How to Spend One Day in Nara: The Itinerary to See It All
Japan is full of amazing sights and experiences, so it’s understandable if you only have one day in Nara. Fortunately, Nara is a compact city so you can still see and do it all! However, you’ll need a plan, and I’ve got you covered! Let’s take a look at how to structure your day to experience all of the highlights of Nara and eliminate backtracking.
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How to Plan Your One Day in Nara
With just one day in Nara, you’ll want to make the most of your time. I recommend walking from site to site in order to get a true feel for the city and to see some additional things along the way. I’ve included approximate distances (in minutes walking) to help you see how walkable Nara really is.
Arrive in Nara
Chances are you will be arriving in Nara by train from Kyoto or Osaka. Once you arrive in the Nara train station, simply walk out and venture straight down the main road to reach the tourist area of Nara. It’s only a 12 minute walk.
Find more information on how to get from Kyoto to Nara or Osaka to Nara.
Visit Kofukuji Temple and the Friendly Nara Deer
The first thing you will stumble upon is the Three Story Pagoda which leads into the Kofukuji Temple. The temple is pretty interesting, and you’ll likely have your first encounter with the friendly deer of Nara! Part of what makes Nara particularly fascinating is the quantity of wild deer that roam the streets and are very social with tourists. Granted, they are friendly because deer biscuits are sold all over and you are encouraged to feed the deer.
One of my greatest pleasures was watching everyone feed the deer so I recommend you carve out a little time to do the same. It can be quite fascinating. For example, while I was there:
- There was a school group in the area. The girls would scream and run as the deer followed them and the biscuits in their hand while the boys were generally preoccupied trying to pet the deer.
- An elderly man was teaching the deer how to bow three times before they received a biscuit. It was incredible, you hold up part of a biscuit, the deer bows three times, and then you hand feed the deer the biscuit. It was working for him – so go ahead and give it a try!
- There was even someone trying to take a selfie sharing a biscuit with the deer. Good news, he did get the picture.
It’s very impressive how tame the deer are, and they will just stand near the deer biscuit stand and wait for someone to buy biscuits for them. Granted, every now and then you’ll see the deer following people or providing a nudge in the behind to feed them, but overall they were very well-behaved!
Continue On to Yoshikien and Isuien Gardens
From the Kofukuji Temple head to the Yoshikien and Isuien Gardens. It’s about a 7 minute walk, and they are right across from one another. Isuien Gardens has a somewhat steep entrance fee of ¥900. But Yoshikien Garden is free for foreigh tourists. Depending on how into Japanese Gardens you are, you can visit one or both. It’s a lovely oasis from city life.
Head to Todaiji Temple to See the Giant Buddha
A short walk from there, about 7 more minutes, is Todaiji Temple, the most famous site in Nara. Why? Well, it houses the largest Buddha in Japan. The sheer size of the main hall is impressive but when you enter you know why, it has to house the Buddha!
Besides having the largest Buddha, Todaiji Temple also has a number of other large statues worth checking out. There is also a small space in a pillar kids, and occasionally petite adults, try to crawl through. I think it gives you good luck. So if you are a petite adult, give it a try! I personally am not petite and did not make the attempt as it would have been most embarrassing to have to be rescued when I got stuck!
Climb Up the Hill to Nigatsudo Hall
From Todaiji Temple climb up the hill outside to Nigatsudo Hall. This Hall sits on a hillside providing views over Nara and the surrounding areas. When I say climb, just know that it’s not very high and literally takes just a few minutes – you can do it!
Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine
This actually sums up a lot of the main sites in Nara, but fear not, there is more to see! Continue on to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. It’s only about a 12 minute walk from Nigatsudo Hall and you’ll get to enjoy a stunning walk through wooded paths lined with large stone lanterns. It is a beautiful area and very peaceful.
Move On to Shin-Yakushiji Temple
At this point, it will be later in the day, so I recommend just one more stop – Shin-Yakushiji Temple. It will only be about an 8 minute walk to get there. This Buddhist temple is best known for its eleven statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals.
Return to the Train Station
Note that you are now about a 40 minute walk away from the train station. If you do not wish to walk that far, you can take a taxi. From the train station, make your way back to Osaka or Kyoto.
Learn more in the Top 5 Things to Do in Nara
Need more than one day in Nara? Stay Overnight
If you’re interested in spending more time getting acquainted with Nara, spend the night. This way you can continue your exploration the next day and get to know more about the city and the people who live there. Check out these recommended accommodations for your stay.
- Budget Accommodation: Nara Guesthouse 3F (B&B)
- Mid-range Accommodation: Noborioji Hotel Nara
- Luxury Accommodation: Tsukihitei
Prefer a Tour? No problem.
Decided you don’t want to navigate Nara on your own? No worries. There are plenty of day tours available from Kyoto and Osaka.
More Resources on Japan
Japan is full of amazing places. Here are more resources to help you plan your time there and make an amazing trip!
- Top 5 Things to Do in Kyoto
- 10 Best Things to Do in Tokyo
- One Day in Hiroshima and Miyajima: A Full Day Itinerary
- Top 5 Things to Do in Miyajima
- Climbing Mount Misen: A Quick Hike on Miyajima
- 5 Top Things to Do in Hiroshima
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