Nara

Name: Nara
Address: JP

One of Japan's oldest capitals: World Heritage temples like Todai-ji's Great Buddha, Kasuga Taisha and Kofuku-ji's pagoda, with wild deer roaming Nara Park. An easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

Travel videos from Nara

Videos belong to their respective creators

Nara — cinematic short film 4K

▶ Yoshi Vision

World Heritage City Nara 4K

▶ 奈良観光チャンネル

Nara in spring — cherry blossom 4K

▶ Piano Odyssey 4K

Nara Park in autumn with the deer

▶ Japan Animal Trail

Another side of Nara

▶ Sol Life

Top spots

1
Tōdai-ji
World Heritage temple home to the ~15m Great Buddha; its wooden hall is among the largest in the world.
2
Nara Park (deer)
A vast park where ~1,000 wild deer roam — the gateway to Nara's major temples and shrines.
3
Kasuga Taisha
A World Heritage shrine famed for vermilion halls and thousands of lanterns, set in a sacred forest.
4
Kōfuku-ji
World Heritage temple with Nara's iconic five-story pagoda, just west of Nara Park.
5
Tanzan Shrine
A mountain shrine south of the city, known for its wooden thirteen-story pagoda and autumn foliage.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons

About Nara

🦌 Best season: Cherry blossoms in early April, autumn leaves in late November; the deer are there year-round. Hot summers, cold but rarely snowy winters.
🚆 Getting there: ~45 min by Kintetsu from Kyoto, ~40 min from Osaka-Namba — easy as a day trip.
🚶 Getting around: Nara Park, Tōdai-ji, Kasuga and Kōfuku-ji are walkable; Hōryū-ji and Tanzan Shrine need a bus or train.
🕒 Time & currency: Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).

Tips & hidden gems

💡 About the deer
Some deer bow for shika-senbei crackers — feed them promptly, as teasing can lead to nips or shoves. They're wild, so don't over-handle them.
💡 Early morning is best
Tōdai-ji and Nara Park are quiet early, with deer in the morning mist.
💡 Hidden gems
The lattice-house lanes of Naramachi, the city view from Mt. Wakakusa, and the autumn foliage at Tanzan Shrine reward stepping off the main trail.
💡 Pairs well with Kyoto
Close to Kyoto — easy to combine in half a day to a day.