NARA
1 hour by train to JR Nara Station from Kyoto Station - ¥840 - directions
Nara is a city steeped in ancient history and culture. Once the country's capital, it's renowned for its stunning temples, serene gardens, and Nara Park, home to hundreds of free-roaming deer.
-
If you decide to get a late start to the day, or head back to Kyoto early, consider taking the Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi Train instead of the traditional local trains. The Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi Train offers a unique and immersive travel experience, combining luxury, comfort, and cultural enrichment as it traverses some of Japan's most beautiful and historically significant landscapes.
Kyoto ~ Kintetsu-Nara: 11:00am departure from Kyoto Station
Kintetsu-Nara ~ Kyoto: 3:50pm departure from Kintetsu-Nara
To board a Limited Express train, you need to additionally purchase a basic fare ticket at the station. - ¥1,280 - Booking LinkIf you take the Aoniyoshi to Nara, you’ll arrive at Kintetsu-Nara Station instead of JR Nara station as your itinerary plans for. This means you will be doubling back if you start your day from Sanjo-Dori. Instead, head straight to Kofuku-ji, and see Sanjo Dori on the way to the JR station to head back to Kyoto (if you aren’t also taking the Aoniyoshi home as well). Kintetsu-Nara also doesn’t have a JR-Ticket office, so if you do end up at the JR station to get back to Kyoto, you can grab your tickets then instead, otherwise you can book your tickets at any JR station, so just head to your nearest JR station whenever is convenient.
-
🍴Sakura Burger - American-Style Burger Restaurant
200m / 1 minute on foot from Kintetsu-Nara Station - directions Open: 11:00am ~ 7:30pm
Closed: Wednesdays & Thursdays[vegetarian friendly]
Sakura Burger is a local gem known for its delectable burgers and craft beer selection. Popular among Nara's locals, it offers a cozy atmosphere and a unique blend of flavors. The craft beers complement the mouthwatering burgers, making it a beloved spot for both residents and visitors.Sakura Burger's handmade and homemade bacon is made using an additive-free, dry method in which spices are directly imprinted on the pork belly, aged at a low temperature, and slowly smoked with cherry tree chips.
Check out their menu.
Walk-ins Only
Sanjo Dori - Browse along Nara’s High Street On your Way to Nara Park
Sanjo Dori has been Nara’s main high street for 1300 years. Along this road you will find a great variety of stores ranging from major retail outlets to long-established independent shops selling tea, kimonos, jewelry, local crafts and antiques.
🍴 Melon de Melon
directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 7:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresMelon de Melon is a popular dessert spot in Nara best known for its Melon Pan Ice-cream Sandwich. Melon Pan literally translates to Melon Bread in Japanese, and is called such due to the sweet breads resemblance to a melon. Cut it in half, add two scoops of ice-cream, and you’ve got the ultimate ice-cream sandwich.
🍴 Daibutsu Ichigo - Sample desserts made with ‘ Great Buddha Strawberries’
directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 6:00pm
Closed: No Closures[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly] [gluten-free friendly]
"Daibutsu ichigo" refers to a special type of strawberry produced in Nara, Japan, known for its size and unique characteristics. The name translates to "Great Buddha Strawberry," drawing inspiration from the famous Great Buddha statue (Daibutsu) located in Nara. These strawberries are large, sweet, and prized for their delicious taste, making them a popular seasonal delicacy in the region.Nakagawa Masashichi - Get your unique Deer souvenirs
directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 7:00pm
Closed: No closuresNakagawa Masashichi is known for its carefully curated souvenirs and gifts, created in collaboration with local artists. These collaborations showcase the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistry, offering visitors the opportunity to take home unique and culturally rich mementos that celebrate both Nara's heritage and its vibrant artistic scene.
Kobaien - Immerse yourself in the world of the Oldest black ink manufactures in Japan
800m / 12 minutes on foot from JR Nara Station - directions
Open: 10:30am ~ 5:00pm -
Closed: No closures
Kobaien is a venerable ink manufacturer celebrated for its rich history dating back to the Edo period (17th century). The shop is famed for producing sumi ink, a crucial tool for traditional Japanese calligraphy and painting. Kobaien's inks are renowned for their deep black color and smooth texture, making them a preferred choice among artists and connoisseurs.
Kofuku-ji - Walk the grounds of the 710AD Buddhist Temples
3500m / 4 minutes on foot from Kobaien - directions
Open: Building admission is open 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No closures
Kofuku-ji is a significant Buddhist temple with a history dating back to the 7th century. The temple complex includes a majestic five-story pagoda, a symbol of Nara, and visitors can explore its historic architecture and beautiful gardens, offering a glimpse into Japan's rich religious heritage.
Cost: Kofuku-ji National Treasure Museum: Adult ¥700
✦ Nara Park - Meet the hundreds of sacred, free roaming deer.
230m / 3 minutes on foot from Kofuku-ji - directions
Nara Park covers 660 hectares and is famous for its temples and sacred free-roaming deer, revered as messengers to the gods. There is a legend that in AD768, the first of the four gods of Kasugataisha Shrine traveled all the way from Ibaraki Prefecture North of Tokyo, to Mt. Mikasa in Nara, on a white deer. Thereafter, deer were considered sacred, and killing one was punishable by death.
Note: Shika Senbei or Deer Crackers for the Deer can be purchased from street vendors set up all around Nara Park if you’d like to feed them, please be aware that the Deer can become pushy when they are aware you have food, so if you’re a little nervous of them I’d recommend just sneaking a pat as you pass by.
🍴 Mizuya Chaya - Japanese Restaurant and Teahouse
directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 3:30pm
Closed: Wednesdays[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly]
Nestled between Kasugataisha Shrine and Todaiji Temple, Mizuya Chaya, sitting by a small river just off the road, looks like a road-side stop from a Samurai drama.
✦Todai-ji Temple - Visit one of Japan's most famous temples
400m / 5 Minutes on foot - directions
Open from 7:30am ~ 5:30pm
Closed: No closures
Until recently, Todai-ji's main hall, the Big Buddha Hall, held the record as the world's largest wooden building, despite the fact that the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size. The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha standing 15 meters tall!
Cost: ¥600
Note: If you’re interested in also visiting the Todaiji Museum, listed below. Purchase the combo ticket for Daibutsu Hall and Todaji Museum for ¥1,000
Todaiji Musuem - View the temples treasures
130m / 2 Minutes on foot - directions
Open: 9:30am ~ 5:00pm“Since its founding in the eighth century Tōdai-ji has suffered from numerous disasters and fires caused by war. Each time the temple compound was rebuilt during this more than twelve hundred year history when steps were also taken to preserve the statues, paintings, works of decorative art, sutras, other religious texts, and historical documents.
The Tōdai-ji Museum was opened in October 2011, as a place to safely store and exhibit these temple treasures. In order to protect works particularly vulnerable to fires and earthquakes such as clay sculptures, each of the galleries and storage rooms was equipped with seismic isolation systems”Cost: ¥600
🍴 Izasa-Nakatani-hompo Yumekaze-hiroba
260m / 4 minutes from Todaiji Museum - directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: Mondays
[Non vegetarian/vegan friendly]
Izasa-Nakatani-hompo Yumekaze-hiroba is renowned for its authentic Japanese cuisine, including their unique persimmon leaf sushi. Established over a century ago, this sushi restaurant offers high-quality dishes and stunning views of the city.
Check out their menu
✦ Kasuga Taisha - Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine and forests
550m / 7 minutes on foot from Izasa-Nakatani-hompo Yumekaze-hiroba - directions
400m / 5 minutes on foot from Todai-ji- directions
Open: 6:30am ~ 5:30pm
Closed: No closures
Kasuga Taisha was established at the same time as the capital and is dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. Kasuga Taisha is famous for its hundreds of lanterns, which have all been donated by worshippers.
There are many shrines in the woods around Kasuga Taisha, twelve of which are dedicated to the twelve lucky gods and located along the path past the main shrine complex.
Cost: Entry into inner area ¥500
✦ Nakitanidou - Meet the masters of Mochi Pounding
550m / 7 minutes on foot - directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 7:00pm -
Closed: No closures
[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly] [gluten-free friendly]
With incredible speed, so fast infact that they won the national championships for mochitsuki in both 2005 and 2006, these master craftsmen put on a mochi-pounding spectacle every half an hour. The mochi is served so fresh that it’s still warm, deliciously chewy and unbelievably soft. There’s no better way to sample this traditional Japanese treat!
Demonstrations: Around every half an hour.
Cost: Buy mochi ¥130 each
🍴 Wakakusa Curry - Japanese Curry Restaurant
400m / 2 minutes on foot from Nakitanidou - directions
Open: Lunch 11:30am ~ 4:00pm / Dinner 5:00pm ~ 7:30pm / Wednesdays 11:30am ~ 3:00pm
Closed: Thursday
[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly]
Wakakusa Curry is a popular eatery in Nara, known for its delectable curry dishes. The restaurant offers a diverse menu of Japanese curry variations, including vegetarian options. It's a cozy and welcoming spot to savor flavorful curry, making it a favorite among locals and visitors exploring Nara's culinary scene.
Check out their menu.
Walk-ins only