Nara is the capital of Nara prefecture in Japan and because of its close proximity, it’s a popular “one-day trip” destination from Osaka or Kyoto. The main attraction here is undoubtedly the Nara Park with free roaming deer that you can feed, however, Nara has also rich history, many awe-inspiring temples, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it is second only to Kyoto as a repository of Japan’s cultural legacy. In the 7th century, Nara served as Japan’s first permanent capital (until then the capital cities were moved with each passing emperor according to Shinto traditions), and even though this period didn’t last very long (only 75 years), during that time the emperors accepted influences from China and thus laid the foundations of Japanese culture.Things to do in nara
The city center of Nara is not very large so you can just walk around without taking any public transport from the main train stations – JR Nara and Kintetsu station. JR station is little bit further, but still walking distance while Kintetsu is located right in next to the Nara Park. I love coming back to Nara because of its history, small town charm, the connection to nature and great food. In this article I will present you my favorite places to see and things to do here in one day.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN NARA IN ONE DAY
SEE ONE OF THE GREATEST SITES IN JAPAN – BIG BRONZE BUDDHA IN TODAI-JI TEMPLE
The great bronze Buddha statue in Todai-ji Temple is considered to be one of the most striking sights in Japan for a good reason. The Great Buddha, called Daibutsu in Japanese, is the biggest bronze Buddha statue in the world sitting in the largest wooden building on earth. Legend says that over two millions of laborers worked on this temple and that its construction almost brought the country to the bankruptcy. True or not, the temple origins date back to the 8th century, it belongs to the Unesco World Heritage Sites and together with Mt. Fuji and Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, it is the most beautiful and important place in Japan, therefore it’s a must-see when visiting Nara.
The entrance fee to Todai-ji Temple is 500 yen to see the Great Buddha hall, or 800 yen if you also want to visit the museum. Even though this site is very popular and many international as well as local people come to visit every day, the Daibutsu hall and the temple grounds are large enough to contain bigger amounts of visitors.
FEED CURIOUS DEER IN NARA KOEN PARK
It wouldn’t be a trip to Nara without feeding some friendly deer in Nara’s biggest park. Nara Koen is located on the east side of the city and most of the important sites and temples are located within its close proximity. There are about 1200 deer living in and around this park that you can feed with special deer crackers (you can buy them in many stalls around the park and a pack costs around 200 yen). In pre-Buddhist times, deer were considered as messengers of gods and today they enjoy the status of National Treasures.
It is truly unbelievable to walk around the city together with so many deer around you. Sometimes you can feel like in a fairy tale. However! Be aware that even though some of the deer will come to you and politely bow for a piece of cracker, they are still wild animals and sometimes they can get pretty aggressive if you don’t feed them… They can eat your map, chew your sweater or chase you down the streets! Don’t underestimate them… During my first trip to Nara at the beginning of autumn I had the best experience when the deer were super cute and polite, but on my second visit in winter, when not so many tourists come to Japan and so there’s less people to feed them, I got chased down, my coat was chewed and even though it may have looked funny, I was afraid a little bit. So just be careful.
CHILL OUT IN ONE OF THE JAPANESE GARDENS
I don’t know how about you, but I love traditional Japanese gardens. Any time I can visit one, I take my chance. In Nara there are a few, the most popular ones are located right next to each other: Isui-en Garden and Yoshiki-en Garden. Isui-en is much bigger and you have to pay an entrance fee of 900 yen to be able to go inside. I would say paying the fee is worth it, especially in spring and autumn when everything is in color.
On the other hand, Yoshiki-en is completely free of charge for foreign tourists if you show some sort of id. It’s not as large as Isui-en, but there are some cute traditional houses with straw roofs, moss garden, camellia garden, tea room and a little pond. It’s very pretty and not as well known as Isui-en, so there’s a chance that you meet very little other visitors.
CLIMB UP THE MOUNT WAKAKUSA
Mount Wakakusa is a small hill covered in grass standing above the city of Nara. Being only about 350 meters high, it is very easy to climb up and you will be rewarded with an unobstructed view on the city in all its glory! The walking trail starts near Mizutani Shrine close to the Todai-ji temple and you have to pay a small fee to be able to go up, but it’s surely worth it. In early April, many of the cherry blossom trees are in bloom and you can meet some deer along the way, which makes this place perfect for picnic and hangouts.
WALK AROUND KOFUKU-JI TEMPLE COMPOUND
Founded at the beginning of the 8th century, this temple compound consists of several buildings of great historic value, including 5-storey high wooden pagoda, which is in fact the second tallest wooden pagoda in Japan (right after Kyoto’s Toji Temple). The entrance to the complex is free of charge, but if you want to visit the Great Hall or the Museum, you have pay some admission fee.
Kofuku-ji Temple is located close to the Nara Koen Park (as many other temples), so you probably won’t miss this place even if you try. It’s also part of Unesco World Heritage and a great example of ever-present Buddhist culture in Japan.
CHECK OUT THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD NARAMACHI
If you are seeking a little bit of quiet time in otherwise busy Nara Koen, take a walk around Naramachi. It is a traditional neighborhood with many well-preserved shops and old houses, similar to the old town of Kyoto but with less tourists. Naramachi is a mellow place to stroll away from the busy park full of people and hungry deer. If you are interested in how the traditional homes look like from the inside, Koshi-no-Ie residence is open to public and even though the house is not the original, it is an exact replica of typical old Naramachi townhouse from Edo period. The admission is free of charge and you can get some information about this place and Nara in English as well.
EAT TYPICAL SUSHI FROM NARA – KAKINOHA
One of the main things I love about Japan is the fact, that every prefecture has its own specialty on the menu. Just like beef in Kobe, or takoyaki in Osaka, in Nara you should try their special sushi called kakinoha sushi. Kakinoha is usually made with mackerel, it is pressed into cubes, then cut into smaller pieces and served in persimmon leaf that gives it a bit of lemon-y flavour.
TRY FAMOUS YOMOGI MOCHI
Another specialty from Nara is yomogi mochi made with Japanese mugwort, which gives the chewy rice cakes green color. Mugwort may not sound like a delicious treat, but the mochi are actually quite yummy, filled with sweet red azuki beans. To try the best yomogi mochi in Nara, head to Nakanidou food stall, just 5-minute walk from Kintetsu station, where you can also see how the mochi dough is made (they are beating it with big wooden hammers, it’s very interesting and funny to watch).
LEARN ABOUT SAKE IN ONE OF THE MANY BREWERIES
Nara Prefecture can be considered as the birthplace of refined sake and it is home to numerous long-running breweries and sake stores with established history. The very first brewing department was founded here in the 8th century, when Nara was serving as Japan’s capital, and even though back then the sake wasn’t very close to how we know it today, this act started a long tradition of sake brewing in this area.
If you are a fan of sake or not, I think it’s mandatory to try at least one glass when in Japan. For those who truly enjoy this unique liquor, I would recommend joining a sake brewing tour, where you can learn more about the process of making sake and also do some tasting.
WATCH SUNSET FROM NIGATSUDO TEMPLE
Nigatsudo temple is part of the Todai-ji temple complex and it is located on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. From its long wooden balcony it will offer you the most magnificent view over Nara, which is even more magical at sunset. It is simply the perfect place to finish your day in this city.
IN CASE OF RAIN – VISIT NARA NATIONAL MUSEUM
Nara National Museum is a world class museum with the focus on Buddhist art. It is right next to the Nara Koen Park in close proximity to the Kintetsu station. The admission is 520 yen per person, but if you want to visit ever-changing special exhibitions, be prepared to pay bit more. So far I was lucky to visit Nara in (relatively) good weather so I haven’t been inside, but it looks like a cool and spacious museum with some really good ratings.
I simply love Nara. It is compact and walk-able, with amazing historic and religious sites just as important as those in Kyoto. For me, it is an unmissable city when travelling in Japan, not only for its wildlife, but for the great historic value too…
If you are looking for some more inspiration and information about my life in Osaka and visiting nearby places, check my older articles here.
I hope you liked this article and that it gave you some inspiration about what to do in Nara. If you have already visited Japan and this city, what were the sites that you visited here? Have you tried any of the specialties to eat in this region? Please let me know in the comments!
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