Japan 🇯🇵 - Nara

Tips 👏

• Nara is incredibly popular for its bowing deer, but there is much more to see, including some of Japan's most impressive temples.
• The deer in Nara Park are generally friendly but can get aggressive if they see you have food. Be mindful when feeding them "shika senbei" (deer crackers).
• Most temples are within walking distance of each other within Nara Park, making it a very walkable day trip.
• Todai-ji Temple is a massive highlight; don't miss the "Great Buddha" inside. Try the "pillar challenge" inside for good luck (if you can squeeze through!).
• If you take the Kintetsu Limited Express train, remember you need two tickets: the basic fare (paid via IC card like Suica/Pasmo) plus the limited express supplement (booked online or at the counter).
• Arriving early (around 10:30 AM or earlier) helps beat the biggest crowds, though the park is huge enough to find quiet spots.

🏠 Accommodation

We didn't stay overnight in Nara itself. Instead, we used Ostay Shin-Osaka Hotel Apartment in Osaka as our base. It was a convenient and affordable option with a clean, apartment-style setup. Since Nara is so close to Osaka, staying in Osaka and doing a day trip is a very common and practical strategy.

🚲 Getting there

We took the train from Osaka-Namba Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station. We booked the express train in advance.

A crucial logistical detail: for the Kintetsu Limited Express train, you effectively pay a "double fare." We booked the express seat ticket online but also had to tap our IC cards at the gates for the base fare. It sounds complicated, but it's quite cheap and smooth once you know. Upon arrival at Kintetsu-Nara Station, we hopped on a local bus to get straight to the main park area, though it is also walkable.

⏱ Duration

We spent about half a day in Nara, arriving at 10:30 AM and leaving for Kyoto at 3:00 PM. While we managed to see the main highlights, in hindsight, a full day in Nara would have been better to explore at a more relaxed pace. The park is vast, and rushing off to Kyoto mid-afternoon felt a bit tight.

Nara Park & The Deer 🦌

The undisputed stars of Nara are the deer. We arrived around 10:30 AM and immediately started exploring Nara Park. The deer roam freely and are quite comfortable around humans. We bought some deer crackers (shika senbei) from local vendors to feed them. It is a fun experience, but be warned: once they know you have food, they will hunt you down!

Todai-ji Temple & The Pillar Challenge ⛩️

Our main stop was the magnificent Todai-ji Temple. This place is massive and houses the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world.

Inside the main hall, there is a famous wooden pillar with a hole at its base. Legend says the hole is the same size as the Great Buddha's nostril, and squeezing through it grants you enlightenment or good fortune. It is a fun challenge to watch (and try if you are small enough!).

Kasuga Taisha & Kofuku-ji 🏮

After Todai-ji Temple, we walked to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns. The atmosphere here, nestled in the forest, feels ancient and serene. It is definitely a must-see.

On our walk back toward the city, we stopped by the peaceful Sagi Pond and saw Kofuku-ji Temple. Unfortunately, parts of it were under renovation during our visit so we couldn't see much, but looked amazing on the pictures.

Lunch & Departure 🍜

Before heading to the station, we grabbed a late lunch at Tonkatsu Ganko Nara. We had an amazing tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) which was the perfect fuel after all the walking, strongly recommend (one of the best of the trip). We jumped on the 3:00 PM express train to Kyoto to spend the evening there. Again, the train required the double-ticket system (booking + IC card). While the evening in Kyoto was nice, if we were to do it again, we would probably linger in Nara a bit longer to soak in the sunset at the park.

Hope this was helpful, you can ask us any questions on Instagram.