Nara Park’s deer and Todai-ji’s Great Buddha, Horyu-ji’s ancient wooden buildings and the mountain temples of Yoshino.
Nara is under an hour from Kyoto or Osaka by train. A day trip covers Nara Park; stay overnight to see it quiet in the morning.
JapaLens editorial guide · Read in about 5 minutesAround 1,300 deer roam the park. Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall is one of the world’s largest wooden buildings, Kasuga Taisha has thousands of lanterns, and Kofuku-ji has a five-storey pagoda.
Deer can bite or butt when they see food: feed only deer crackers and show empty hands when you finish.
Read this area guide →Horyu-ji, founded by Prince Shotoku, has buildings regarded as the oldest surviving wooden structures in the world and was Japan’s first World Heritage site with Himeji Castle.
From JR Horyuji Station, take a bus or walk about 20 minutes.
Read this area guide →Mount Yoshino is famous for some 30,000 cherry trees that bloom in stages up the slopes in April. Kinpusen-ji’s large hall and the pilgrim routes are part of a World Heritage site.
Kintetsu trains run from Osaka Abenobashi to Yoshino; blossom weekends are very crowded.
Read this area guide →An editorial route idea, not a timed tour. Adjust it for weather, opening days and your walking pace.
Todai-ji and the Great Buddha early.
Lunch in the Naramachi old town.
Kasuga Taisha and the deer in Nara Park.
Kofuku-ji pagoda at dusk, then dinner.
Try kakinoha-zushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, Miwa somen noodles, nara-zuke pickles and kudzu sweets.
Stay near Kintetsu-Nara Station or Naramachi to walk to the park early. Many visitors stay in Kyoto or Osaka instead.
Kintetsu trains from Kyoto and Osaka-Namba reach Kintetsu-Nara, close to the park. JR serves JR Nara and Horyuji stations.
