A Day Trip to Nara, Japan’s Other Ancient Capital

Kyoto’s status as Japan’s ancient capital is well known, but perhaps less known to visitors is that Japan had another ancient capital — Nara, which was actually Japan’s first permanent capital (from 710 to 794). Today, Nara is better known among international tourists for its bowing deer, but it has much more to offer than that! Like Kyoto, Nara has a rich history and cultural heritage, as evidenced by its many temples and shrines.

If you ever find yourself in Japan’s Kansai region, don’t skip this historical town; close to Osaka and Kyoto, it’s well worth a day trip. Get the most out of your Nara excursion with this handy guide.

Two railways link Nara to the rest of the Kansai region: Kintetsu and JR. Do note that the privately owned Kintetsu Railway is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Kintetsu Nara Station offers convenient access to Nara’s major attractions. With Kofuku-ji Temple and Nara Park just a few minutes’ walk away, you'll find yourself immersed in the city's charm in no time. Meanwhile, alighting at JR Nara Station will require a walk of 15–20 minutes to these attractions; however, this might be a more cost-effective option for Japan Rail Pass holders who’d rather not spend additional money on transportation.

While the extensive rail networks can get to Nara from practically anywhere in Kansai, Kyoto and Osaka are the most convenient starting points for a trip to Nara. The fastest way to get to Nara would be to hop on a Kintetsu Limited Express train from Kyoto, which can take you to Nara in just 35–40 minutes. A journey on a regular Kintetsu will take around an hour.

As for JR trains, a regular train from Kyoto can reach Nara in 45 minutes to around an hour, depending on whether you take a rapid or local train. From Osaka, it will take less than an hour (around 50 minutes).

Nara can refer to either the prefecture or the city, but the part of Nara Prefecture that most tourists stick to is the eponymous capital city. Nara City is quite compact, with many of its most popular attractions linked by the vast Nara Park. As such, you can easily explore Nara on foot.

But if walking isn’t your thing, you can also get around the city by bike or take the city bus; in addition to regular bus lines, three loop lines cover Nara’s top sightseeing spots (though some only run on weekends and public holidays).

With most of Nara’s attractions being historical sites, your Nara day trip will mostly be a step back in time to old-world Japan.

Nara is a prime area for temple and shrine hopping, but if you’d prefer to diversify your itinerary, we recommend sticking to these three sites, all of which are in or near Nara Park and within reasonable walking distance of one another: Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Kofuku-ji Temple. All of these are home to numerous national treasures and other precious cultural artifacts, which is why they are part of the collective UNESCO World Heritage site known as the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”.

The majestic Todai-ji Temple is a sprawling complex with several annexes, such as the Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do halls, as well as the Todai-ji Museum. Its most famous hall, however, is its main one — the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), which is one of the world’s largest wooden structures.

The Daibutsuden houses a towering 15-meter-tall Buddha statue considered one of the largest — if not the largest — bronze Buddha statues in the world. One of the pillars behind it has a hole at its base that’s said to be the size of the Buddha’s nostrils, and legend has it that anyone who can successfully squeeze through it will gain enlightenment and good luck.

The Nandaimon (Great South Gate) is another impressive structure of Todai-ji; take the opportunity to enter or exit through this gate. Just outside the gate is a row of souvenir shops, many of which sell senbei (rice crackers) that can be fed to the deer wandering nearby.

Once you start seeing deer all around you, you’ll know that you’re not too far from Nara Park, also known as Nara Deer Park. Believed to be messengers to the gods, these animals were allowed to roam freely due to their sacred status. Now considered symbols of Nara, the deer at this park continue to be protected to this day.

Feel free to take a break at this park and admire the scenery (and the deer!) before you continue exploring Nara, but don’t underestimate the deer! Though they may seem cuddly and harmless, and some might even bow back if you bow to them, remember that they’re still wild animals at heart. For yours and the deer’s sakes, keep your pockets clear and your bags closed, and don’t tease or provoke the deer.

Kofuku-ji Temple, with its architectural wonders, can be viewed from the outside if you’re short on time. Of particular note is its five-storied pagoda, which is another of Nara’s iconic symbols, as well as Japan’s second tallest wooden pagoda.

If you’d like a more in-depth exploration, admission is required to enter the Central Golden Hall, the temple’s main hall; the Eastern Golden Hall, which houses a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha; and the Kofukuji National Treasure Museum, where the temple’s collection of art and relics is on display.

Meanwhile, the strikingly vermilion Kasuga Taisha Shrine is famed for its many lanterns: around 2,000 stone lanterns lining both sides of its approach and around 1,000 bronze lanterns hanging from its main building. These lanterns are only lit up during two festivals, though. Many only visit Kasuga Taisha to see its main building, but if time and interest permit, check out the rest of the shrine grounds as well; the area is dotted with sub-shrines.

Other sites of interest in Nara City include the Nara National Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of Buddhist art; Isuien and Yoshikien, two scenic and tranquil Japanese gardens that are located just across each other; and Naramachi, a traditional merchant’s quarter that’s filled with well-preserved, old-school streetscapes.

While Nara may not be as renowned as neighboring Osaka for its culinary delights, its cuisine is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Nara’s culinary specialties, some of which date back to its time as the imperial capital, offer a unique and intriguing taste of history and culture.

Immerse yourself in Nara's rich tea culture by starting your day with a steaming bowl of chagayu. This rice porridge, affectionately known as okaisan by the locals, has been a beloved breakfast dish in Nara since ancient times. Its flavor and texture serve as testament to Nara’s unique culinary traditions, which have been passed down through generations.

When it comes to fruits, Nara’s autumn persimmons are prized for their sweet but subtly astringent taste. It isn’t just the fruit itself that the locals love; Nara has a variety of persimmon products, ranging from dried persimmons to pickled persimmons and persimmon vinegar.

Also related to the local fondness for persimmons is kakinoha-zushi, fermented fish (traditionally mackerel, but variations exist) wrapped in persimmon leaves, which are said to have antimicrobial properties. Unlike the persimmon fruit, this delicacy is available in Nara year-round. In fact, it may be one of the most common Nara specialties.

Another savory specialty of Nara is Miwa Somen, thin white noodles that, despite their chewy texture, are firm enough not to become mushy after boiling. While somen noodles can be found all over Japan, this type of somen is named after Nara Prefecture’s Mount Miwa region, whose pure spring water contributes to the quality of the noodles.

It is said that thousands of years ago, a son of a priest started cultivating wheat which was eventually used to make somen noodles, and their fame spread nationwide during the Edo period (1603–1867), as travelers and pilgrims who used Miwa as a rest stop took these noodles home. But don’t worry; you don’t have to go all the way to Mount Miwa to try these noodles! They’re served in many ways — cold, hot, or even fried — at restaurants all over Nara, and you can take them home as souvenirs, too.

As for sweets, no one does kuzumochi — mochi made with starch from the arrowroot plant — like Nara, as spring water from the Yoshino area is perfect for making refined, high-quality kuzu starch. The translucent appearance and jelly-like texture of kuzumochi make it an especially refreshing treat in summer.

The local sake is a must-try, too. After all, Nara is regarded as the birthplace of modern sake, with many precursors to today’s established sake-brewing techniques originating from Nara’s Shoryaku-ji Temple. Several long-established local breweries still stand today; some are open for brewery tours and sake-tasting experiences. Easily, the best-known brewery in town is Harushika Sake Imanishi Seibei in the Naramachi area, which has been in business since 1884.

You can stay in Nara but we also recommend staying in Kyoto or Osaka, as both of these areas are convenient transportation hubs and are more suited for multiple days of sightseeing. Right outside Kyoto and Osaka stations, you will already find no shortage of hotels fit for various needs; some hotels are even connected to the station complex.