Nara

Nara is a spectacularly picturesque city that comes second only to Kyoto in terms of the richness and beauty of its temples, shrines, and gardens. While it is possible to visit Nara as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, the beautiful neighborhoods and parks are certainly worth a few days of your time.

Nara is a compact city filled with world-class attractions, including the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todai-ji Temple, the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, and Nara-Koen Park, with its famous tame deer. In this section, I will introduce the main attractions in Nara, starting with my top three must-see sights. Add a few more places to this must-see list, and you will have a great day in Nara.

Things to do/see in Nara.

Todai-ji Temple

Home to the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha), the Todai-ji Temple is a must-see for all visitors to Nara. It is awe-inspiring and moving, and not just one of Nara’s must-see attractions, but one of Japan’s. The focal point of the Todai-ji is the Daibutsu-den (Hall of the Great Buddha), which houses the enormous grandeur of the Daibutsu, a 16-meter-high Buddha that seems to radiate a kind of spiritual energy. Be sure to visit the Nandai-mon Gate, which is a few hundred meters east of the Daibutsu, and once inside the Daibutsu, circle around to the back and view the pillar with the hole in the middle. Children who can squeeze through it are assured of good luck.

Isui-en Garden

Isui-en Garden is considered the most beautiful garden in Nara and one of the favorite gardens in Kansai, central Japan. This spacious garden features a pond and many blooming flowers and trees. Conveniently located on the way from the train stations to Todai-ji Temple, Isui-en is marked by signs at the pedestrian tunnels under Noborioji Street, the main street leading up from the train stations to Nara-Koen Park. Though it costs Y650 to enter, it is worth it. Take the time to stroll through the garden (paths run all the way to the back of the garden). At any time of the year, there is usually something in bloom and you can marvel at the beautiful garden design, which used the shakkei (borrowed scenery) technique to incorporate the roof of Todai-ji Temple into the garden’s background. To make the most of your visit, I recommend ordering a cup of matcha (powdered green tea), which you can enjoy while overlooking the garden.

Kasuga-taisha Shrine

Kasuga-Taisha Shrine is the main Shinto temple in Nara. More than just the buildings of the shrine, Kasuga-Taisha is a mystical world of forests, paths, lanterns, and wandering deer. After visiting Isui-en Garden and Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga-Taisha is the next stop on a tour of Nara-Koen Park. Although the shrine, like most Shinto shrines, centers around a “Honden” (main hall) and a “Haiden” (worshipper’s hall), I consider Kasuga-Taisha to be much more than that. The buildings are just the gateway to the mystical expanse of paths with stone lanterns, atmospheric forests, and of course, the ever-present deer looking for food from visitors. Take the time to stay close to Kasuga-Taisha, but don’t forget to take a relaxing walk along the surrounding paths. This is truly a special world in itself.

Nara-koen Park

Nara Park (Nara-koen) is a large park filled with trees and open spaces that stretches to the east of the center of Nara and Naramachi, all the way to the foot of the hills rising to the east of the city. The park is not so much an attraction in itself, but rather a place that houses many other important attractions, such as the Todai-ji Temple, Isui-en Garden, and the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine. Nara Park has lovely trails and is dotted with ponds, but undoubtedly the most interesting feature of the park, especially for children, is the large population of semi-wild deer that roam through the park. You can purchase a pack of deer crackers (shika sembei) to feed them, but be careful as the deer can be quite aggressive in taking them from your hands, so it’s not recommended for very small children.