The Best Places to Visit in Nara

Nara Park

Nara Park is one of the most iconic sites in the ancient capital. Perfect for an afternoon stroll, this is where you’ll find the famous deer roaming freely, which visitors can feed with cookies (available for purchase on site for a few hundred yen). 
Be careful, though: although they are accustomed to human presence, they are still wild animals, so caution is advised. 

Nature lovers will enjoy venturing deep into the park, where most visitors don’t go and where the forest takes center stage. 
If you don’t want to walk that far, the Yoshikien and Isuien gardens, which are very close to each other, are perfect for a stroll or a break at a tea house.

In case of extreme heat or bad weather, you’ll find the Nara National Museum at the park entrance, where a collection of statues and ancient artifacts is on display.

The park includes about twenty temples and shrines, the most important of which are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Right next to the park entrance, just a short walk from the Kintetsu Nara Station, stands Kōfuku-ji, one of Japan’s oldest temples.

Deeper in the forest lies the Kasuga-taisha, famous for its hanging lanterns and wisteria, which lend the place a tranquil atmosphere. 

Fans ofomikuji (written fortune slips) will enjoy a visit to Himuro-jinja, where you simply place your slip of paper on a slab of ice to reveal your fortune.

Higashimuki Shopping Street

For a meal at a restaurant, a break at a tea house, or simply to go shopping, the best place is the covered shopping street (shôtengai) on Higashimuki.

Located near Kôfuku-ji Temple, it connects Kintetsu Station to Sanjô-dôri, a historic street once traveled by pilgrims and merchants during the Edo period (1603–1868).

Today, it’s home to many shops, including the famous Nakatanidô pastry shop, which makes its mochi by hand right in front of visitors!

Tōdai-ji Temple

Nara is, of course, known for being home to Tōdai-ji Temple, one of Japan’s most important temples. It is located north of Nara Park and is easily accessible on foot from the park’s entrance. 

Its main hall, the Daibutsuden, houses a large bronze Buddha statue standing 15 meters tall. A must-see in Nara, it is the largest wooden building in the world.

Tōdai-ji is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, and admission is 800 yen.

The palace was gradually abandoned after the capital was moved to Kyoto, and several buildings were lost over the centuries. 

Today, the site is the focus of archaeological excavations and major restoration work.
Although it consists mainly of a park and the ruins of ancient buildings, visitors can admire the Suzaku Gate and the Daigokuden, both of which have been faithfully reconstructed.

Since it isn’t very crowded, it’s a great place for a peaceful stroll during the cherry blossoms!