Best Things to Do
Best Things to Do
Annual
2024 Global 100
Annual
2024 Asia 100
Nara
Things to Do
Trip.Best Top 11 Best Things to Do in Nara [2024]
Explore the best things to do in Nara! Uncover top activities and experiences for an unforgettable visit.
Updated Jun 2024
- 7.44.7/51915 ReviewFree
based on 5820 reviews"🌈 Attraction features: Nara is worthy of being an ancient capital, full of ancient charm, Nara Park is large in scale, and the royal garden is extraordinary. There are many shrines, temples, and various monuments and sites. The ancient trees are towering, the shade is dense, the grass and green cages, some carefully laid out small bridges and flowing water, lawn stone paths, pine and cypress, lakes and streams, like large landscapes and bonsai, under the blue sky and white clouds, beautiful. Of course, no matter how beautiful the scenery is, it is not only cute, but also polite, not afraid of life at all, you bow to it, it will also nod back to you, every deer will. Whether there is food or not, you can get in touch with the fawns and enjoy the wonderful feeling of elk. 🕐️ Scenic Area opening time: 24 hours open 🏝️ Routine recommendation: The deer will be more lively and enthusiastic in the morning and evening. It will be a little sleepy in the afternoon, so you can arrange the time to visit the temple shrine around noon, and leave more time for the deer. 💗 Other tips: Feeding the edible deer biscuits 🍪, there are many sales points, there are artificial and self-help, after buying all the way, there will be a large group of deer around, some will take the initiative to arch you. I don't want to play anymore, just clap my hands and spread them, they will take the initiative to leave. The weather is getting hot, and most of the fawns have faded winter hair, showing beautiful plum blossom spots, no smell, and feel particularly delicate and soft."Nara3.5km from downtownHighlights: Nara Park is located on the east side of Nara City, at the foot of Mount Kasuga. The park has beautiful and picturesque scenery all year round. Hundreds of wild sika deer live in the open meadows. Around the park are Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Close to the lovely sika deer park, the scenery is pleasant, with twigs sprouting in spring, maple leaves in autumn, and it is also suitable for leisurely strolls in other seasons. It is easy to see deer in Nara, and Nara Park is a place where deer herds are more concentrated, so some people call it "Sika Deer Park". In the park, flocks of sika deer can be seen everywhere, and it is a great pleasure for tourists to come into close contact with them. The deer are either silently foraging on the grass, or play with each other, or come to you and bend their heads to rub against you, which is very lovable. There are quite a few stalls selling deer cakes here, you can buy some to feed the deer. The clever little deer will follow you as soon as it smells the deer cake in your hand. Visiting quaint temples and shrines In addition to the lovely herds of deer, the temples and shrines around the park are also attractive places for tourists. The babbling waters, ponds and creeks also add color to the park, and the large roofs and towers of the temple can be seen looming in the woods. To the north is Todaiji Temple. Its majestic Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden ancient building in the world. In the hall, you can see a huge bronze Buddha statue. You can also overlook the scenery of Nara when you walk to Ergakudo. At the foot of Kasuga Mountain in the southeast, there is Kasuga Taisha Shrine, surrounded by lush and beautiful vegetation, which looks ancient and natural. Thousands of lanterns are lit on both sides of the stone road leading to the main hall during the Wan Lantern Festival in February and August every year, creating a wonderful sacred scene that is very unforgettable. In addition, attractions such as Nara National Museum, Yisui Garden, and Kofukuji Temple are also nearby.Show Less - 6.44.7/5870 Reviewbased on 5749 reviews"Remember 2019.11 Kansai late autumn trip~ Maple Leaf season came to Nara, Dongda Temple is a must-have place to enjoy the maple. Before I came, I didn't know that the scale of the East Temple was so large, with the Big Buddha Hall as the center, surrounded by the East and West Seven Towers, there are South Gate, there are lecture halls, there are Jietan Courtyards, there are Zhengcang Courtyards, there are February Halls, Fahua Halls, Kaishan Halls, etc. It is really magnificent. It is said that the Big Buddha Hall is the world's largest wooden building. It was just that it was late afternoon from Nara Park to Todaiji Temple, and there was not enough time to browse one by one, only entering the February hall of the temple. But just such a hasty and quick tour is enough to be shocked by the landscape of Red Maple. If you have the opportunity, you must come again!"Nara3.2km from downtownHighlights: Todaiji Temple is located on the north side of Nara Park, also known as Dahuayan Temple, Jinguangguang Sitianwang Huguo Temple, etc. It was established in 728 by Emperor Shengmu who believed in Buddhism. The Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple is the largest ancient wooden building in the world. Inside the hall is a statue of Lucena Buddha about 16 meters high, which is the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world. As a landmark of Nara, it is always packed with tour groups and students from all over Japan. The entire Todaiji Temple covers a wide area. In addition to the Great Buddha Hall, there are many unmissable sights, including the South Gate, Eryuetang, Sanyuetang, Zhengcangyuan, etc. Before visiting the main hall, remember to take a look at the south gate. There are two huge Niwang statues on both sides of the gate. They are more than 8 meters high, look fierce, and are very beautifully carved and vivid. There is a Todaiji Museum on the west side of the South Gate, where you can learn about the history of Todaiji and watch cultural relics. Entering from the west side of the south gate, you can reach the main hall of the Todai Temple - the Great Buddha Hall, also known as the Golden Hall. Standing in front of the Great Buddha Hall, you will definitely feel its shock, majestic and revealing a simple charm. The existing Great Buddha Hall was built in 1709. Although it is the largest ancient wooden building in the world, it is only about two-thirds of the original building. Walking into the Great Buddha Hall, you can see the bronze statue of Lucena Buddha more than 10 meters high, which has a strong visual impact. After centuries of vicissitudes, the head of the Big Buddha has been stolen several times. If you look closely, you will find that the color of the head and body is slightly different. The hall also enshrines the Void Tibetan Bodhisattva, Ruyi Wheel Avalokitesvara and so on. Walking around the Buddha statue, you will see a hole at the bottom of a wooden pillar, called "Buddha's nose", it is said that if you can pass through it, you will get peace and happiness. Usually there will be many children waiting in line here, if adults also want to try it will be more difficult, but fortunately a staff will pull you out. In addition, you may wish to go to the model of Todaiji Temple to study the scene of the temple in its heyday. Climb up and overlook the Great Buddha Hall and go to the Ergakudo on the top of the eastern hill, where you can overlook the scenery of Nara, especially at dusk. Turn left outside the exit of the Great Buddha Hall, walk along the fence through the pond, and then walk up the mountain along the stone road. The scenery along the way is very charming. Soon you will reach the platform at the top of the mountain, where there is Er Yue Tang. A few steps further south is Sanyuedo (Hokaido), an ancient building of Todaiji Temple, which houses some exquisite statues from the Nara period. When you walk into Todai-ji Temple or take a walk in the temple, you can see deer all over the place. If you come here in spring and autumn, it is also a very elegant experience to enjoy the cherry blossoms or red maples while strolling.Show Less
- 6.24.6/5725 Reviewbased on 1792 reviews"Spring Day Club, located on the Spring Day Mountain in Nara Park, although it is a mountain, it is actually a little slope. It has a history of more than 1,300 years and has been listed by the United Nations on the World List of Cultural and Historical Heritage Protection. It is the temple of the Fujiwara family, which is a prominent Japanese history, and is dedicated to the patron saint of their family. The Fujiwara family has manipulated the Japanese royal family for more than 300 years, and is also an active promoter and practitioner of the Chinese political and social system and has been fully transplanted into Japan. The never-cut spring mountain, the purple alfalfa that symbolizes family names and ethnic surnames, the mysterious apple tree, the moss-covered stone lanterns, the sticky fawn are all worth seeing."Nara4km from downtownHighlights: Kasuga Taisha Shrine is a religious place of worship for Shintoism in Japan. It was established in 710 and has been included in the list of world cultural heritage. It is dedicated to the four guardian deities of the Fujiwara family, and is now an important worship site in Japan. The entire shrine rests on the foot of Kasuga Mountain, surrounded by lush and beautiful vegetation. Kasuga Mountain has always prohibited logging, so everything here seems natural and ancient. There are beautiful views along the way. At the intersection near the Nara Prefectural Office, you can see a tall Ichino Torii, and go all the way along the long Omotesando. From time to time, there will be lively and cute deer coming to you. If you happen to buy deer cookies, you can feed them all the way. Walking near Feihuoye, on the left is the Nara National Museum. If you are interested in Buddhist culture, you can visit it. The Nara Buddha Museum inside has a very good collection. And in the woods on the right side of the path, is the home of the lovely deer - Luyuan. Continue along Omotesando, from here, stone night lights will gradually appear on both sides of the path, and there are dense forests on both sides. There is a Manyo Botanical Garden at the right turn of the access road. There are more than 300 kinds of plants in it. It is recorded in the ancient Japanese song collection "Manyoshu". You can enjoy different plants according to different seasons. In winter, it is limited. During the lantern festival to be held, you may wish to go on a night tour. The spectacular stone lanterns on the access road turn right and then walk forward to a small crossroads, facing a squatting stone deer, and in front of them are the washbasins of the shrines, where you can clean your hands and prepare to worship to show your respect to the gods . According to legend, the horse of the god of the shrine is a deer, so people believe that the deer in the nearby mountains and forests are the messengers of the god. There are dense stone lanterns on both sides of the access road. These are donated and built by believers and believers. The rows are uneven and spectacular. There are currently about 1,800 lanterns. You can see that these stone lanterns are covered with moss, which is very ancient and Zen. At this time, walk north for a few minutes along the path on the left, and you can visit the Treasure Hall, but until the summer of 2016, it is still under maintenance and temporarily closed. The cute little deer sign and the ancient wisteria go up the stairs, pass the south gate, and officially enter the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. On the left side of the door, you can buy a wishing royal guard, write an ema or smoke a deer. sign. In this courtyard, there is a wisteria plant that is over 700 years old. The branches are on the wooden shed, and the purple flower sea when it blooms in spring is very beautiful. You need to buy a ticket to enter the main hall. The first is the shrine for worship and prayer, and the main hall of the shrine is inside. There is a row of scattered copper lanterns hanging between the West Corridor and the Zhihui Hall, with the Japanese shrine architecture in vermilion, which is very distinctive. It is also a popular location for tourists to take pictures. After passing through the dance hall, you will enter the Apple Garden, so named because of the presence of an apple tree. Nestled on the front of the Zhihui Hall is a huge cypress tree, which is said to have a history of 800-1000 years. The unique thing is that there is a branch that emerges from the roof of the Zhihui Hall and grows vigorously. The manifestation of vitality. The main hall and the apse are located in the shrine. The entire surface of the building is painted in vermilion. There are also many Japanese religious buildings in the courtyard, such as the Taga Shrine, which prays for longevity. You only need to put 200 yen in the "Housing Box". There are a large number of small shrines on the way from the Ni-no-torii gate to the main shrine, and after leaving the main shrine and continuing to the south, there are dozens of large and small Shemo shrines on the side of the path. They are all located within the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, or because the deities worshiped have a deep relationship with the main god of Kasuga Taisha, or are under the management of Kasuga Taisha, there are many popular shrines such as the couple Daikuni Shrine and Jinlong Shrine. It is said that Praying for marriage or golden luck is very effective. The special Wanlan Festival can try to walk around the shrine along the three-way corridor of the shrine starting from the imperial corridor, and you will see a large number of copper lanterns hanging on the corridor. Kasuga Taisha Shrine has many different festivals every year, and the Mando Festival, which is held twice a year (February and August), is not to be missed. During the Lantern Festival, nearly 3,000 lanterns in the shrine are lit up, and the wonderful sacred scene is amazing. Every November around Japan's "Seven-Five-Three" Children's Day, parents will also bring their 3, 5, and 7-year-old children to the shrine on weekends to pray in kimono. In the northeast corner of the main hall, there is a small room called "The House of Fujinami". There is no natural light and no lights in the house, but dozens of lit copper lanterns are densely hung, and three walls are inlaid with mirrors. , it adds a bit of mystery and depth, and if you still have time to stroll around this cottage, you can experience the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival.Show Less
- 5.74.5/5230 Review
based on 369 reviews"Remember 2019.11 Kansai late autumn trip~ After coming out of the Spring Festival Dashe, follow the signs and come to Ruocao Mountain. Ruocao Mountain seems to be stacked with three mountains, 342 meters above sea level, and an area of 330,000 square meters. Ruocao Mountain, which is worth late autumn, has a golden grassland, surrounded by a few red maples, which has a special flavor. You need to buy tickets to enter the mountain. Near the top of the mountain, there is a seat similar to the park, which seems lonely, but has a different beauty. Sitting there, looking up at the blue sky, the golden earth with daggers, the colorful trees in the distance, and the warm sun covering in the afternoon. At the moment, photos can convey too much beauty."Nara4.6km from downtownNo. 1 of Night AttractionsHighlights: Wakakusa Mountain is located near Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Visitors can climb it from the Spring Festival to the autumn, and you can see the scenery of Nara from the middle of the mountain. On the top of the mountain, there is an ancient burial mound with a round front and a back, and you can enjoy the beautiful night view of Nara from the top of the mountain at night. Wakakusa Mountain is very famous for the "Wakakusa Burning Mountain" festival, which is a traditional event held every January with fireworks and burning the mountain.Show Less - 5.34.5/5301 ReviewFreebased on 1340 reviews"Remember 2019.11 Kansai Late Autumn Walk~ Xingfu Temple is very close to Kintetsu Nara Station, just a few minutes walk away, and there are deer along the street. The highest temperature on this day in late November was 20 degrees. The huge venue of Xingfu Temple was just a few times in front of the temple and the high tower. I had been sweating. I came back and checked the information before I knew that Xingfu Temple contained so many buildings: there were Zhongjintang, Dongjintang, Nanyuantang, Beiyuantang, Five-Tower, Triple Tower, Dayutang, etc. At that time, I didn't carefully distinguish it, but I bought tickets to enter Zhongjintang to visit. You can't take pictures inside, everyone visits quietly and prays, and there are not many tourists. The monastery always gives people a sense of tranquility and peace, and feels relaxed and happy. Dongjintang is next to the five-fold tower, and Nanyuantang is a building with a hexagonal spire. Each temple should be purchased separately to enter."Nara2.5km from downtownHighlights: The predecessor of Kofuku-ji Temple can be traced back to Sanjie-ji Temple in Asuka, which was built in 669. After the Fujiwara family moved the capital to Heijo-kyo in 710, it was all moved to present-day Nara and renamed as Kofuku-ji Temple. Because it is the family temple of the Fujiwara family, the temple has received a certain degree of attention and protection, and it has become one of the seven major temples in the Heian period. Later, due to a series of power struggles, many buildings were destroyed. Today's Xingfu Temple was rebuilt during the heyday of the Hei clan. landmark building. The temple also houses many national treasure-level balances and Buddhist sculptures from the Kamakura period. We can see their treasures in the National Treasure Museum, such as the statue of Asura, the head of the six-sixth Buddha, as well as some paintings and historical materials.Show Less
- 5.34.6/5224 Reviewbased on 647 reviews"The word Jianzhen Dongdu should be heard by many people, telling the story of Tang Dynasty monk Dongdu Japan spreading Buddhism and advanced Chinese culture. Tang Zhaoti Temple in Nara is the temple built by the Japanese for Jianzhen after the arrival of the temple, and there are many monuments and structures left in the past."Nara2.1km from downtownHighlights: Tangshoti Temple is located in Gojo-cho, Nara. It is a temple founded by the eminent monk Jianzhen of the Tang Dynasty. It still has a strong style of the Tang Dynasty. The golden hall and the lecture hall are all wooden buildings in the 8th century, which are extremely precious. Historical Background Monk Jianzhen accepted the invitation of Emperor Shengmu to come to Japan to promote Buddhism and reform Japanese Buddhism. However, after 5 times of distress at sea and blindness, it took him 12 years to finally arrive in Nara. In 759 AD, Tang Zhaoti Temple was established by Emperor Ling Jianzhen on the basis of the old house of the Seventh Prince of Emperor Tenmu. "Zhaoti" means a dojo for practice beside the Buddha, and Tang Zhaoti Temple means that this temple is an exclusive dojo built for monk Jianzhen who came from the Tang Dynasty to practice, for him to set up an altar to preach scriptures. After Jianzhen passed away, the temple was still under construction, and most of the courtyards were not completed until the Heian period. Therefore, the style of Tangshoti Temple combines the architectural features from the Tianhe period to the Heian period, and is a very valuable world cultural heritage. After paying respects to Master Jianzhen, Jianzhen was buried here. There is Jianzhen's tomb in the temple, and many devout Buddhists from China and Japan will come here to pay respects. In front of the tomb, there is a Qionghua tree transplanted from Yangzhou, the hometown of Master Jianzhen. In addition, the Yuying Hall, where the statue of the master is placed, preserves the precious woodcut statue of Jianzhen. The eyes are closed, the demeanor is dignified, and there is a firm and unswerving temperament between the eyebrows. Every year, it is only displayed on the day of Jianzhen's death (June 6).Show Less
- 4.94.4/5139 ReviewFrom20.99based on 490 reviews"The Nara National Museum is divided into old and new museums. No shooting is allowed in the museum, only the special exhibition of the King Kong Rose statue can be photographed. The Nara National Museum is located in the corner of Nara Park, adjacent to Todaiji Temple, Xingfu Temple, Chunri Daesha, etc. In a relaxed and comfortable environment, feel the charm of Buddhist art and the rich historical and cultural essence behind it."Nara3.1km from downtownHighlights: The Nara National Museum opened in 1895 and is centered on the main building completed in 1894 and the Nishinkan completed in 1972. The main building was built in Western style during the Meiji period, while the Nishinkan was built in the schoolhouse style of the Showa era. There is a large pool in front of the museum, and there are many deer resting here, and the scenery is beautiful. The museum will hold a two-week special exhibition of Zhengcangyuan every autumn, and the national treasure-level cultural relics should not be missed. The main exhibits on display at the Shoso-in Special Exhibition are the national treasure-level historical relics managed and collected by the Imperial Household in Japan. The exhibits on display will not be repeated in 10 years. Friends who are interested in antiques and cultural relics may wish to take a look. If you encounter gold, soil, sun, and blessings, the exhibition time will be extended to 19:00 in the evening.Show Less
- 4.84.7/5166 ReviewFreebased on 350 reviews"Nara City, Japan, an important tourist city in Japan, stands out for raising deer."Nara2.3km from downtownHighlights: Naramachi refers to a living area in the old city of Nara with the former site of Yuanxing Temple. The narrow streets are lined with traditional old-style houses, and many small shops, cafes, galleries, etc. are hidden in it. Here, the ancient style is strong, quiet and peaceful, you may wish to slow down and experience the feeling of stepping back in time.Show Less
- 4.54.5/5202 ReviewFreebased on 759 reviews"Remember 2019.11 Kansai late autumn trip~ I had a long time playing with the deer that day, and I delayed the trip later. When I rushed to the February hall, it was approaching the evening. I was still a little regretful, but I didn't know that I met the most beautiful February hall. At the door leading to the February hall, a thick layer of golden ginkgo leaves on the ground was beautiful in an instant. Going inside, I saw a few photo enthusiasts, uncles and aunts, saying that the sun began to go down at this time, which was the most beautiful time to take pictures. I immediately looked up to see the temple was wrapped in red, yellow and green layers, and the sunset was shining, and I was immediately shaken. Climbing up the second floor, many tourists gathered here to look down at the palace and enjoy the sunset. Everyone quietly looked at the downtown Nara, looking at the mountains in the distance, against the red maple trees, the sunset golden light looked particularly soft, immersed in the beautiful picture given by nature, feel, enjoy."Nara3.6km from downtownNo. 3 of Night AttractionsHighlights: Eryuetang is located on the east side of the east side of the Todaiji Temple, on the east side of Ruakusa. It is also called Guanyin Hall because it enshrines the large and small Guanyin. It is one of the important wooden structures in Todai-ji Temple. According to legend, it was originally built by a monk. The building we see now was rebuilt after the fire in 1667. There are stone lanterns on both sides of the stairs leading to the Nigetsudo. When you go to the second floor of the Nigetsudo, the corridor to the west can overlook the scenery of the entire city of Nara. There is a shrine in the middle of the corridor for people to pray. There is a Longmeitang next to the Eryuetang, where you can buy some snacks such as fern cakes and arrowroot powder to rest here. I especially recommend the miso in the store. It is said that after the blessing of the monks of Todaiji Temple, the clerk will provide a taste.Show Less
- 4.24.4/5103 Reviewbased on 506 reviews"A bit far from the city, I waited for 20 minutes from Tang Zhaoti Temple and didn't come by bus. I walked to the attraction for 16:28 minutes, only 30 minutes left! Really good!"Nara2.6km from downtownHighlights: Yakushi-ji Temple was built in 680. Due to several fires, only the East Pagoda survived, and it is one of the oldest buildings in the monastery. When you visit Yakushi Temple, you can admire the layout of these exquisite and elegant Garan courtyards.Show Less
- 1
- 2
FAQ
What are some Best Things to Do in Nara?
Some Best Things to Do in Nara include:Nara Park, Tōdai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Mount Wakakusa, Kofuku-ji
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Nara?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Nara include:Nara Park:4.7, Tōdai-ji:4.7, Kasuga Taisha:4.6, Mount Wakakusa:4.5, Kofuku-ji:4.5
At what locations in Nara can Best Things to Do in Nara be found?
The Best Things to Do in Nara are mainly located in:Nara Park:Nara, Tōdai-ji:Nara, Kasuga Taisha:Nara, Mount Wakakusa:Nara, Kofuku-ji:Nara
Payment Methods
Our Partners
Copyright © 2024 Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved
Site Operator: Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Site Operator: Trip.com Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd.