If you are in Osaka or Kyoto, Nara is the one 1 Day-trip we feel you must do! You may ask why? Well, because it has the biggest bronze Buddha in Japan, but also because of its enchanted atmosphere. With Deers walking all around you, bowing and the ancient temples and sites it is a hard one not to love!
The only drawback, it is a bit touristy. Nevertheless, there are a few places, all though they may be a bit crowded at times, that are still well worth visiting! Nara, in our opinion, is one of these places. So if you are planning to visit, read on, we tell you what is great to see and leave out the stuff that is not important. So let us share how to spend a perfect day in Nara with you!
Some things to keep in mind
Now, the most important tip is to get here early! As this is a place that is on many many people’s itineraries, we urge you to get up quickly and come here. If you can, arrive before 9 am and you will have a huge advantage. As most visitors get here for 10 am and after. It will give you a slight headstart.
The other thing we suggest is, instead of staying in Osaka, stay a night in Nara. There are great local restaurants and you can save yourself the hassle of getting up early. They also have great affordable accommodation. We stayed at “Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Spring” and loved it! For this Hotel featured an in and outdoor onsen, as well as serves free ramen in the Evening!
Keeping this in mind when planning your trip, but now let’s have a look at how to spend a perfect day in Nara!
1 Day in Nara
9 am – Tōdai-ji
Arrive at Nara and make your way to the big Buddha of Nara, the Temple is called “Tōdai-ji”. It’s about a 20-30min walk and we recommend to ignore the deer (for now). As adorable and novel they seem at first, believe us, you have many better opportunities to take a picture of and with them later…
9.30 am – Big Buddha of Nara
As you walk in, get an audio guide at the entrance. They are multilingual and at 500¥ very affordable. It will make your visit more meaningful, as you will get a chance to learn about the history, as well as the design of this amazing Temple. You will spend an average of 1h here before moving on to get up and close with the furry messengers of the gods: the deers!
10.30 am – Hello Deers
As you walk out, we recommend to buy some crackers to feed the deer, they will set you back 200¥, but it’s great fun! Another tip here, break up the crackers and feed small parts instead of the whole, it will last you so much longer. And we know, sounds logical right?
If you feel like a small snack or Tea, we recommend “Kasuganinaijaya Tea House” as it is located right inside the Park and on the way to “Kasuga Taisha” our next stop.
12 pm – Kasuga Taisha
As you are walking up to “Kasuga Taisha” you will be walking through this beautiful forest and you will positively feel the studio ghibli vibe here! Once you arrive you may ask yourself if you should pay another entrance fee (500¥) and the answer is “YES” because this one as well is worth it!
As you walk into this 1300-year-old Shrine, follow the route indicated. As you pass by the many lanterns, you will probably think, these would be so beautiful all light up. But sure it’s bright daytime, right? So not a chance…
Well, as you continue, you will be able to enter the inner part of the temple and the amazing thing is, it features a room, dark, with the most beautifully designed lanterns light up. Almost like being in a fairy tale.
1 pm – Meoto Daikokusha
As you leave Kasuga Taisha, keep to your left as this will lead you straight to “Meoto Daikokusha”. This small Shrine, dedicated to couples is often quiet as not many people come here. It is lovely with its heart-shaped Ema to take your wishes.
Sure, who does not need a bit of luck with the matters of the heart?
1.30 pm – Time to Explore
Explore the forest and the Rest Nara has to offer. Check out some shops and find a place to eat. You will see, there are now so many visitors and you will feel lucky you came early!
Depending on your interests, we recommend the following things to do in the afternoon before you return to your Base:
- Nara National Museum, showcasing a lot of Buddhist art
- Kofukuji Temple, with its Wooden Pagoda
- Japanese Home Cooking, enjoy a lunch at a Japanese Home @2pm (reservation needed)
What else?
Well, we hope this helps you to get a better idea of how to spend a perfect day in Nara. You may think, there is so much more. Yes, Nara has so many small shrines and parks, but it is so easy to get lost in time and we always feel less is more. Enjoy a few places instead of running from one spot to another. This is why we also leave you with time in the afternoon to get lost, explore, eat and have fun before heading on…
