Travel Plans
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- Cycle around historic Asuka Village in Nara
![Cycle around historic Asuka Village in Nara]()
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- Asuka Village, the center of Japan 1,400 years ago, is still dotted with temples and ancient tombs, giving visitors a sense of time eternal. Bicycle through the tranquil countryside and enjoy the view of history and nature intertwined.
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- A cherry blossom viewing tour around Mt. Yoshino in Nara
![A cherry blossom viewing tour around Mt. Yoshino in Nara]()
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- Mt. Yoshino, a whole mountain covered in pink. A characteristic of Yoshino’s cherry blossom viewing area is the length of the season, beginning to bloom at the foot of the mountain, to Shimosenbon, Nakasenbon, Kamisenbon, and Okusenbon. Enjoy cherry-blossom viewing from the top to the bottom, unique to Yoshino, and where visitors can view the cherry blossoms while hiking all day.
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- Walk around Kitamachi and Naramachi in Nara
![Walk around Kitamachi and Naramachi in Nara]()
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- In the city of Nara you should visit two main areas: Kitamachi, on the north side of Kintestsu Nara Station and Naramachi, close to Nara Park. Start a walking tour of these two areas from Kasuga Taisha Shrine, explore classic and modern sightseeing spots, and enjoy the unique cuisine.
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Travel Guide
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Best Events
Top Things to do
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- Nara National Museum
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![Nara National Museum]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 50
- This is a museum which opened in Nara City in 1895. The “Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall (in the main building)” which was designed by the court architect, Katayama Tokuma is a Western-style architectural structure from the Meiji period and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. There are four exhibition halls in the museum, with the museum’s collection focusing on Japanese Buddhist art from the Asuka period up until the Kamakura period. In addition, a great number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are among the artifacts held and exhibited at the museum. The museum is famous for opening an exhibition of “Shosoin-ten” (Exhibition of Shosoin Treasures) in Autumn every year.
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- Kohfukuji Temple
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![Kohfukuji Temple]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 48
- This is a temple located in Nara City. Yamashina-dera Temple has its origin as a temple that was established in Kyoto in 669 by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari. The temple was destroyed by fires many times and was rebuilt, after which it ended up similar to temple ruins during the anti-Buddhist movement in the Meiji period, although the Tokon-do Hall, the five-storied pagoda, the Hokuen-do Hall and the three-storied pagoda which survived have been designated as National Treasures. The five-storied pagoda which is illuminated at night-time has become a symbol of Nara. There are also many Buddhist images enshrined at the temple which have been designated as National Treasures and Cultural Assets such as the Ashura statue.
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- Isuien Garden & Neiraku Museum
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![Isuien Garden & Neiraku Museum]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Suimonchou 74
- This is the only “chisen-kaiyu-shiki teien” or pond strolling garden in Nara City, Isuien Garden consists of two gardens built during the Edo period and the Meiji period. Its appeal lies in the fact that you can comfortably appreciate the Nara-like landscape in a peaceful location with Tōdai-ji’s Great South Gate, Mt. Wakakusa, Mt. Kasugaokuyama and Mt. Mikasa. The Neiraku Museum which is located within the park holds and exhibits fine art such as antique Chinese bronzeware, and Chinese, Korean and Japanese ceramics and porcelain.
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- Yoshikien Garden
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![Yoshikien Garden]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou
- This is a Japanese-style garden and a Place of Scenic Beauty within Nara which sits adjacent to Isuien Park. It is said that it was built on the site of a branch temple of Kofukuji Temple, Manishuin Temple. You can enjoy the three aspects of the garden; the pond garden, the moss garden and the tea ceremony garden with Mt. Kasuga and Mt. Wakakusa as a backdrop. The former Shohoin family residence and the separate tearooms within the garden have been designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of Nara Prefecture. In Autumn, the fall colored leaves which flutter down into the moss garden create a beautiful scene. Advance reservation is necessary to use the tearooms.
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- Tōdai-ji
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![Tōdai-ji]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1
- This temple which is located in Nara City is the head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. The principal object of worship at the temple is Vairocana-Buddha which has become a symbol of Nara and is known as “Nara’s Big Buddha”. Emperor Shomu issued a decree to construct the Great Buddha in 743, and in order to enshrine that Great Buddha, Tōdai-ji was constructed using all the nation’s power. National Treasures such as the Nandaimon (Great South Gate), Daibutsuden (the Great Buddha), the bell tower and the Hokke-do Hall are dotted throughout the grounds of the temple. It is known internationally as a Japanese sightseeing spot with many foreign tourists also visiting the temple.
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- Great South Gate
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![Great South Gate]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1 in the Todaiji Temple
- This is the main gate of Tōdai-ji in Nara City and has been designated as a National Treasure. The original gate was destroyed by a typhoon in 962, and the present gate was rebuilt in the Kamakura period. It is Japan’s largest temple gate reaching a height of 25.46 meters. There are 18 giant pillars up to the roof, and in the lower section of the gate, the back of the roof structure has no ceiling—so it is famous as the architectural structure which houses the Great Buddha.
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- Great Buddha Hall
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![Great Buddha Hall]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1 in the Todaiji Temple
- The “Tōdai-ji” Buddhist temple located in Nara City is a National Treasure of Japan. It is the largest architectural structure on the grounds, and was built to enshrine the seated statue of Rushanabutsu which is the principal image of worship and is known as “the Great Buddha of Nara”. The Rushanabutsu statue is a copper structure which stands at an approximate height of 14.7 meters, and one section which was built during the Tempyo period has survived. From New Year’s Eve until New Year’s Day, an observation window on the front of the Kara Hafu (literally, Tang gable) is opened and you can see the Great Buddha’s face from outside.
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- Nigatsu-do
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![Nigatsu-do]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 406-1 in the Todaiji Temple
- This is a Buddhist temple within the Tōdai-ji grounds in Nara City, and has been designated as a Japanese National Treasure. The famous event of “Omizutori (lit. Taking water) (Shuni-e lit. Second-Month Service)” is traditionally held here in early Spring. At present, the event is held in March of the lunar calendar but formerly it was held in February, due to Japan’s old lunisolar calendar—therefore it is the origin of the name, Nigatsu-do (lit. second month hall). The temple has two eleven faced Kannon Goddess of Mercy statues enshrined as principal objects of worship although no one can see them as they are unconditionally Buddhist images withheld from public view.
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- Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine
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![Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine]()
- Nara Pref. Narashi Zoushichou 434
- This is a shrine in Nara City. It is located in Tamukeyama which is famous as a beauty spot for its autumnal leaves, and it is built to the north of Tōdai-ji’s Hokke-do Hall (also called “Sangastu-do Hall”). Its origins lie in the summoning and enshrinement secured from Kyoto’s Usa Hachimangu Shrine which were the deities summoned to protect Tōdai-ji on the occasion of Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha being built. The ancient log house structure of the treasure house was relocated from the master’s warehouse from Tōdai-ji’s oil storehouse in the Nara period, and it is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Also housed on the grounds of the temple are such a National Treasure as a “Chinese-style ritual saddle” and an Important Cultural Property like a “21 wooden bugaku theatre mask”.
Main Area
What is Nara?
With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of “traditional Japan.” The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.
Nara Overviews
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
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- Warm Cloth
- Feb
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- Warm Cloth
- Mar
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- Warm Cloth
- Apr
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- Jacket
- May
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- Long
- Jun
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- Long
- Jul
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- Short
- Aug
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- Short
- Sep
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- Long
- Oct
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- Long
- Nov
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- Jacket
- Dec
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- Warm Cloth
Based on the Meteorological Agency "past weather data", created NAVITIME
Getting Around
Just 33 kilometers east of Osaka and 38 kilometers south of Kyoto, Nara Station is an easy 50-minute train ride on the JR Osaka Loop Line and 46 minutes on the Nara Line from Kyoto. Hiking in Yoshino is best done as a day trip from Kyoto for 2,550 yen round trip: Take the Kintetsu Limited Express, change at Kashiharajingu-Mae Station and disembark at Yoshino Station, where you can enter the Shimo Senbon (lower area) of Mount Yoshino.
