1-Day Nara Travel Itinerary: A Japanese City Blending Modernity And Tradition

“An investment in travel is an investment in yourself”-Matthew Karsten

Kyoto To Nara

After you are done living Kyoto to the fullest, there are several simple ways to get to Nara from the city. You can catch a train from Kyoto for a short 50 minute train ride to both JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara. Trains are plentiful and run every half hour. If you want to save some money you can take the standard Kintetsu line train (either direct or with a transfer at Yamato-Saidaiji). It takes the same amount of time.

Just to get your bearings on this great city’s location, it is 1 hour from Kobe, 4 1/2 from Hiroshima and 6 from Tokyo. Combining it with Kyoto is the logical choice.

Getting Around Nara

Nara, with a population of 350,000, is a very small city, and you can walk to most of the things you want to do there. It is a great place to use a bicycle or the local buses take you to all the main sites. Most of its major attractions are within walking distance of one another. There are also local buses that run to the main sites. No reason to spend on a taxi.

Historical Sites In Nara

Nara was the capital of Japan in the 8th century and is one of the country’s most historical and cultural locations. There are dozens of must-visit cultural attractions you must see during your trip. You can see Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and imperial palace, museums and gardens in Nara. Many of the neighborhoods are preserved with outstanding architecture. There are eight world heritage sites.

The capital was moved to Kyoto because the government felt Nara’s Buddhist temples were becoming too influential.powerful. The buddha at the Todaiji Temple, the pagoda of Kofukuji Temple and the lanterns from Kasuga Taisha shrine’s are examples of both Buddhism and Shintoism influence on Nara and you can still feel it today. Certainly, if you like to experience historical travel, be sure to check out our inspiring Black history destinations to visit on your next vacation.

Nara Historical Tours

When you arrive you hopefully have set up your time with a local volunteer private tour guide. It is a perfect way to hit the highlights and have your orientation to the area.You can book it 90 days in advance and you have less of a chance if you wait until weeks before arrival. These are half day or full day events and all you have to pay for is the guide’s entrance admissions, lunch, and transportation. Well worth having someone who knows the local area. There are a number of volunteer organizations who provide guides. Some mentioned are the SGG Goodwill Guide Club, Nara Student Guide and the Sakura Volunteer Guide Club.

Go to www.japan.travel/en/plan/list-ofvolunteer-guides/ for the complete list.

If you have interest in learning about Buddhism, the Nara National Museum is focused on Japanese Buddhist art. The museum shows you the major events that shaped the religion. The building itself is very impressive to enjoy as well.

The museum is convenient to get to as well. 15 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station or a half hour walk from Nara Station. Don’t want to walk? take the City Loop Bus #2 from either station. Get off at the Himuro Shrine/National Museum bus stop which is right next to the museum.

Todaiji is a well known temple in Nara and should not be missed and a must-stop for any visitor to the city. Todaiji has the largest wooden building in Japan and houses the bronze Great Buddha statue.

Isuien Garden is a Japanese garden to see in town. It is broken up into two sections.The front garden which was during the Edo period in 1673, has the Sanshutei Tea House where you can enjoy a meal or some tea. The back garden is from the Meiji period in the early 20th century.

If you are interested in learning more about historical and cultural travel on your next trip, be sure to read about our top Native American travel destinations to learn heritage in the U.S.

Art In Nara

As mentioned, this is the place for Buddhist Art. From the year 711 many temples and shrines were built. Approved by the government, paintings and sculptures were made.

Nara also as a modern feel. Old Edo-era structures have been converted into art galleries, coffee spots and craft beer locations.

Eating In Nara

When you visit Nara Japan, it is essential to plan where to eat. Nara is a hub of authentic cultural dishes, foods, and drinks. As you plan your trip, consider famous dishes like traditional rice porridge, green tea rice, persimmon leaf sushi, and mehari rice balls. Depending on where you visit, you can likely additionally find delicious boiled noodles, noppe, vinegar persimmon, chicken hot pot, and stewed yamato-mana. If you are visiting downtown Nara, be sure to try famous establishments like Mellow Café. On the other hand, if you venture out to Naramachi, consider delicious restaurants like Edogawa Naramachi, Kura, 2Mistletoes, and Kameya. Remember to plan your trip around food allergies if you have any in order to stay safe during your vacation. As you plan your vacation to Nara Japan, plan the best restaurants to eat at.

Nara Japan Street Food Guide

A big highlight of your Nara Japan travel should be all the delicious street food. There are plenty of delicious locations for street food around Kintetsu-Nara Station, as well as nearby Nara Park. If you are looking for something authentic and affordable, consider trying some mochi, persimmon leaf sushi, dorayaki, or Takoyaki. Of course, there are also plenty of snacks for visitors, such as soft-serve ice cream and “deer poop.” If you are planning a food travel trip to Nara Japan, be sure to try some delicious street food. For more food travel recommendations, be sure to read our Native American food travel guide.

When To Visit Nara

When you plan your Nara Japan vacation, you need to consider the best time of year to visit. The two most popular times to visit Nara Japan every year are in the Fall, as well as the springtime. In the Fall, Nara is an excellent location to see all of Japan’s beautiful autumn colors. The amazing fall foliage creates a breathtaking appearance across the city parks, temples, shrines, and gardens. At the same time, many vacationers choose to visit Nara during the springtime to experience the cherry blossoms. Nara is a premier site to enjoy, witness, and admire Japan’s world famous cherry blossoms every year. The gardens, parks, shrines, and streets of the city are studded with beautiful cherry trees, creating a spectacular abundance of scenery.

Annual Festivals In Nara

Before you arrange your vacation to Nara Japan, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the annual traditions and festivities. As mentioned earlier, many tourists choose to visit Nara in either the fall or springtime in order to admire the Japanese scenery. However, there are still many festivities that occur throughout the year you should remain aware of. Every January, there is the annual Yamayaki, or Grass Burning Festival. In February, then again in August, the city is taken over for the yearly Lantern Festival, or Mantoro. Every March, the city organizes the Omizutori, or water-drawing ceremony. As May approaches, the city of Nara prepares for the annual Firelight Noh, or Takigi Ono Festival. Before you visit Nara Japan, it is most effective to familiarize yourself with the annual festivals that take place every year.

Don’t Forget The Deer

And last but not least are the deer. You will see them everywhere and they roam throughout the town. There are more than 1200 of them around. You are allowed to feed them and some of them actually bow to you. You cannot feed them human food. In the Shinto traditions, deer are considered sacred, and because of that, Nara’s deer have even been designated a national treasure.

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