Summary
Nara is one of the famous tourist attractions in Kansai, Japan. It is also a popular destination for those who plan to visit Osaka or Kyoto. Nara, like Kyoto, has many temples and historical sites, such as the World Heritage Site Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara City, as well as Kasuga Grand Shrine, the oldest shrine in Nara. These are all must-visit attractions in Nara. Additionally, Nara Park, home to over 1,200 deer, is a sacred place that many tourists visit. If it’s your first time traveling to Kansai, I highly recommend including a half-day or full-day trip to Nara in your itinerary to experience the atmosphere and culture of this ancient capital.
If you are visiting Japan for the first time, you can also refer to this article on preparing and planning for a free and easy trip to Japan to help you plan your trip!
Local network/WiFi router purchase in Japan
Purchase eSIM card for internet access in Japan
Purchase physical SIM card for internet access in Japan
Japan 4G WiFi router – unlimited data (pick up in Japan)
KarDear 4G unlimited internet access SIM card in Japan
[KLOOK eSIM] Japan 4G virtual SIM card
Extended reading for Kyoto, Nara, Uji, and Hikone free and easy itineraries
[Japan] Kyoto Autumn Foliage | Kinkaku-ji/Ginkaku-ji/Takayama Hikone Autumn Foliage
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[Japan] Hikone Castle Day Trip in Shiga | Transportation and itinerary guide
[Japan] Omihachiman Water Town Half-Day Trip | Experience Hachiman-bori Canal and Mimuro Hachiman Shrine
[Japan] Nara Half-Day Trip Proposal | Nara Free and Easy One-Day Trip Transportation Guide
[Japan] Uji Half-Day Trip Proposal | Uji One-Day Trip Transportation Guide
Introduction to Nara and Half-Day Trip Itinerary
Nara is a historic city in Japan located in the Kansai region, less than an hour’s drive from Osaka. It was once the capital of Japan during the Nara period. Nara is rich in history and cultural heritage, making it a must-visit destination.
For first-time visitors to Nara, most of them will focus on the attractions in Nara City, including the classic route of Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and Kofuku-ji Temple. These attractions are concentrated near Nara Park and are best explored on foot. If you have visited Nara before, you can also include other attractions such as Mount Wakakusa, Yakushi-ji Temple, and Heijo Palace.
As Nara is not far from Osaka and Kyoto, I personally recommend starting your trip from Osaka, arranging a half-day trip to Nara, and then continuing to Uji and other attractions in Kyoto. This is a great one-day itinerary. If you are traveling with elderly or children, I highly recommend joining a package tour offered by a travel agency. It will be more convenient as it includes a guide and transportation.
One-day itinerary from Osaka and Kyoto to Nara
If you are interested, you can also visit the Nara Tourism Association website to download a Nara travel map as a reference for your visit or when planning your trip to Nara.
Transportation to Nara from Osaka or Kyoto
If you look at the map, you will find that Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto form a triangle. Therefore, it doesn’t take long to travel from Osaka or Kyoto to Nara. It is very convenient to start your half-day or full-day trip to Nara from Osaka or Kyoto. Below are the transportation options from Osaka and Kyoto to Nara.
How to get from Osaka to Nara
1. Take the “Yamato Line” of JR West Japan: From “JR Namba” station in Osaka City, the journey takes about 50 minutes. If you have the Kansai JR PASS, you can ride for free.
2. Take the Kintetsu train “Nara Line”: From “Osaka Namba,” the journey takes about 40 minutes. If you have the “Kansai Thru Pass” or “Kintetsu Rail Pass,” you can ride for free (additional fee required for limited express trains).
How to get from Kyoto to Nara
1. Take the “Nara Line” of JR West Japan: From “Kyoto” station, the journey takes about 50 minutes. If you have the Kansai JR PASS, you can ride for free.
2. Take the Kintetsu train “Nara Line”: From “Kyoto” station, the journey takes about 50 minutes. If you have the “Kansai Thru Pass” or “Kintetsu Rail Pass,” you can ride for free (additional fee required for limited express trains).
Transportation tickets for Osaka and Kyoto to Nara
Kansai Thru Pass: Klook discount | KKday discount
Kintetsu Rail Pass: Klook discount | KKday discount
Kansai Area JR PASS: Klook discount | KKday discount
Kansai Wide Area JR PASS: Klook discount | KKday discount
It is worth noting that taking the Kintetsu train to Nara is closer to the attractions in Nara City. If you take the JR train, it will take a 10-15 minute walk from the station to Nara Park, or you can choose to take a bus from JR Nara Station.
Recommended Nara Attractions
Nara Park
Nara Park is a vast park covering an area of 502 hectares and is one of the oldest parks in Japan. It is famous for its rich natural ecology and friendly deer, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists every year. In Nara Park, there are over 1,200 deer freely roaming around. These deer are considered “messengers of the gods” and are protected animals. Visitors are expected to respect and not harm them, but you can feed them their favorite “rice crackers” (do not feed them your own food). It is common to see deer approaching visitors for food in Nara Park.
Nara Park
Address: Kasuganocho, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Todai-ji Temple
Todai-ji Temple is one of the most famous temples in Nara and a World Heritage Site. It is a must-visit attraction in Nara! Todai-ji Temple is one of Japan’s largest wooden buildings, built in the 8th century during the Nara period. It is the head temple of the Japanese Buddhist sect, Tendai-shu, and is also one of Japan’s national treasures. The main hall of Todai-ji Temple, known as the “Great Buddha Hall,” has a history of over 1,200 years and is considered one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Inside, you can find a magnificent 16-meter-tall bronze statue of the Buddha, known as the “Great Buddha,” which is one of the largest gilded bronze statues in the world.
Todai-ji Temple
Address: 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Opening hours: 07:30–17:30 (Monday to Sunday)
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Kasuga Grand Shrine is a shrine with a long history and cultural value. It was built in the 8th century during the Nara period and has a history of over 1,300 years. Kasuga Grand Shrine, along with Todai-ji Temple, is one of the “World Heritage Sites” and is known as one of the “Three Great Shrines of Japan” along with Ise Grand Shrine and Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine. Kasuga Grand Shrine is characterized by its distinctive red and white architecture, and the approach to the shrine is filled with the spiritual energy of the surrounding forest. You can also encounter many deer wandering around the shrine. If you have food with you, be careful as the deer may be interested in your food!
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Address: 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Opening hours: 06:00–18:00 (Monday to Sunday)
Kofuku-ji Temple
Kofuku-ji Temple is also one of the World Heritage Sites and was built in 710. It was established by the Chinese monk Jianzhen, who was invited by the first emperor of Japan. The temple houses a large number of Buddha statues and cultural artifacts, making it an important representative of Japanese Buddhist culture.
Kofuku-ji Temple has two main areas, the Eastern Precinct and the Western Precinct. The Eastern Precinct is famous for its unique five-story pagodas and the Gojuto (Five-Storied) Hall, while the Western Precinct is known for the tomb of Monk Jianzhen and the Great Buddha Hall. You can also find other ancient buildings and gardens in the temple, such as the Suikinkutsu-in and Seiryo-in in the Eastern Precinct, and the Kakuen-in in the Western Precinct. The most famous is the “Gojuto” (Five-Storied) Hall in the Eastern Precinct, a five-story building with green glazed tiles and golden carvings in a Chinese style. Inside the Gojuto Hall, there is a 15-meter-tall golden bronze Buddha statue, one of the largest existing Buddha statues in Japan. The temple also houses many other Buddha statues, cultural artifacts, and books, including one of Japan’s oldest books, the “Manyoshu.”
Kofuku-ji Temple
Address: 48 Noboriojicho, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Opening hours: 09:00–17:00 (Monday to Sunday)
