Nara travel guide
Bowing deer, the giant Buddha of Todai-ji and Japan's first great capital, under an hour from Kyoto and Osaka.
Quick answer
- Region: Kansai, Honshu
- Nearest airport: Kansai International (KIX), about 1 hour 20 minutes by bus
- Ideal stay: 1 to 2 days
- Best for: Deer, temples, ancient history
Nara was Japan's capital from 710 to 784, decades before Kyoto, and it was here that Buddhism and the arts of China took root in Japan. The temples built in that era are some of the oldest and largest in the country, and they are listed together as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today Nara is a calm, compact city where most of the sights sit inside one big park full of friendly deer. Most visitors come for a day from Kyoto or Osaka, but an overnight stay lets you see the temples in the quiet early morning and the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha at dusk.
Top things to do in Nara
- Meet the deer in Nara Park. Around 1,200 wild sika deer live in Nara Park, where they have been protected for centuries as messengers of the gods. Many will bow for a shika senbei cracker.
- Stand under the Great Buddha at Todai-ji. The Daibutsu is a bronze Buddha about 15 metres tall, cast in the 8th century, in a hall that is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Pass through the huge Nandaimon gate on the way in to see its two fierce guardian statues.
- Walk the lantern paths of Kasuga Taisha. A vermilion shrine in the forest, with about 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. They are all lit for the Mantoro lantern festivals in early February and mid-August.
- Watch the sunset from Nigatsu-do. This hillside hall above Todai-ji has a free wooden veranda with views over the city. It is the setting for the Omizutori fire ritual each March.
- See the pagoda at Kofuku-ji. Its five-storey pagoda is one of the tallest in Japan. It is under a long restoration and covered for several years, but the temple's National Treasure Museum is open and full of remarkable statues.
- Explore Naramachi. The old merchant quarter, with narrow lanes of wooden townhouses, sake shops, cafes and tiny museums.
- Relax in Isuien and Yoshikien gardens. Two neighbouring gardens near Todai-ji. Isuien borrows the temple roofs and hills as its backdrop.
- Make the trip to Horyu-ji. About 30 minutes away by train and bus, Horyu-ji has the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world, dating from around 700.
How to behave around the deer
- Only feed them shika senbei. The crackers are sold from stalls in the park. Human food and plastic bags make the deer ill.
- Show your empty hands when you are done. The deer understand this and will usually move on.
- Do not tease them. Holding crackers out of reach makes them pushy, and they can nip, kick or headbutt.
- Take extra care in autumn and early summer. Males can be aggressive in the autumn rutting season, and mothers protect their fawns from May to July.
Areas to know
| Area | Why stay or visit |
|---|---|
| Nara Park | Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji, the museums and the deer, all within walking distance. |
| Kintetsu-Nara Station area | The most convenient base, with hotels, shops and the Higashimuki shopping street. |
| JR Nara Station area | Good for JR Pass holders and day trips, a 20-minute walk from the park. |
| Naramachi | Quiet old streets with guesthouses and machiya stays. |
When to go
Spring brings cherry blossoms in early April and autumn brings red maples in mid to late November, both beautiful but busy. Winter is cold and quiet, with the Wakakusa Yamayaki hill burning in late January and the Omizutori ritual from 1 to 14 March. Summers are very hot and humid, though the August lantern festivals and Nara Tokae evening illuminations are lovely.
Getting there and around
From Kyoto, Kintetsu limited express trains reach Kintetsu-Nara in about 35 minutes, and JR Nara Line trains reach JR Nara in about 45 minutes. From Osaka, Kintetsu trains run from Osaka-Namba in about 40 minutes, and JR Yamatoji Rapid trains run from Osaka or Tennoji in about 50 minutes. Kintetsu-Nara is much closer to the park.
From Kansai Airport, limousine buses run to both stations in about 1 hour 20 minutes. In Nara, the main sights are within walking distance of each other, and city loop buses cover the rest. IC cards work on trains and most buses.
Where to stay
Stay near Kintetsu-Nara to walk to the park, or near JR Nara for easy trains. For something special, choose a ryokan or a traditional machiya in Naramachi. Nara has fewer hotels than Kyoto or Osaka, so book ahead for spring, autumn and festival dates.
What to eat
- Kakinoha-zushi, pressed sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves
- Nara-zuke, vegetables pickled in sake lees
- Freshly pounded mochi, made at lightning speed on the Higashimuki street
- Chagayu, a gentle rice porridge cooked in tea
- Kuzu sweets and noodles, made from the arrowroot of the Yoshino area
Day trips and next stops
Uji, home of matcha and Byodo-in, is on the JR line between Nara and Kyoto, so it is easy to stop on the way. Mount Yoshino, Japan's most famous cherry blossom mountain, is about 1.5 hours south. For more ideas, see our day trips from Kyoto and Osaka.
Opening hours, prices and transport details change. Check the official sources before you travel: Visit Nara.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough for Nara?
One day covers Nara Park, Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and Naramachi. Add a second day, or a night, for Horyu-ji and a quieter early morning in the park.
Is Nara better as a day trip or an overnight stay?
Most people visit on a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Staying a night means you can see the big temples before the crowds arrive and enjoy the park in the evening, when it is almost empty.
Do the Nara deer bite?
They can nip, especially if you tease them with food. Feed them only shika senbei, keep bags closed and show your empty hands when you are finished.
Should I take Kintetsu or JR to Nara?
Kintetsu is faster and stops closer to Nara Park. JR is the better choice if you have a JR Pass or want to stop in Uji or at Fushimi Inari on the way.
