Nara is the first capital of Japan. Unlike Kyoto, it is now a quiet town and a great place to feel the ancient history of Japan.  There are about 1,500 sacred deers strolling around the town.  They welcome you eagerly as they are waiting to be fed by you. 

Nara is a large prefecture and has a lot to offer. Todaiji Temple and Yakushiji Temple to name a few. Horyuji is the oldest Buddhist temple and became the 1st World Heritage Site to be registered in Japan in 1994. My favorite is Muroji Temple, but it takes a whole day to get there. Mount Yoshino in the southern part of Nara is one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in early April.

*During the early ages of the Japanese empire, there was no permanent capital, and the capital used to move after an emperor died. It was the first time in the early 700’s that this tradition was abandoned in Nara, making it the oldest capital of Japan.

How to get there

From Kyoto: Take the Kintetsu Line from Kyoto Station. If you take an express, it will only take 35 minutes and cost 1,160 yen.  Alternatively, if you are traveling with JR Pass, you might want to take a JR train, but JR Nara Station is located further away, and you need to walk 20 minutes more.

From Osaka: Take Kintetsu Line from Namba Station. It will take 40 minutes and cost 570 yen.  Alternatively, you can take a JR train from Osaka Station.

 

What to See

Kofukuji Temple 

Kofukuji Temple

Kofukuji Temple , にしやん

Only a few minutes’ walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. Famous for the second tallest five-story pagoda in Japan. The National Treasure Hall offers beautiful Buddhist sculptures from the Nara Period (710 – 784 AD).  600 yen entry fee. Kofukuji’s main hall was rebuilt in 2018 in its original form.

Kofukuji Temple

Address: 48 Noboriojicho, Nara, 630-8213, Japan (map)

Website: kohfukuji.com

Hours: Monday – Sunday 9AM–5PM

Phone: +81742227755

 

Deer in Nara Park

Deer in Nara park

Deer in Nara Park, Devon Bertholf

Nara Park starts at the end of the Kofukuji Temple.  You will start to see many deer strolling around.  They will come after you especially when you have deer crackers in your hands, which you can buy at 150 yen from ladies at stalls.  Please watch out as deer will eat anything out of your pockets and bags.  Also, please be careful not to let them eat plastic bags as they could die. Deer are seen sacred in Nara.  The number of deer is counted every year.

 

Nara Prefecture Office Observatory

The Rooftop of Nara Prefecture Office

The Rooftop of Nara Prefecture Office, 谷口勝也

You can go up to the roof of the Nara Prefecture Office, and it is free! It is a great place to see the geographical location of Nara, to see Kyoto in the north and Osaka in the west. There is a telescope you can use freely on the western side. See if you can spot the trace of the old capitol site of Nara. 

There is no security check in this office.  You would be surprised to be able to visit the Governor’s Office without any questions being asked. On the 6th floor, there is a canteen for civil servants who work there, but it is also open to the public. It is cheap and has a nice view of the city. 

Nara Prefecture Office Observatory

Address: Japan, 〒630-8213 Nara, Noboriojicho, 30 (map)

Website: pref.nara.jp

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30AM–5:30PM; Saturday, Sunday closed

Phone: +81742278406

 

Isuien Garden 

Isui-en

Isui-en, Andrew Alexeyev

Probably the best Japanese garden in Nara.  You can enjoy two different types of gardens built in two different periods.  Costs 1,200 yen to enter.  At Sanshu teahouse, you can have lunch and a bowl of green tea.  Closed on Tuesdays. A visit to the Neiraku Museum of Art near the entrance is included in the entrance fee. You must take off your shoes to enter.

Isuien Garden

Address: Japan, 〒630-8208 Nara, Suimoncho, 74 (map)

Website: isuien.or.jp

Hours: Monday, Wednesday – Sunday 9:30AM–4:30PM; Tuesday closed

 

Yoshikien Garden 

Yoshikien Garden

Yoshikien Garden, Jovian Wang

Alternatively, you can visit another garden next to Isuien for free.  It is free only for overseas visitors(You have to show your passports if you are not with a guide) even though they charge for Japanese tourists.  Not fair!

Yoshikien Garden

Address: 60 1, Noboriojicho, Nara, 630-8213, Japan (map)

Website: yoshikien.blog.fc2.com

Hours: Monday – Sunday 9AM–4:30PM

Phone: +81742225911

 

Todaiji Temple 

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple, 谷口勝也

Visiting the Great Buddha in Todaiji(East Great Temple) is the main reason many people visit Nara for.  Unlike many temples which prohibit taking photos of sacred statues, you can take as many photos here.  The temple was originally established in the middle of the 8th century but burnt down twice. 

The present one rebuilt in the early 18th century is the two-third of its original size, but still one of the biggest wooden structure buildings in the world. Todaiji has a separate entry route on the side for wheelchair travelers.

Todaiji Temple

Address: 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8211, Japan (map)

Website: todaiji.or.jp

Hours: Monday – Sunday 7:30AM–5:30PM

Phone: +81742225511

 

Nigatsudo Hall 

Nigatsudo Hall

Nigatsudo Hall, Sam 369 Channel

If you are strong enough, I recommend you to walk up to many stairs to Nigatsudo Hall. (If you are not adventurous, you may take an easier route to Kasuga Taisha Shrine or stop at Nara National Museum.)  On the way, you can look at one of the largest temple bells in Japan.  From the verandah of Nigatsudo, you can overlook the Nara basin.  

For the first two weeks in March, the special ceremony called Omizutori(the Water Drawing Ceremony) takes place here.  This ceremony has been continuing since year 752 without stopping. (Yes, it was done in 2020, too.)

Nigatsudo Hall

Address: Japan, 〒630-8211 Nara, Zoshicho, 406-1 二月堂 (map)

Website: todaiji.or.jp

Hours: Open 24 hours

Phone: +81742223386

 

Kasuga Taisha Shrine 

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, 7777 Stream

Founded in the early 8th century, the people of Nara have always worshiped four deities enshrined at this temple for centuries.  There are picturesque 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns.  

Deer in Nara are seen as messengers of gods at Kasuga Taisha Shrine.  You can see the large Deer Pen between the 1st and the 2nd Main Torii Gates.  Every autumn, they perform a deer antler cutting ceremony there.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Address: J160 Kasuganocho, Nara, 630-8212, Japan (map)

Website: kasugataisha.or.jp

Hours: Monday -Sunday 6AM–6PM

Phone: +81742227788

 

Naramachi 

Naramachi - Gango-ji Temple

Gango-ji Temple at Naramachi, 市民農園物語

It is an old section of Nara and has many traditional houses and small shops.  Even though it is a good walk from Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Todaiji Temple, it is relaxing to stroll around the area before heading back to Kyoto or Osaka.

There are two old traditional Japanese houses you can go in. Also, if you want to see more temples, another world heritage site Gankoji is here.

Naramachi

Address: map

 

Imanishi Sake Brewery 

Imanishi Sake Brewery

Imanishi Sake Brewery, 吉田哲也

Many Japanese traditions started in Nara.  Buddhism, Calligraphy, Tea ceremony, you name it.  Sake-making also started in here, and you can have a tasting of some sake for 500 JPY at this one of the oldest sake breweries in Nara.

They give you a sake cup to take home as a souvenir.  Their flagship’s sake is called Harushika, meaning Spring Deer, so make sure to try one.

Imanishi Sake Brewery

Address: 24-1 Fukuchiincho, Nara, 630-8381, Japan (map)

Website: harushika.com

Hours: Monday – Sunday 10AM–5PM

Phone: +81742232255

 

Popular dishes to eat

One of the most popular meals in Nara is called Kaki no Ha Zushi, pressed sushi wrapped in a persimmon leaf. Also, Narazuke is a popular vegetable pickle in sake lees which is Nara is famous for.  It has a strong smell and taste, and you may or may not like it.  Chagayu is another dish Nara is known for.  It is a congee cooked in green tea.

 

Places to eat

Yumekaze Hiroba

Yumekaze Hiroba

Yumekaze Hiroba, 柿の葉寿司のゐざさ 中谷本舗 夢風ひろば店

If you are near Todaiji Temple, go to Yumekaze Hiroba which has about 10 different places to eat from hamburgers to a bowl of buckwheat noodles. My favorite is chicken rice individually cooked in a pot(\1,200) on the second floor of Tenpyoan.  However, the place can be very crowded during lunchtime, and it takes about 20 minutes for the meal to be prepared.  The sweets they serve are also delicious as this café is managed by the Japanese sweets shop downstairs.

Yumekaze Hiroba

Address: Japan, 〒630-8212 Nara, Kasuganocho, 16 東大寺門前 夢風ひろば内 (map)

Website: izasa.co.jp

Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:30AM–5PM

Phone: +81742947133

 

Higashimuki Shopping Arcade

Higahshimuki Shopping Arcade

Higashimuki Shopping Arcade, Alberto Luis Del Rosario

If you are near Kintetsu Nara Station, go to Higashimuki Shopping Arcade starting just by the station. There are many restaurants from tonkatsu, tempura, izakaya, ramen to okonomiyaki here.  If your tongue is becoming homesick, there is even MacDonald’s.  My favorite is udon noodle restaurant Kamaiki. 

Higashimuki Shopping Arcade

Address: 5 Higashimuki Minamimachi, Nara, 630-8216, Japan (map)

Website: higashimuki.jp

Phone: +81742244986

 

Nakatanido

Nakatanido

Rice cake at Nakatanido, Neslihan Pezek

After your meal, you can walk down the street, and you may see a crowd of people gathering in front of Nakatanido, performing pounding rice cake.  They have only one kind of rice cake with mugwort, and you can buy freshly-made ones.

Nakatanido

Address: 29 Hashimotocho, Nara, 630-8217, Japan (map)

Website: nakatanidou.jp

Hours: Monday – Sunday 10AM–7PM

Phone: +81742230141

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