Spots in Nara City Area

  • Todaiji Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Pref. Narashi Suimonchou 100
    A museum situated inside the Todaiji Culture Center in Nara City, Nara Prefecture which preserves and displays the treasures of the Todaiji Temple. Through designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, you can learn about the history of the Todaiji and the thinking of the people involved in the temple since its founding, as well as the significance of the Todaiji temple itself. The museum displays a variety of sculptures, calligraphy works, and handicrafts by era, including Nikko and Gakko Bosatsu Ritsuzo (standing statues of Suryaprabha and Candraprabha), designated National Treasures; and an Important Cultural Property-designated Senju Kannon Bosatsu standing figure of a thousand-armed Kannon. The museum also holds special exhibitions.
  • Neiraku Art Museum
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    3.0
    14 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Nara-shi Suimoncho 74

    The main attraction are the gardens. The museum is just a complement with a very small collection. We entered the place to avoid the rain and it was just ok.

  • Heijo Palace Site First Daigokuden
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Sakichou
    This stands approximately 800 meters due north of Suzakumon (Suzaku Gate), the main entrance to Heijo Palace, with the front being about 44 meters, the sides about 20 meters, and a height of approximately 27 meters. This is Heijo Palace’s largest palace with 44 vermilion-colored columns 70-centimeter in diameter and utilizing approximately 97,000 roof tiles. Ceremonies were held here in the past such as the Emperor of Japan’s enthronement and ceremonies to welcome foreign delegations. It was restored in 2010, the year of the 1,300th anniversary of Nara Heijokyo Capital.
  • Nara City Museum of Calligraphy in Honour of Kason Sugioka
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    3.5
    11 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Nara-shi Wakidocho 3
    This art museum is located in Wakido-cho, Nara City. Dedicated to calligraphic art, the museum was established with a donation of works of art by Kason Sugioka, a Nara-born calligrapher and master of kana calligraphy. The museum holds calligraphic art exhibitions throughout the year, with special exhibitions in the spring and fall and exhibitions of items in its collection in summer and winter. The museum also holds lectures and courses.

    書道の美術館て、やっぱり難しいなあと思います。東京の書道博物館以来だけど、どう楽しんだらいいかわからない…

  • Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties Nara Palace Site Museum
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    4.5
    3 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Sakicho
    This museum adjoins Heijo Palace in Saki-cho, Nara City. Beloved by locals, the museum provides easy to understand information on Heijo Palace as well as research results from the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Visitors can learn about the history of Heijo Palace based on over 60 years' of research conducted by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.

    当時の食事の内容やどのような遊びをしたか分かります。こんな食事食べてみたいななんて感じてしまいました。無料で入館できます。

  • Koninji Temple
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    4.5
    8 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Kokuzocho 46
    This Buddhist temple is located in Kokuzo-cho, Nara City. There are various theories regarding exactly how and when the temple was founded, but regardless records indicate it was established in the early Heian period. The temple was once used as a training dojo by the Todaiji temple and possessed many structures, but most of these were lost to fire during the Waring States period. The temple's current structures were rebuilt in the Edo period. Each year on April 13, 13-year-olds come here to pray to the temple's statue of Akasagarbha to ward away the unluckiness of this age in a tradition called the Jusan Mairi.

    奈良市虚空蔵町にある「弘仁寺」へ訪問しました。 虚空蔵山の山腹にある寺院です。十三詣りで有名です。 境内は、とても静かで、正月の参拝客もまばらで落ち着けました。

  • Tamura Seihoen
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    4.0
    8 Reviews
    Shopping
    Nara Pref. Narashi Shounamichou 18
    This tea shop is located in a prime example of a traditional Nara townhouse that happens to be registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. The shop offers a number of varieties of Nara's Yamato tea, including gyokuro, sencha, hojicha, and bancha. Yamato tea, which refers to tea harvested in the Yamato Highlands, is known for its savory flavor. The name of cha-gayu (rice gruel cooked in tea) made by monks of Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple with Yamato tea is known as Yamato no Cha-gayu.

    こちらでは過去《ほうじ茶》と《かりがね焙じ茶》を購入し、こちらの茶を妻ともども気に入っており [春日庵]の《かき氷》と《さつま焼き》を楽しむ為に[ならまち]訪問機会に こちらに立ち寄りました。今回は《かりがね焙じ茶 100g 500円税込》に加え《抹茶入りかりがね玄米茶 100g...

  • Nara City Kitamachi Tegaimon Tourist Information Center
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    4.0
    8 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Tegaicho 54-1

    国宝の東大寺転外門のすぐそばにある観光案内所。この辺りは、観光客のメインルートではないのだが、なぜかここに案内所がある。この建物はかつての南都銀行手貝支店で、昭和47年に移転されるまで現役だったというから驚き。

  • Kitemite Nara Shop
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    4.0
    7 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 38-1 Nara Prefectural Commerce and Tourism Museum 1F
    This is a specialty product store on the first floor of the Nara Prefecture Commerce and Industry Tourism Building along National Route 369 and a two-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. They sell an extensive selection of special products of the region such as traditional handicraft including Nara writing brushes and blade engraving, and foodstuffs including Yoshinokuzu and Narazuke (vegetables pickled in sake lees). In the Hometown Product Corner they display and sell goods from individual towns and villages and the goods change every two weeks. In the Artisan Corner they hold events including handicraft experiences.

    結構、大きな物産館だ。場所が近鉄奈良駅の道を挟んで北側にある奈良県商工観光館の一階にあり、利便性も高い。商品ラインナップも幅広く、工芸品、食品、雑貨などが県内各地から取り揃えられている。

  • Nara Prefectural Office Rooftop Garden
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    4.5
    6 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Nara-shi Noboriojicho 30
    This garden is situated on the roof of the Nara Prefectural Office situated on National Route 369 in Noborioji-cho, Nara City. Open to the general public, visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of the surrounding scenery, including downtown Nara City and the mountains of the Nara Basin. The garden is also open at night during events such as the Nara Tokae Lantern Festival, the Nara Daimonji Okuribi, and the Mt. Wakakusa Yamayaki.

    エレベーターで上がれる広場の更に上に階段でしか行けないけど、展望スペースがあります。特に案内が書かれているわけでは無いので、少し分かり難いかもしれません。 昼休みの時間帯は、広場も展望スペースも職員さん達が思い思いに時間を過ごしています。

  • Isuien Garden & Neiraku Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    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.
  • Yoshikien Garden
    Leisure / Hobbies
    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.
  • Suzaku Gate
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Sakichou
    This gate located inside Nara Place Site Historical Park features a same two-tier iriomoya (gabled and hipped) roof. This reproduction built in 1998 is roughly 25 meters wide and 20 meters. Great care was taken to preserve its traditional wood construction by integrating newer building methods developed in the Japanese middle ages and early modern period based on the assumption that the building has existed since the Nara period. The majesty and authority exuded by this main palace gate is sure to inspire images in those days.
  • Nara City Tourist Information Center
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Sanjouhonmachi Northeastern Nara station 1082JR
    A tourist information center near Nara Station housed within the former station building built in 1934. As well as searching for things to do on the tablet devices, there are baggage storage facilities, multifunctional toilets, a nursing room and a cafe. It’s a convenient first stop for tourists from abroad with language support in English, Chinese and Korean, foreign exchange machines and a prayer room.
  • Gokoin Temple
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    4.5
    5 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Kitamikadochou 24
    This temple of the Kegon sect is located in Kitamikado Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. The main object of worship is the “Gokoshiyui Amitabha,” said to have been brought from China and famous for its spiral-like hair, which resembles a wig. It is said to represent him neglecting to cut his hair due to his devotion to meditation and cogitation in order to fulfill the “48 Vows.” It is ordinarily hidden from the public and is only shown in early August. Reservations are required to enter the temple.

    短期間に二度目の参拝です。今回は事前に了解を求めた上での参拝なので、前回のような門前でさようなら、と云うことはありませんでした。目的の涅槃図や仏像は来年2月に一週間だけ特別公開されるとのことでした。

  • Yakushiji Temple Yasumigaoka Hachimangu
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    3.5
    6 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Nishinokyouchou 457
    The Yasumigaoka Hachimangu shrine which protects Yakushiji Temple was ceremonially transferred along with its tutelary deity from Usa District in Oita Prefecture to its current location sometime between 889 and 898. The main hall and side halls were built on slightly elevated, stacked stone platforms. The sitting room located in the west side of the front yard, although heavily restored over the years, was built at nearly the same time as the main shrine in 1603, making it an historical and cultural heritage site.

    薬師寺花会式の賑やかな法要の声を背にして、南門を抜けて「休ケ岡八幡宮」に参詣しました。観光客が戻った薬師寺と打って変わって、広前には誰一人いませんでした。 参道は時あたかも桜満開、青年二人が近鉄線と桜のコラボを撮るために三脚を立てていました。 長閑な南都、春たけなわの西ノ京でした。2023/3/27

  • Mahoroba Daibutsu Purin Honpo (Todai-ji Temple Yume-Kaze Plaza Shop)
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    4.0
    23 Reviews
    Gourmet / Alcohol
    Nara Pref. Narashi Kasuganochou 16 Todaiji Temple Maemae Yumeizaka Hiroba Monza Market
    This confectionary makes each and every one of their puddings by hand using generous amounts of ingredients sourced locally from Nara. The puddings, which come in glass jars, are popular for the cute designs of their lids. Their various seasonal puddings, such as mahoroba (splendid place) Daibutsu pudding rolls, and their soft-serve ice cream made with Daibutsu pudding are also quite popular.

    今回テレビで特集されていたのを見て訪れました。多くのお客さんで賑わっており、確かな人気度を感じました。手作りのプリンは格別でした。

  • NARA KINGYO MUSEUM
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Nara-shi Nijoojiminami 1-3-1
  • Imanishi-ke Shoin
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    4.0
    5 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Fukuchinchou 24-3
    The former residence of the Fukuchuin family, who were the family priests of the Kofuku-ji Daijo-in Temple. In 1924, the Imanishi family, the owners of the renowned Harushika Sake Brewery, inherited it. A very rare extant example of shoin-zukuri architecture from the early Muromachi period, the complex is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. There is a tea room inside the building where visitors can enjoy matcha green tea, seasonal sweets, and ice cream made with sake lees.

    静かな町の路地にあります 家族3人で行きましたが、我が家以外誰もおらず落ち着いて見学できました。 今西さんの奈良漬けのファンです。

  • Shika no fune
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    4.0
    5 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Pref. Narashi Inouechou 11
    Shika no fune is a facility situated in Inoue Town, Nara City, made up of Mayu, a tourism information center for south Nara; Kamado, a restaurant and grocery store, and Saezuri, a tea room and gallery. Ikebana and tea ceremony workshops, etc. are also held at the tourist information center, and in the reading room visitors can browse up to about 800 books. The restaurant serves set meals of rice cooked with firewood in a Japanese traditional oven, and they sell all sorts of food which goes well with rice. The tea room offers sweets, snacks, drinks, and a meal menu offering things like pasta, etc.

    奈良町南觀光案內所「鹿之舟」是一棟兩層樓木造房屋,位在奈良町南端入口,巴士站「田中町」下車就到了。除了觀光資中心功能外,還有餐廳、咖啡廳、展示室、讀書室、各種講座,也可以租腳踏車。

Nara Areas

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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 Photo Album

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