The historic city of Nara, Japan is located less than an hour away by train from its much larger neighboring cities, Kyoto and Osaka. A popular destination for day trips, this small metropolis is known for its free-roaming deer and tea production. Also home to eight major historic temples, shrines and heritage sites, you’ll be sure to have a culturally-packed visit.
Things To Do
Visit the Bowing Deer at Nara Park
Travelers flock to Nara Park to interact with the approximate 1,400 deer that call this land their home. Vendors around town sell bundles of deer crackers for $1.30 (200 yen) that visitors can feed to the animals. The best part? The deer have discovered that in order to receive a cracker, they must bow their head. Although most of the deer are accustomed to humans and are generally mellow, I learned quickly not to stand in one spot for too long. I ended up with noses sniffing around in my pockets and even got a bump on the backside!
Shop at Higashimuki Shopping Street
Linked to the Kintetsu-Nara Station is Higashimuki Shopping Street. This covered shopping arcade is packed with over 70 eateries, retailers and souvenir shops. Dining ranges from high-end Japanese cuisine to budget-friendly options like McDonald’s. With everything from law offices and banks to jewelry stores and eyeglass emporiums, this shopping center has it all.
Temples and Shrines
Kohfukuji Temple
Once a part of the Seven Great Temples in Nara, Kōfuku-ji is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. Among the spacious grounds are a five and three-story pagoda, Central Golden Hall and many other smaller halls. The current Central Golden Hall was reconstructed in 2018, as the original was destroyed in a fire in 1717. Hours of visitation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an entry fee of $4.59 (¥700).
Kasugataisha Shrine
Kasugataisha is the most celebrated Shinto shrine in Nara. It is most famous for its decoration of hundreds of hanging bronze lanterns. Visiting the offering hall is free of charge, but visitors can pay $4.74 (¥700) for a closer look at the shrine’s inner sacred buildings. The grounds include the Main Sanctuary, Shinen Manyo Botanical Garden, Kasuga Taisha Museum and many other halls and cloisters. My personal favorite is Fujinami-no-ya Hall – a small, dark hall filled with illuminated hanging lanterns.
Tōdai-ji Nigatsu-dō Temple
Just one of the many parts of the greater Tōdai-ji Temple, Nigatsu-dō offers unbeatable views from the top as the sun sets beyond the horizon and the lanterns illuminate. It’s best known for Omizutori, a fire and water ceremony held annually on March 12.
Tōdai-ji covers a massive area with Great Buddha Hall at its epicenter. The grounds include many other small halls, the Tōdai-ji Head Office, Tōdai-ji Museum and Nandai-mon, or the Great South Gate. There are both free and paid areas of the temple. Those that charge an entry fee of $5.43 (¥800) are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dining
Rokumei Coffee Co is a spacious, simplistic coffee shop located downtown Nara. Less than a five minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station, this is the perfect spot to grab a coffee as you begin your adventures. Their menu provides a variety of hot and cold beverages as well as pastries like scones and croissants.
Kamukura was an easy option for a quick afternoon snack. Centrally located on Higashimukai Shopping Street, it is a 5 minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station. I opted for a plate of grilled gyoza, but the chain is well-known for serving ramen.
Transportation
To get to Nara from Kyoto Station or Ōsaka Namba Station, simply take one of the many train routes that run between the cities. Note: If you’re taking the limited express between Kyoto and Nara, you will need to purchase an additional ticket for that train. Kintetsu-Nara Station is where you’ll want to end your ride, as it is the closest distance to the city’s popular areas.
Nara’s extensive bus network runs specific routes for tourists to reach popular attractions. There are 1 and 2-day buss passes available for purchase or you can pay per ride using the “tap” method as you get on and off the bus.
I walked almost everywhere, as many of the outskirts of the temples and shrines connect to each other. I also carried around deer crackers in my pockets to feed the deer along the way, which was more motivation to travel by foot. Be sure to pack a good pair of tennis shoes. I’d recommend my favorite pair of Skechers. They’re affordable, comfortable and come in so many cute colors!
Interacting with the deer of Nara was my absolute favorite activity during my visit to Japan. I’ve truly never experienced anything like it. The charming landscapes around the temples and shrines provide a calming atmosphere to their visitors. I’d highly recommend adding this magical city to the top of your destination bucket list.
Love Always.
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