Japan: Honshu: Kinki: Nara-ken: Nara Edit this page
  1. Map

Nara aka: 奈良

82 people want to go here. 290 people have been here.
98% of people who have been to Nara think it's worth visiting. The most popular destinations in Nara are Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Daibutsuden. Nara is featured on the lists National Geographic Traveler's The New Grand Tour, All 911 UNESCO Heritage Sites, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Places in Nara have been tagged deer and temple.

Lists about this place



Popular places

  1. 1
    Nara Park
  2. 2
    Todaiji Temple
  3. 3
    Daibutsuden
  4. 4
    Kasuga Taisha
  5. 5
    Kofukuji
  6. 6
    Todai-Ji
  7. 7
    Asukadera
  8. 8
    Isui-en
  9. 9
    Asuka
  10. 10
    Nandaimon
  11. 11
    Yakushiji
  12. 12
    East Pagoda
  13. 13
    Kasugayama Primeval Forest
  14. 14
    Aska
  15. 15
    Mount Kasuga

Add a place in Nara

Write an entry Entries about this place

Untitled by funkfaerie

So close to Kyoto and so much to do, it’s a great place to go. Even if you don’t like temples, the whole atmosphere of the place is great. Watch out for the deer… I was one of them attack a small child, but then that’s what you get for having them in such close proximity to people with millions of people a day stuffing shikasenbei in their faces.

over 4 years ago

...those poor deer... by ilubmoo

I guess it’s because I went during Golden Week (a week when most of the Japanese are on vacation) so it was massively crowded, but my experience in Nara wasn’t that great…

I felt really bad for the deer—they seemed so miserable! They’re always surrounded by people and forced to eat the little biscuits—even when though they’ve had enough. I was really looking forward to petting and feeding the deer myself, but when I saw the number of people forcing the food into their mouth, I just couldn’t bear to do it.

I remember seeing this one couple who tried to feed a deer, but since it wouldn’t eat it, they stuck the biscuit into its hooves (to make it seem like it’s holding it) and took a picture on their cellphones, all the while the deer is just sitting there, looking sad. :/

Todaiji was awesome, though.

over 5 years ago

Untitled by SaphMoon

The temple is very nice; lots of interesting stuff inside and the outside is beautiful.

But watch out for the deer; they can be malicious if you have rice crackers or any other sort of food.

over 5 years ago

Untitled by joie de vivre

We visited Nara as a day trip from Kyoto. Shortly after leaving the station, we walked through the small central business district, and came to Nara’s park. We saw the famous five story pagoda, and herds of the tame deer that roam the park. We then went to the where the daibutsu is housed. This temple is still the largest wooden building in the world, even though the latest version of it from the 1700s is 2/3s the size of the original, which burned down.

After lunch, we then went to Shinyakushiji, which was built in the mid 700s. All but one of the original statues guarding the image of the buddha are still there. The building was in some disrepair when I visited 20+ years ago, and gloomily lit, such that it really felt like it was ancient but decrepit. They have since spruced the place up considerably, and I think it is much nicer. They had a photo of a model of one of the statues painted as it would have appeared 1200+ years ago – I am reminded that I have read that those classic white marble greek statues were also apparently originally brightly painted.

From there we walked back in the sticky heat back to the Nara train station and back to Kyoto.

over 5 years ago

Untitled by p4ntz

You can get a free English-speaking guide here, through the tourist office. They will walk you through Todaiji Temple, and take you to any shops or restaurants you like. Our guide was the wonderful Yoko, she spoke excellent English and was so knowledgeable.

She showed us where to get second-hand kimonos and took us to a restaurant that specialised in Oyster Katsudon. Yum!

over 6 years ago

Untitled by Shorter

Make sure you go to Nara park – that’s the main congregation point of the deer. And the enormous Buddha temple is gorgeous. There’s a pillar there with a hole in the base – if you can fit through it you have good luck. Or something.

over 6 years ago

AMAZING by toragal

sooo great—- its in the mountains… its soo lovely- i went when there some snow on the ground it was sooooo nice!!!

train station is close too…. :)

over 7 years ago

Bronze Buddha by HariSeldon

The Daibutsu-den is the largest timber frame building in the world. It houses a 15 meter high Bronze Buddha. I don’t know what inspires more awe it’s beauty or that it was first cast in 750 then recast in 1200.

It was part of my secret four Buddha tour of Japan. Must be seen in context with the Iron Buddha, the Paper Buddha, and Usuki Stone Buddhas.

over 7 years ago

Watch out for the deer.... by MShades

It’s the Old Grandmother of Kansai – quiet, likes to keep to itself, but full of history and wonder. And deer. Lots of deer. You are legally obligated, by the way, to get a photo of yourself with one of the deer. I’m pretty sure they won’t let you leave without one…

Be sure to see Todaiji, and see if you could fit into Buddha’s nose!

over 7 years ago

These Deer Need to Get Jobs! by jimmiev

All the deer bow. But they’re always asking for a handout. Felt like I was back in San Francisco with homeless deer instead shaking me down for a handout.

This place is great! School kids want to practice English “Very please to meet you!”. Great for taking pictures and soooo much to do.

over 7 years ago

See all 13 entries

Ask a question Travel questions

M Sy asks,
““i'll be going to Japan this March and was thinking, where should I go? I'm visiting tokyo-osaka-kyoto. Hoping not to miss the nice views, museums, restaurants, malls and japanese experience of the country.”” 3 months ago

People who have been here

funkfaerie
ilubmoo
MShades
joie de vivre
jimmiev
SaphMoon
p4ntz
Shorter
toragal
HariSeldon

See all 290 people

Recent Changes

Related Articles

  • travel.nytimes.com Happy 1,300th to Nara, Japan by HIROKO TABUCHI January 03, 2010 The ancient city is preparing to celebrate its history in style with a yearlong festival. (read article)
  • travel.nytimes.com Introduction to Nara by FROMMER'S November 20, 2006 In the beginnings of Japanese history, the nation's capital was moved to a new site each time a new emperor came to the throne. In 710, however, the first permanent Japanese capital was set up at Nara. Not that it turned out to be so permanent -- after only 74 years, the capital was moved first to Nagaoka and shortly thereafter to Kyoto, where it remained for more than 1,000 years. What's important about those 74 years, however, is that they witnessed the birth of Japan's arts, crafts, and literature, as Nara imported everything from religion to art and architecture from China. Even the city itself, laid out in a rectangular grid pattern, was modeled after Chinese concepts. It was during the Nara Period that Japan's first historical account, first mythological chronicle, and first poetry anthology (with 4,173 poems) were written. Buddhism also flourished, and Nara grew as the political and cultural center of the land with numerous temples, shrines, pagodas, and palaces. (read article)
  • travel.nytimes.com Introduction to Nara by FROMMER'S November 20, 2006 In the beginnings of Japanese history, the nation's capital was moved to a new site each time a new emperor came to the throne. In 710, however, the first permanent Japanese capital was set up at Nara. Not that it turned out to be so permanent -- after only 74 years, the capital was moved first to Nagaoka and shortly thereafter to Kyoto, where it remained for more than 1,000 years. What's important about those 74 years, however, is that they witnessed the birth of Japan's arts, crafts, and literature, as Nara imported everything from religion to art and architecture from China. Even the city itself, laid out in a rectangular grid pattern, was modeled after Chinese concepts. It was during the Nara Period that Japan's first historical account, first mythological chronicle, and first poetry anthology (with 4,173 poems) were written. Buddhism also flourished, and Nara grew as the political and cultural center of the land with numerous temples, shrines, pagodas, and palaces. (read article)
  • travel.nytimes.com Introduction to Nara by FROMMER'S November 20, 2006 In the beginnings of Japanese history, the nation's capital was moved to a new site each time a new emperor came to the throne. In 710, however, the first permanent Japanese capital was set up at Nara. Not that it turned out to be so permanent -- after only 74 years, the capital was moved first to Nagaoka and shortly thereafter to Kyoto, where it remained for more than 1,000 years. What's important about those 74 years, however, is that they witnessed the birth of Japan's arts, crafts, and literature, as Nara imported everything from religion to art and architecture from China. Even the city itself, laid out in a rectangular grid pattern, was modeled after Chinese concepts. It was during the Nara Period that Japan's first historical account, first mythological chronicle, and first poetry anthology (with 4,173 poems) were written. Buddhism also flourished, and Nara grew as the political and cultural center of the land with numerous temples, shrines, pagodas, and palaces. (read article)
  • www.nytimes.com NARA OFFERS A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF TREASURES by AMANDA MAYER STINCHECUM; AMANDA MAYER STINCHECUM, A SPECIALIST IN JAPANESE TEXTILES, IS CURRENTLY WRITING A GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL KYOTO SHOPS TO BE PUBLISHED BY JOHN WEATHERHILL. September 14, 1986 (read article)
  • query.nytimes.com NARA OFFERS A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF TREASURES (read article)
  • query.nytimes.com NARA OFFERS A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF TREASURES (read article)