
| Friday | 18:00–22:00 |
| Saturday | 18:00–22:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 8 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | No |
| Private hire | Not possible |
| Largest group | 4 people |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Children | Children under 10 are not admitted |
| Dress code | Please refrain from using strongly scented perfumes and fabric softeners. We kindly ask that you avoid excessive casual wear such as tank tops, shorts, and beach sandals during the summer. |
| Setting | Stylish space, Relaxing space, Counter seating |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Wine, Particular about wine |
| Services | English menu |
| Opened | June 2016 |
Getting there
5 min walk (370 m) from Nara Station.
Also near: Shin-Ōmiya: 12 min
- Leave Nara Station and walk north for 90 m.
- Turn left at Starbucks and walk 160 m.
- Turn right onto Sanjō Dōri and walk 90 m.
La Trace is on your right.
On your right
Look for
ラ・トラース
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
カーサヤマグチ
Written this way on the building
Floor
1F
Street level
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
ラ・トラース奈良県奈良市大宮町2-1-5 カーサヤマグチ 1F
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 2-1-5 Omiyacho Nara, Nara 630-8115 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | About 3 minutes walk from the west exit of JR Nara Station. |
Awards
MichelinMichelin Guide 2026: one star
La Trace has one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026. La Trace in the Michelin Guide · All Michelin-starred restaurants in Nara
- Selected for Tabelog French WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
- Selected for Tabelog French WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2023
- Selected for Tabelog French WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2021
From the restaurant's website
| Owner-chef | Ryo Sato |
|---|
As stated on latrace.jp, checked in November 2026.
Questions visitors ask
How much does La Trace cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥15,000–19,999 per person and lunch at ¥10,000–14,999. Drinks and a service charge (Service Charge Notice for LA TRACE At LA TRACE, a service charge of 10% will be added to your bill. We appreciate your understanding and support.) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
Does La Trace have an English menu?
Yes. The restaurant lists a menu in English.
When is La Trace closed?
It is closed on Tuesdays and Sundays.
Can I bring children to La Trace?
Children under 10 are not admitted.
What is the nearest station to La Trace?
Nara Station, about 5 minutes on foot (370 m). Shin-Ōmiya Station is about 10 minutes away.
Does La Trace have a dress code?
Please refrain from using strongly scented perfumes and fabric softeners. We kindly ask that you avoid excessive casual wear such as tank tops, shorts, and beach sandals during the summer.
Does La Trace have a Michelin star?
Yes. La Trace has one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), the Michelin Guide, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.