Nara Trip Tips

History & culture

Nara Prefecture flourished as the capital of Japan during the Nara Period (8th century), and has a history that is older than that of Kyoto, with traditional landscapes throughout the city.

• Heijokyo: The capital of Japan, relocated in 710.
• Todaiji Temple: A representative temple of the Nara period and one of the largest wooden structures in the world.
• Kasuga Taisha: This shrine enshrines the Fujiwara clan’s clan deity and features a vermilion-lacquered tower gate.
• Nara Park: A vast park with many temples and shrines, including Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Deer are allowed to roam free.

Todaiji Temple

It is a representative temple of the Nara period and one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The Great Buddha, a national treasure, is available for viewing. It is said to have been built in the hope that all people would be happy.

Todaiji Temple  

Nara Park

Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Shosoin Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and other representative Buddhist temples of Nara Prefecture are located in this Nara Park. The park is quite extensive, and wild deer roam freely. You can feed the deer and take pictures.

Kohfukuji Temple

It is a representative temple of the Nara period and features a five-story pagoda. The five-story pagoda, illuminated during cherry blossom season and at night, is very beautiful and gives visitors a sense of Japanese tradition.

Kohfukuji Temple  

Shosoin Temple

Shosoin is always mentioned in Japanese textbooks. It is said to be the terminus of the Silk Road, and housed a large number of items imported from other countries. The Shosoin is open for tours only on weekdays, and is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during the year-end and New Year holidays (December 28-January 4).  

Shosoin Temple  

Nara National Museum

The museum houses approximately 1,800 works of art and archeological artifacts related to Buddhism. Since it is located in Nara Park, many tourists stop by the Nara National Museum while touring Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Shosoin Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and other temples.

Nara National Museum  

Kaki no ha Sushi

Oshizushi is pressed sushi topped with salted mackerel fillets and wrapped in persimmon leaves, and is rare throughout Japan and unique to Nara. It is said that in the old days, sushi was wrapped in persimmon leaves and transported so that it would not spoil, so that even people in mountainous areas could eat the sushi. Kaki leaves are not edible.

Miwa Somen

Somen noodles are hand-stretched noodles produced in the Miwa region of Nara. The noodles are extremely thin and delicate looking, but they are firm and satisfying. There are many different types of noodles in Japan, so we hope you will find a noodle dish to your liking.

Chagayu

It is made by boiling rice in hojicha tea. Usually rice porridge is boiled in water, but Nara’s tea porridge uses hojicha tea. It is rich in dietary fiber and is effective in preventing constipation.  It is known as a healthy food that has been handed down for 1,300 years.

Nara-zuke

Nara-zuke is a pickle originated in Nara Prefecture, where vegetables are pickled in salt and then marinated in sake lees for a long time. White melon, eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, radish, etc. are used. It is also a standard souvenir. Please try a sample at a store.

Persimmon

Nara Prefecture is famous for its persimmon production. Wakayama Prefecture, a neighboring prefecture, ranks first in Japan in terms of harvest, while Nara Prefecture ranks second. Since both Nara and Wakayama prefectures are neighbors, the harvest is high in both prefectures due to their similar climates. The best time to eat persimmons is in autumn, when they are rich and sweet.

Tenri Ramen

This ramen is unique to this region of Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. There are many different types of ramen unique to the region in Japan, but this Tenri ramen is a stimulating, spicy, vegetable-flavored ramen that is sure to give you stamina. It is not available outside of Tenri City, so if you can find it, please try it.

Nara Pilgrimage Routes

One of the pleasures of visiting Nara is its natural environment. The pilgrimage path passes through sacred mountains and ancient forests. Narrow and steep, it can be a challenging hike, much like the Santiago pilgrimage route.

Nara Pilgrimage Routes  

Nara Sightseeing Bus Tour

Tours of Nara with local guides are available for visitors to learn more about the history and culture of the city.

Nara Kotsu Bus  

Deer cracker experience

You can feed rice crackers to the adorable deer in Nara Park and interact with them.

Tea House Experience

Would you like to experience a real tea ceremony in Nara Prefecture, the birthplace of the tea ceremony? Some places offer a tea ceremony experience that does not require sitting on the floor, so you can experience it casually.

• kissa koan  
• Nara Ikaruga Tourism Waikaru  

Tour of power spots

There are many shrines in Nara Prefecture that offer magical powers, and people from all over Japan visit these shrines to make their wishes come true.

The following shrines are particularly popular as power spots in Nara Prefecture.

• Kasuga Taisha Shrine  
• Todaiji Temple  
• Daian Temple  
• Yakushi Temple  
• Horyu-ji Temple  
• Ishijo Jingu Shrine  
• Omikami Shrine  
• Hase Temple  
• Tenkawa daizaibentensya Shrine  

Spring

• Cherry blossoms: Tunnels of cherry blossoms and beautiful scenery can be enjoyed throughout the prefecture, including Nara Park and Yoshinoyama.
• Strawberry Picking: Strawberries produced in Nara Prefecture include “Aska Ruby,” “Akihime,” and “Kotoka. Kotoka is a new variety of strawberry bred in Nara Prefecture and registered as a variety in 2011. Visitors can enjoy picking sweet and sour strawberries in spring.

Summer

• River Fun: Visitors can enjoy playing in the water and barbecuing while feeling cool in rivers such as the Yoshino River and the Yamato River.
• Stargazing: Nara Prefecture’s clean air makes it an ideal place for astronomical observation.

Autumn

• Autumn Foliage: Visitors can enjoy the gradation of autumn leaves in Nara Park, Wakakusa Mountain, and other places in the prefecture.
• Persimmon Sweets Tour: Nara Prefecture produces the largest amount of persimmons in Japan, and in autumn visitors can enjoy sweets made with sweet and juicy persimmons.

Winter

• Onsen: You can warm up at historical and traditional hot spring resorts such as Yoshino Onsen and Totsukawa Onsen.
• Nara Park Illumination: Nara Park transforms into an illumination spot in winter. Come and experience the sight of Nara Park that can only be seen in winter.

Festival

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri

The annual Kasuga Taisha Festival is held over several days, mainly on December 17, and offers a spectacular procession and rituals.

HeijoKyo tempyo festival

Held annually in spring, summer, and fall, the parade is a historical picture scroll experience with people dressed in Nara-period costumes.

HeijoKyo tempyo festival   

Traditional Crafts

Nara fude (brushes)

Nara produces the largest amount of brushes in Japan, and visitors can observe traditional brush making and make their own brushes.

Akahada-yaki

This pottery is unique to Nara Prefecture and is made at the foot of Mount Akahada, and is warm and inviting. There are four kilns in Nara City and two in Yamatokoriyama City. The pottery is both practical and almost artistic.

Airplane

You can go from Haneda Airport to Osaka International Airport and then take a train to Nara Station, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We do not recommend flying from Tokyo as it is not time efficient.

Shinkansen

From Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto Station, and from there take the train to Nara Station, which takes about 40 minutes. This is the most common way to get there.

Railway

Japan’s transportation network is so convenient that you can access anywhere in the country without using the Shinkansen. It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Nara Station by limited express train. Some people dare to enjoy traveling by local train.

Express Bus

You can reach Nara Station by highway bus from Tokyo Station in about 8 hours. If you take a bus that departs late at night, you can arrive while you sleep, but be sure to choose a bus with spacious seats. It is difficult to move around and fatigue can set in. Express buses are the most reasonable transportation option.