Nara is a must-see destination for those interested in traditional Japanese culture, history and temples.
Known for its concentration of some of the oldest and most important temples in Japan,
Nara is also popular for its beautiful park and hundreds of deer.
Located less than an hour away by train from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara is popularly visited
in a side trip from either of those cities, but it has also enough attractions on its
own to warrant an overnight stay.
The city’s main attractions are concentrated on the grounds of its vast and scenic park
which is only a few minutes walk away from the Kintetsu Nara Station, or a twenty minutes
walk away from the JR Nara Station.
Here’s a very general history of Nara in under 30 seconds:
Back in the old days, Japan’s capital was moved to a new location every time there was
a new emperor.
However in 710, this custom was abolished and Nara was established as Japan’s first
permanent capital that would outlast the reigns of emperors.
At this time in Japan, Buddhism was at its height, and therefore the country’s most
important early temples are located in Nara.
The Buddhist temples here became so important that the government feared being overpowered
by them.
Thus, the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784, and then to Kyoto where it would remain
for over 1000 years.
From temples to museums to deer and beautiful scenery, there is a lot to see and do in Nara.
To give you a place to start when planning your trip to the area, here are our top 5
recommended things to do in Nara.
Number 5: Kasuga Taisha
Established in 768, Kasuga Taisha was the family shrine of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful
aristocratic family that greatly influenced Japan’s history over many centuries.
It is dedicated to the deity protector of the city.
Nestled in the forest at the edge of the city, the shrine is popular for its thousands of
bronze and stone lanterns, donated by worshippers over the centuries.
These lanterns are lit twice a year during the Lantern Festival in early February and
in mid August.
The shrine also features a prototype style of architecture that would be used when constructing
later shrines, known as Kasuga-zukuri.
Number 4: Isuien Garden
This beautiful Japanese garden located in central Nara has two different sections, a
front garden and a rear garden.
The front garden dates back to the 17th century and features a large tea house where visitors
can enjoy a cup of tea next to a pond.
The rear garden centered around a large pond was created more recently in 1899.
A pleasant network of walking paths, including bridges and stepping stones over water, lets
visitors stroll around and admire the garden with its well kept bushes and trees, small
teahouses and even a watermill.
The borrowed scenery of the Todaiji and Mount Wakakusayama, visible from the walking path
along the pond make Isuien Garden the nicest in Nara in our opinion.
Also, next to the garden and included in the admission fee is a museum showcasing artifacts
from ancient China and Korea from the collection of the family who owns Isuien Garden.
Number 3: Kofukuji Temple
This ancient temple established in Nara in 710 used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara.
Since the Fujiwara were the most powerful clan in the country at the time, Kofukuji
was also one of the most powerful temples in Japan for centuries.
The temple grounds features one of the tallest 5-storied pagodas in Japan, which is also
a symbol and landmark of Nara.
Kofukuji’s main temple hall, the Central Golden Hall, had been destroyed by fire three
centuries ago, however after years of construction it was rebuilt in its original size and opened
to the public again in 2018 looking very nearly like it did when the Fujiwara walked its hallways.
Next to the Central Golden Hall lies the Eastern Golden Hall which features an impressive Buddha Statue.
If you are visiting Kofukuji Temple, also be sure not to miss its National Treasure
Museum which displays one of most impressive collections of Buddhist art in all of Japan.
Number 2: Nara Park
This wide park located in between Nara’s main attractions is home to hundreds of deer
for which the city is famous.
Thought of as the messengers of the gods, deer in Nara park are so revered that they
have been designated as a national treasure.
Two times of the year when the park is exceptionally pleasant are during the cherry blossom season
in the first half of April when beautiful pink petals highlight many of the trees, and
in November when the autumn colors emerge.
Although the deer are mostly tame, some can be aggressive if they think you will feed
them, so we recommend to be careful and not to teese the deer if you are planning to buy
deer crackers sold at various spots throughout the park.
Near the entrance to the park is the National Museum, which is one of the best museums to
learn about Japanese Buddhism and Buddhist statues.
Number 1: Todaiji Temple
Todaiji temple is one of Japan’s most prominent temples and one of Nara’s main landmarks.
Established a few years after the capital in the 8th century, it became the head of
a nationwide network of temples.
Although Todaiji’s main hall was reconstructed in 1709 on a smaller scale, it until recently
held the record as the world’s largest wooden building, and houses a 15 meter tall bronze
statue of Buddha, one of the biggest Buddha statues in the country.
To give you an idea, the open-hand of the Buddha is as tall as a human being.
Inside the hall, visitors can find models of the previous construction, as well as smaller
Buddhist statues.
A popular attraction is a pillar with a hole the size of the Buddha statue’s nostril.
If visitors manage to squeeze through, it is believed that they will reach enlightenment
in their next life.
A typical visit to Todaiji will have you start at the beautiful and large Nandaimon gate,
one of the largest temple entrance gates in Japan.
Completed in 1203, it houses two statues of the Nio Guardian Kings, both designated National
treasures together with the gate itself.
Next to the gate is the Todaiji museum exhibiting a large collection of religious and cultural
treasures, such as large Buddha statues.
Walking up the hill to the right of the main hall gets you to a few more temple halls that
belong to Todaiji.
Among them is the Nigatsudo Hall which offers scenic views of the area from its balcony.
This is also the main site of the Omizutori, a collection of Buddhist rituals, held annually
from March 1 to 14.
During this event, giant torches reaching up to 6 meters long are lit and carried across
the wooden temple’s balcony.
We hope this top five list gives
you a good place to start when planning your trip to Nara.
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