Are you planning a trip to Japan and looking for ideas on things to see and do in Nara ? Great: in this post we tell you about our experience in this fantastic city! Ready to tour it virtually? Let's go…
The deer of Nara
If Bambi marked your childhood like that of many other children (who are not so young now and are almost 30 or over…), you will understand that the city of Nara is special. It is true that it was the capital of Japan , back in 710, and that it has some of the most beautiful and important temples in the country … but here it is the hungry deer of Nara who rule!
Because this has been their home for hundreds of years and because, according to popular culture, they should be treated as divine beings. If you were born in medieval Japan and accidentally ran over one with your cart, you would probably lose your head… at least that was the case until 1637. After World War II, Nara's deer went down a notch, from being messengers of the gods to being treated as national heritage… not bad either.
Nara Park is where more than 1,200 specimens of this beautiful animal are concentrated , and there are also stalls set up by old men and women who sell the biscuits that drive the deer crazy. Buy one and you will see how in less than a second you will be surrounded and with no escape route... we have seen real cases of panic! Well, in reality it was a poor child who was scared (and normal!) by having 5 or 6 hairy and snouted beasts cutting off his escape routes.
Just in case, at the entrance to the park there is a nice sign explaining the dangers of these little animals. Let's not forget that they are wild and you never know how they might react... but they are very cute! The only danger we saw was that they might eat your map, or worse... your JR Pass!
Visiting the temples of Nara
Leaving the bugs aside, one of the best things to see and do in Nara is a temple tour . Many of them date back to the time when Nara was the capital (710-784) and have been declared World Heritage Sites (the so-called "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara"). You can walk for a couple of hours to visit the best ones . Most of them are in Nara Park, so it won't be hard to find them and yes, as you may have understood, here are the best things to see and do in Nara.
The must-see places here are:
- Kofukuji Temple : dating back to the 7th century, its 5-story pagoda is the second tallest in Japan.
- A western-style mansion that we don't quite remember what it is, but that many old people used to draw...
- Todaiji Temple : the star of Nara. This Buddhist temple dates back to around 750 and was built to house the largest Buddha statue in the country. Today it can be found inside the main building (Daibutsu-den). The statue is 15 metres tall and the building is no less than the largest wooden structure in the world, even though it is now a third smaller than the original. The entrance to the complex is through the impressive Nakamon Gate.
- Nigatsu-do Atrium : The best thing about this place is the views of the park and all of Nara and the lounge where you can have free tea and chat with other travelers.
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine : one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan, notable for its interior lanterns and surrounding environment.
Along the way you will pass other temples of lesser importance and some very beautiful scenery , especially during the sakura season. In Nara there are many temples, shrines and buildings that are worth a visit, such as the Heijo Palace, on the other side of the city, the Kasugayama primeval forest , south of the Kasuga Taisha temple, and the Horyuji temple , which must be impressive, but is located outside Nara, in Ikaruga.
Useful information about Nara
To help you organize your visit to Nara, we provide you with all the necessary useful information:
How to get to Nara
NOTE: There are two different railway company stations in Nara: JR Station and Kintetsu Station.
– From Koyasan : this was our route. We changed at Shinimamiya station, where we took a JR train to Nara, which costs 560¥ and takes about 40 minutes.
– From Osaka : with the JR it costs 800¥. With Kintetsu it is 560¥ (from Namba in Osaka to Kintetsu Nara). It takes between 40 and 50 minutes.
– From Kyoto : the JR costs ¥710 and takes 50 minutes. The Kintetsu costs ¥620 (be careful not to take the Limited Express), with a change at Yamatosaidaiji and takes about 45 minutes in total.
You can also sign up for a day trip , these are the ones we suggest:
- Nara day trip from Kyoto
- Nara day trip from Osaka
Where to sleep in Nara
We stayed at the Guest House Iki for 6,400¥ for a private room with bathroom and A/C. The hostel is small but very new and in the center of Nara. Recommended. Here you can find accommodation in Nara at the best price .
Ticket prices in Nara
As in many cities in Japan, you have to pay to enter many attractions and temples. Here are the prices of the entrances, we didn't pay any.
- Todaiji Temple : 500¥ to enter the main building, the Daibutsu-den.
- Kasuga Taisha Tantuary : free.
- Kofukuji Temple : ¥600 to the treasure room and ¥300 to the Tokondo room.
- Shinyakushi-ji Temple : ¥600.
- Nigatsu-do Atrium : free.
- Wakakusayama Atrium : 150¥.
- Nara National Museum : 520¥.
Do you know more things to see and do in Nara ? Tell us 🙂
