Steeped in history and natural beauty, Nara is famous for its iconic deer park, ancient temples, and tranquil ambience. It is a great place to spend a serene day or a weekend getaway, close to the bustling urban centres of Osaka and Kyoto. With well-maintained tourist facilities, including foreigner-friendly information centres and multilingual signage, navigating Nara is a breeze. If you are planning a visit and want to experience the city’s rich history and natural beauty, read on to know the best places and things to do in Nara.
One of the most beautiful destinations in Japan, Nara’s most famous attraction is Nara Park, home to hundreds of friendly deer that roam freely. The city also boasts a wealth of historical and cultural treasures, including the majestic Todaiji Temple, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the Nara National Museum, and more. Let’s explore Nara!
The best time to visit Nara
With every season, Nara has something exciting to offer visitors. Spring brings pleasant weather and majestic cherry blossoms decorating parks and streets. In Autumn, visitors can enjoy the vibrant fall foliage around Todaiji Temple, Hasedera Temple, Tanzan Jinja Shrine, Murouji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Winter is relatively more peaceful and less crowded compared to spring and autumn. While summer is hot and humid in Nara, it’s the perfect time to attend the Nara Tokae Lantern Festival and spot young fawns at Nara Park. It all depends on the experience you’re seeking.
Top things to do in Nara
Spend an afternoon at Nara Park
A serene oasis, Nara Park is a must-visit for any traveller to Nara. Here, you’ll encounter the iconic friendly deer roaming freely. One of the most popular things to do in Nara is feeding these gentle creatures with special deer crackers called “shika senbei”. These crackers can be purchased within the park, and it’s important to note that feeding the deer any other food is strictly prohibited. Beyond the deer, Nara Park also boasts beautiful gardens like the Isuien Garden and Yoshikieny.
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Take a picture near Kofuku-ji Temple
The iconic Kofuku-ji Temple is a 2-minute walk from Nara Park. Opposite the temple stands a five-story Pagoda. If you are interested in photography, history, and architecture, this is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Nara.
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Pay respects to the giant Buddha at the Todai-ji Temple
In the northern part of Nara Park, you will find Todaiji Temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to one of Japan’s tallest Buddha statues (Daibutsu). The Buddha statue is made from bronze and stands 49.2 ft tall. If you are interested in Japanese history and architecture, visit this place.
Stroll around Naramachi
Right next to Nara Park is Naramachi, the best place for shopping for local souvenirs, arts and crafts, ceramic pieces, and sake and feasting on sweets and small bites. There are plenty of old, traditional Japanese houses and architecture worth exploring. Naramachi Museum is also nearby, where you can learn about Nara’s history.
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Next up is Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Walk 10 minutes from Naramachi, and you will arrive at Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine. Famous for its bronze and stone lanterns, they create a magical atmosphere when lit up. One of the top places to visit in Nara, the shrine has bright vermillion red columns, roofs made from hinoki cypress, and white walls. It’s also common to encounter wild deer here.
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Taste Nara’s iconic sweet treats
One of the things you must do in Nara is treat yourself to the Mahoroba Daibutsu pudding. They come in many delicious flavours like matcha, chocolate, sake, cheesecake, and plain custard. If you’re craving freshly made Japanese rice cakes (mochi), the best place to satisfy your tastebuds is at Nakatanidou near Naramachi. You may even catch their dramatic mochi-pounding performance if you’re lucky!
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Attend a tea ceremony at Jikoin Temple
Jikoin Temple is one of the best places to visit in Nara, where visitors can participate in a Japanese tea ceremony, learn how to prepare matcha tea and enjoy traditional sweets. The best part about this temple is its location. Come here to enjoy a bowl of warm matcha and admire the temple’s lush greenery, stone-paved paths, and manicured gardens.
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Hike to Mount Wakakusa
This moderately challenging hiking trail to Mount Wakakusa takes about 2-hours to complete. Upon reaching the summit, visitors can get a panoramic view of Nara City and its temples. If you’re visiting in late January, you can witness an annual event from afar called ‘Wakakusa Yamayaki’. It’s a centuries-old ritual where the grass on the mountain’s hillside is set on fire.
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The best restaurants in Nara
You will be spoiled for choice with the numerous restaurants along Naramachi shopping street, Higashimuki shopping street and Nara station. For authentic and delicious Japanese food, visit Tsunofuri Izakaya in Naramachi. If you’re craving premium quality yakiniku (grilled meat), NikusyouTomio in Geihinkan will satisfy your belly and taste buds. For seafood lovers (especially crabs), you will have a feast at Kani Douraku in Saikujocho.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The weekend or 3-4 days is a good time to spend in Nara. However, a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka would also work well if you have a tight schedule.
Since Nara is a compact city, you can rely on public transport like taxis and buses. For short distances, you can walk or rent a bicycle.
Late October to Early December is the best time to see fall foliage in Nara.
Yes, it's an ideal destination for families because it is safe, foreigner-friendly, and surrounded by nature.
Nara is more of a cultural and historical destination than an adventurous one. Popular outdoor activities include hiking, trekking, wildlife photography, and relaxing night strolls.
Nara has a few hidden gems like Yoshikien Garden, Mt. Yoshino, Naramachi Mechanical Toy Museum, Harushika Brewery, and Shin Yakushiji Temple.
The quickest way to reach Nara from Kyoto is by taking the Kintetsu Limited Express Vista Car from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station. From Osaka, take the Kintetsu-Nara Line Rapid-Express from Tsuruhashi Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station.
The best places to visit in Nara for cherry blossom viewing are Heijo Temple, Nara Park, Koriyama Castle Ruins, and Wakakusayama. If you have time to spare, make a trip to Mt. Yoshino in either late March or early April. Around 30,000 sakura trees of 200 varieties reach peak bloom during this time.
When in Nara, do try the Kakinoha-zushi (permission leaf sushi), Chagayu (green tea porridge), Narazuke (pickles), somen noodles (wheat flour noodles), and tenri ramen (spicy ramen noodles).
The best historical places to visit in Nara are Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, the Nara National Museum, Yakushi-ji Temple and Kasugayama Primeval Forest.
Written By
Sharon Alphonso
Sharon is from Mumbai and currently lives in Tokyo with her Japanese husband. Before moving to Japan, ..Read More
