Nara: the deer, the Great Buddha and the lantern shrine
A day trip from Kyoto or Osaka to Japan's 8th-century capital: more than 1,600 free-roaming deer in the park, a bronze Buddha 15 meters tall in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and about 3,000 lanterns at a shrine in the forest.
A day trip to Nara, Japan's capital in the 8th century, from Kyoto or Osaka. You arrive on the Kintetsu train at 08:30, walk among the deer to Isuien Garden and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji, carry on along the lantern path of Kasuga Taisha, go down to lunch and the lanes of Naramachi, and finish in the afternoon at Kofuku-ji, a few minutes from the station. The whole day is on foot, about 9 km within the city, in a single loop. The only rides are there and back: on Kintetsu ¥760 each way from Kyoto and ¥680 from Osaka-Namba.
This day is part of: Ten days in Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, the Alps, Kyoto and Osaka · Two weeks in Japan: Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, the Alps, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka
The day on a map
8 stops, in order
- Stops
- 8
- Walking minutes
- 83
- Nara Park, then Walk 5 min
- Isuien Garden, then Walk 10 min
- Todai-ji, then Walk 20 min
- Kasuga Taisha, then Walk 25 min
- Lunch break in Naramachi, then Walk 8 min
- Naramachi, then Walk 15 min
- Kofuku-ji and Sarusawa Pond, then Train 60 min
- Dinner in Kyoto or Osaka
The same stops with the same numbers, and the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.
Getting there: You start at Kintetsu-Nara Station. It is the one close to the park, not JR Nara Station. From Kyoto: the Kintetsu Kyoto Line from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu-Nara, about 50 minutes, usually with a change at Yamato-Saidaiji, ¥760. Kintetsu's limited express runs direct, 35 to 37 minutes, ¥1,280 (¥760 plus a ¥520 surcharge). If you have a JR Pass, take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto to JR Nara Station, 47 to 60 minutes, ¥720, and from there it is about 16 minutes on foot to Kofuku-ji. From Osaka: Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba to Kintetsu-Nara with no change, 40 minutes, ¥680. By JR: from JR Namba 43 minutes, ¥580, or from Osaka Station about an hour, ¥840.
TrainMust
Kintetsu train to Nara and a morning in the park
You start at Kintetsu-Nara Station at 08:30. From the station it is about 8 minutes to the park, and the deer are already there. Deer crackers (shika-senbei) are ¥200 for a bundle of 10, with the deer foundation's paper band. They are sold at stands, in souvenir shops and from machines, and part of the money funds protecting the deer.
Into the park
Stop 1Nature and animalsMust
Nara Park: the deer
The deer here roam free and are protected, as messengers of the gods. When a deer asks, give it a cracker right away, and at the end open both hands to show that you are out. According to the deer foundation, pretending you have more stresses them and can make them aggressive. Keep maps and plastic bags inside a closed bag. With small children, hold hands, because the deer push.
Across to Isuien Garden
On the way you can stop at:
- Yoshikien Garden: Right next to Isuien: a pond garden, a moss garden and a garden of flowers for the tea ceremony. Free since 2020, 09:00 to 17:00.
Stop 2GardenIf there is time
Isuien Garden: the garden with the borrowed gate
The garden opens at 09:30, and you arrive as it opens. Two gardens: the front one from the 17th century, and the back one from the Meiji era, which uses the gate of Todai-ji and the mountains as its backdrop (shakkei, borrowed scenery). Admission is ¥1,200 and includes the Neiraku Museum inside the garden. In the teahouse you can drink matcha facing the front garden. The garden is closed on Tuesdays, in late September and from late December to mid-January, and on those days you go from the deer straight to Todai-ji.
Up to Todai-ji
On the way you can stop at:
- Yumekaze Hiroba: A complex of restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops at the start of the temple approach. Each shop keeps its own hours.
Stop 3TempleMust
Todai-ji: the Great Buddha
The Daibutsu hall, which the temple describes as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, was rebuilt in 1709. The bronze Buddha was cast in 749, and it is 14.98 meters tall. Admission is ¥800, cash only. Behind the statue is a pillar with a hole, and by tradition whoever crawls through it gains good health and granted wishes: children get through, adults get stuck. Afterwards climb to Nigatsu-do, a terrace with a view over Nara, free.
On to Kasuga Taisha
On the way you can stop at:
- Mount Wakakusa: A grassy hill 342 meters above sea level, with a view over Nara. ¥150, and open in 2026 until 13 December.
Stop 4Shinto shrineRecommended
Kasuga Taisha: 3,000 lanterns on a forest path
A path through an ancient forest with about 2,000 moss-covered stone lanterns, and in the shrine's corridors about 1,000 more hanging lanterns. The grounds are free. In the inner area (¥700) there is a dark room where the hanging lanterns are lit. The botanical garden next to the shrine costs ¥700 separately, and its wisteria blooms from mid-April to early May.
Down to lunch
On the way you can stop at:
- Ukimido: A short detour south from the approach: a hexagonal pavilion that seems to float on Sagi Pond and is reflected in the water. Free.
Stop 5LunchRecommended
Lunch break in Naramachi
Nara's dish is kakinoha-zushi: cured mackerel or salmon sushi, pressed and wrapped in a persimmon leaf. Eat it sitting down or buy a box for the road. With children: udon in the lanes of Naramachi. If you are already hungry at Kasuga, eat at the shrine's teahouse. The options:
Into Naramachi
Stop 6DistrictRecommended
Naramachi, and mochi at Nakatanidou on the way
Naramachi is a district of narrow Edo-period merchant houses, craft shops and cafes. Enter the Lattice House, a restored townhouse, for free, 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. From there you head back north along the covered Mochiidono street, and at its end, on Sanjo-dori, is Nakatanidou: they pound mochi at speed in front of the shop there, with no fixed schedule, about 10 to 15 times a day. Yomogi mochi, 3 for ¥600.
Up to Kofuku-ji
On the way you can stop at:
- Mochiidono street: A narrow covered shopping street, about 3 meters wide, between Sanjo-dori and Naramachi. Long-standing shops next to new ones.
Stop 7TempleRecommended
Kofuku-ji and Sarusawa Pond
The grounds of Kofuku-ji are free, and Sarusawa Pond lies just below them. The five-story pagoda is fully covered by a restoration structure until fiscal year 2034, so you cannot see it. The treasure hall with the Ashura statue (¥900) closes at 17:00, with last entry at 16:45, so you go in at the start of this stop. From there it is about 7 minutes to Kintetsu Station.
Back to Kyoto or Osaka
Stop 8DinnerRecommended
Dinner in Kyoto or Osaka
You end the day near the station of the city where you are sleeping, and head back to the hotel from there. In Kyoto go up to the 10th floor of the station building, and in Osaka get off at Namba and go straight to Dotonbori:
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Written as a draft and verified by hand against official sources. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go.