5 Can't Miss Things to Do in Nara, Japan

If you’re traveling to Kyoto or Osaka, consider a day trip to the nearby city of Nara. It was an ancient capital in the Nara prefecture, Kansai region of Japan, and holds a number of sights of interest. With only one day, focusing your trip on the 5 top things to do in Nara will help you plan out your trip.

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5 Best Things to Do in Nara

Nara is a top destination in Japan and for good reason. It features some iconic sights, like one of the largest Buddha’s in the world, along with some really quirky characters – the local deer. Here are the top 5 things to do in Nara to make the most of your time there.

1. Visit the Daibhtsu (Giant Buddha) at Todai-ji Temple.

The number one things to do in Nara is visit Daibhtsu or the Giant Buddha of Nara. This Buddha lives at the Todai-ji Temple is the largest in Japan and one of the largest in the world with the body measuring 14.98m tall with a 3.05m lotus petal pedestal.

The Buddha featured is Vairocana Buddha – “Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun”. To reflect on its importance, a beautiful temple was built to house it and this temple, the Todai-ji Temple is a sight to see in itself.

Entrance fee is ¥500.

Japan's Largest Buddha — Japan’s Largest Buddha

2. Make friends with the local deer.

If you’re wondering what Nara is known for – look no further. It’s the friendly deer. The story behind the deer is that the god Kasuga Taisha came riding in on a white deer so the deer are now protected entities. One of the best places to find them is in Nara Park, but have no fear, they are everywhere, so you cannot visit Nara without running into dozens of them.

To get up close to the deer, you just need to feed them. Many places around the city sell deer cookies or deer biscuits for just ¥150. That’s right, they encourage you to feed the deer. As such, the deer are very accustom to being fed and swarm towards people holding cookies.

Some of the deer are even well trained. If a person waves their biscuit in the air, some of the deer will bow three times and then let you hand feed them. Another variation is the brave people who put part of the cookie in their mouth and feed the deer the other half. At times the deer will continue to follow people even after their biscuits are gone.

Just remember even though most are friendly, they are wild animals!

The famous deer of Nara, Japan — The Famous Nara Deer

3. Explore the lantern lined paths of Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

While you’re in Nara, don’t forget to visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This beautiful Shinto shrine features a number of bronze lanterns inside, but more impressively, the paths in the forest surrounding the shrine feature hundreds of stone lanterns covered in moss with small shrines occasionally popping up along the way.

This walk along the lantern lined paths is beautiful and shaded with many things to see along the way, including of course deer.

In fact, the Kasuga Shrine and the surrounding Kasugayama Primeval Forest are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”. Here you’ll find over 3,000 stone lanterns in total.

Rows of Stone Lanterns covered in moss — Rows of Stone Lanterns

4. Take a stroll in a traditional Japanese garden.

The most famous garden in Nara is Isuien Garden. It is quite large with an impressive spread of trees, flowers, bridges, and buildings. If you enjoy Japanese gardens, this one will be no exception. The only negative is the ¥900 entrance fee.

As a much smaller and less expensive alternative, head next door to Yoshikien Garden which is free for foreign tourists and a pleasant oasis from the city (and the deer!). It features a Pond Garden, Moss Garden, and Flower Garden, including a small tea house.

A nice walk through a garden in Nara, Japan — A Walk Through the Garden

5. Climb up to a view of the city at Nigatsudo Hall

Every city looks different on the ground than from above. For an easy climb with a rewarding view, check out Nigatsudo Hall near Todaiji Temple. It elevates you far enough to enjoy temple roofs with the sprawling city in the distance, and if it’s clear, a few mountain tops.

This soothing climb rounds out the top five things to do in Nara due to its scenery and surroundings. It also provides a refreshing breeze with benches to sit down and relax.

See how to structure your one day in Nara itinerary.

Other Attractions to See in Nara

If you have additional time or are looking for alternatives to the top 5 things to do in Nara, here are a few more options in the area. You’ll also find dozens of smaller temples and shrines hidden away throughout the city.

Kofuku-ji Temple: This Buddhist Temple was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara. It is now the national headquarters of the Hosso school.

Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple: This Buddhist temple is best known for its eleven statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals.

Heijo Palace Site: Hijo Palace was the imperial residence in the capital city of Heijo-kyo during most of the Nara period.

Toshodai-ji Temple: Another Buddhist temple surrounded by a large garden.
Ikaruga and the Horyuji Temple: The Horyuji Temple is famous for being the oldest wooden building in the world.

Nara National Museum: This art museum features amazing sculptures, statues, reliefs, and more all with English descriptions. Entrance is ¥500.

How to Get to Nara from Nearby Cities

Taking a day trip to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka is really easy to do. Both cities are just under an hour away by train and the perfect day trip. Not to mention Nara is fairly compact making it simple to take in the best of Nara in just one day.

Traveling to Nara from Kyoto

The most direct way to reach Nara from Kyoto is by the JR Nara Line train. It will cost you right around ¥720 and depending on which train you catch, it will take between 35 min – 1 hour 5 min to arrive at Nara Station.

Visiting Nara from Osaka

To get to Nara from Osaka, take the JR Osaka Loop Line continuing on the JR Yamatoji Line. It will run you right around ¥810. This route should take right around 1 hour to reach Nara Station.

Taking a Tour of Nara

While Nara is really easy to visit on your own, it’s also possible you’d rather have a more structured trip. If that’s the case, plan to take a tour of Nara. Fortunately, there are awesome day trips to Nara from Kyoto and Osaka that will take you through the best things to do in Nara and more! Something about having a professional guide allows you to see more in less time.

Stay Overnight in Nara

If you’re interested in spending more time getting acquainted with the city and taking in the best activities in Nara, spend the night. This way you can continue your exploration the next day and see more than just the top 5 sights.

Here are some recommended hotels for your stay in Nara.

Budget Accommodation: Nara Guesthouse 3F (B&B)
Mid-range Accommodation: Noborioji Hotel Nara
Luxury Accommodation: Tsukihitei

Planning a Trip to Japan?

Now that you know about the best things to do in Nara, it’s time to continue planning your trip! Afterall, there’s a lot more to see in Japan. Here are some posts to help you learn more about the top things to do around Japan, or you can view all posts about Japan to really get your trip moving!

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5 Can’t Miss Things to Do in Nara, Japan

5 Best Things to Do in Nara