I love Nara too. I visited much of the temples and did a walk in the Primeval Forest, very inspiring. On my only visit I stayed two night there, one night at the Onyado Nono Nara, which I definitely recommend (it has an Onsen and is quite modern) https://goo.gl/maps/4io3Qz3FJnoikbM46.
Second night was at the Nara Hotel (for the simple reason the next morning I needed to take the first shuttle to KIX and there is a stop just in front), quite interesting hotel as it is very inspired by colonial architecture (it was built in 1909).