Nara
Save29 hand-picked places in 9 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 3 ready-made day plans ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Temple housing the Great Buddha in a huge wooden hall
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Entrance fee
- Tickets can be combined with Todai-ji Museum
📷 Photos
- 2
Large park with free-roaming deer
3 tips
- Buy deer crackers only
- Beware of pushy deer
- Free entry
📷 Photos
- 3
Shrine famed for thousands of stone and bronze lanterns
3 tips
- Lantern festivals in February and August
- Entrance fee for inner area
- Walk through the forest
📷 Photos
- 4
Ancient temple with a five-storey pagoda
3 tips
- Free to walk the grounds
- Pagoda lit in some seasons
- Near Sarusawa Pond
📷 Photos
- 5
Japanese stroll garden with borrowed scenery of Todai-ji
3 tips
- Entrance fee
- Matcha available
- Free for foreign visitors on certain days
📷 Photos
- 6
Old merchant district with machiya townhouses and small shops
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Good for lunch
- Wander the alleys
📷 Photos
- 7
World's oldest wooden structures, founded in 607
3 tips
- Take a bus or train from Nara
- Entrance fee
- Allow 2 hours
📷 Photos
- 8
Temple with an East Pagoda, original from 730
3 tips
- Entrance fee
- Quiet
- Combine with Toshodai-ji
📷 Photos
- 9
Reconstructed ancient capital palace grounds
3 tips
- Large open space
- Bring water
- Free entry to the grounds
📷 Photos
- 10
Hillside hall with a wide wooden veranda and city views
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Great at sunset
- Free entry
- Climb the stone steps
📷 Photos
Take this map with you
Opens Google Maps with these places, ready to save to your own list.
Before you go: Nara tips
Transportation
- Arrive at Kintetsu Nara: Kintetsu Nara Station is closer to Nara Park and the main temples than JR Nara Station.
- Explore on foot: Nara's main sights are clustered around Nara Park, making it a perfect city to explore walking.
- Day trip from Osaka or Kyoto: Nara is an easy train ride from both cities, ideal for a full day of sightseeing.
Security
- Be careful with deer: The deer are wild; they may nip or headbutt when chasing crackers, so keep food hidden and stay calm.
- Watch children near deer: Supervise kids when feeding deer, especially during autumn rutting season when males are more aggressive.
- Keep paper away from deer: Deer may grab maps, tickets or bags; keep belongings secure in the park.
Saving
- Visit free sights: Nara Park and many shrine grounds are free to wander, so you can see a lot without paying entry fees.
- Eat set lunches: Many restaurants offer affordable set lunches, much cheaper than dinner at the same place.
- Rent a bicycle: Bike rentals near the stations make it easy and cheap to reach outlying temples.
Weather/Clothing
- Prepare for summer heat: Summers are hot and humid; pack light clothes, a hat and water for walking between sights.
- Bring layers in winter: Winters are cold, especially in the mornings, so pack a warm coat and gloves.
- Visit in spring or autumn: Cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves make these seasons beautiful but busy.
Cultural
- Bow to the deer: Many deer bow when offered shika senbei crackers; bow back and they may return the gesture.
- Be respectful at shrines: Purify your hands at the water basin and bow before entering shrine areas.
- Try kakinoha-zushi: Nara's specialty sushi is wrapped in persimmon leaves and makes a great picnic lunch.
Local Hacks
- Visit Todai-ji early: Arrive at opening to see the giant Buddha before tour groups pack the hall.
- Wander Naramachi: The old merchant quarter has traditional wooden houses, cafés and craft shops away from the crowds.
- See the lantern festivals: Kasuga Taisha lights its many lanterns during special festivals in February and August.
1-day itineraries in Nara
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 3
Kasuga Taisha and around
🕘 9:30–16:45📍 6 stops
- 1Mount Wakakusa
- 2Kasuga Taisha
- 3Nara Park
- 4Isuien Garden
- 5Todai-ji
- and 1 more
Day 2 of 3
Naramachi and around
🕘 9:30–14:15📍 5 stops
- 1Naramachi
- 2Nakatanidou
- 3Sarusawa Pond
- 4Kofuku-ji
- 5Nara National Museum
Day 3 of 3
Yakushi-ji and around
🕘 9:30–12:45📍 3 stops
- 1Yakushi-ji
- 2Toshodai-ji
- 3Heijo Palace Site