A Day Trip to Nara, Discovering Beautiful Temples and Shrines

A day trip to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka is a must if you want to discover some of the most beautiful temples in Japan. And while temples and shrines are the Nara must-see, one of the top attractions in Nara is the deer.

Nara is often overshadowed by Kyoto, but you would definitely miss out on not visiting it. I loved Kyoto so much that I was not sure what to expect from my day trip to Nara. As a matter of fact, Nara ended up being one of the best experiences in Japan.

In case you wonder if Nara is worth visiting, the answer is a firm “yes!”. You’ll get to admire stunning Buddhist temples, splendid Shinto shrines, and more than a thousand deer strolling freely in Nara Park. Although I only spent one day in Nara, the city took my breath away. And my jaw dropped as I discovered Nara temples, every one of them beautiful in its own way.

Nara’s history in a nutshell

Founded in 710 A.D., over the following centuries, Nara’s development was strongly affected by influences from China and Korea, and the city soon became the cradle of Japanese culture, art, and architecture.

Its ancient origins make it a city rich in historical and cultural places. As a result, a group of Nara historic monuments became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Unlike many cities in Japan, ravaged across the centuries by earthquakes and fires, many historical buildings in Nara survived time, wars, and natural disasters. Today, the shrines and temples in Nara Park are some of Asia’s most stunning ancient architectural complexes. Without a doubt, a site whose beauty will stick in my memory forever.

Nara day trip: a few quick tips

Comfortably accessible, it’s very easy to have a day trip to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka. It takes less than 1 hour to travel from Kyoto to Nara, and the journey from Osaka to Nara is even shorter.

What to do in Nara

Temples, palaces, sanctuaries, and enchanting gardens are Nara main attractions. However, there is no shortage of other places. And while most people (including myself) have a day trip to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka if you have enough time, it’s worth staying one night. I was amazed by the sheer number of things to see in Nara, and I wish I had planned to overnight.

The lovely natural setting of Nara Park hosts some of the most beautiful ancient temples and shrines in Japan, and their exceptional beauty and architectural perfection earned them the inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Like Miyajima, Nara is also famous for the tame deer roaming in the park (and sometimes in the city as well). Considered divine messengers according to the Shinto doctrine, the deer welcome the visitors, especially when offered the biscuits sold by the vendors scattered all over the park. I confess that I’m not much into feeding animals, but I appreciate that at least the “Shika sembei“, as the ‘deer-biscuits’ are called, are a good way to keep the deer’s health under control.

Discovering Nara temples

Walking in Nara Park was a string of surprises. As soon as I thought I had just seen the most magnificent architectural piece, I came across another one as stunning as the one before. Every temple and shrine is breathtaking in its way. Altogether, the 7 of them make for an impressive ensemble of ancient Asian architecture.

READ ALSO – KYOTO: FALLING IN LOVE WITH GINKAKUJI, THE SILVER PAVILION

Kofuku-Ji Temple

Retrospectively, maybe the ‘least impressive’ (in relative terms) was the Kofuku-Ji Temple and the annexed five-storied pagoda. The temple dates back to 1426 A.D. and is the first building you meet entering the park arriving from the train station. The grey and overcast sky probably didn’t help, and I wonder how I would have felt had I seen the temple on a sunny day.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

I continued my walk across the park, surrounded by deer peacefully grazing in the woods, until I reached an enchanting path fringed by a myriad of stone lanterns (more than 3,000, as I found out later). The way, immersed in the verdant forest, looked like the road to heaven, and somehow it was, as I realized once I faced the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

Founded in 768 A.D., until 1863 the Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine was rebuilt every 20 years – however, keeping its original structure – to follow the Shinto concept of purity. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan, with its sloping roof, the vermilion columns, and the hundreds of hanging bronze lanterns. In the past, the lanterns used to be lit every night, but now this happens only a few times during the Lantern Festival in early February and mid-August.

I could only try and imagine how mesmerizing the Kasuga Shrine must be at night, with its over 3,000 lanterns lit up, offering an incredible vision of shadows and lights, and I wish I had been there at the right time.

Nigatsu-Do Hall: The most beautiful temple in Nara?

Barely mentioned in the guidebooks, the Nigatsu-Do Hall was one of my favorite spots and one of the highlights of my day trip to Nara. The Nigatsu-Do Hall, or the ‘Hall of the Second Month’, is part of the beautiful Todai-Ji Temple complex, the largest wooden monument in the world.

Most visitors rush to visit Todai-Ji and the impressive Great Buddha statue, often overlooking the nearby Nigatsu-Do Hall.

Nigatsu-Do Hall is a beautiful wooden building, finely decorated with wooden carved panels and big white lanterns. The purification fountain with the dragon is one of the most beautiful in Nara. And the front of the hall, with the bronze lanterns swinging from the ceiling and the terrace overlooking the park, is one of the most enchanting spots in Nara Park.

When I arrived in the late afternoon, at first, I was the only one. And for a few minutes, I could almost feel the sense of peace and spirituality emanating from this sacred place.

Todai-Ji Temple, the largest wooden building in the world

I continued my walk in Nara Park down the hill to the Todai-Ji Temple, bustling with people from all over. How could it not be?

Todai-Ji is the most extensive wooden building in the world, hosting the Great Buddha Vairocana, the biggest bronze statue worldwide. All this is all the most impressive considering that the original temple – dating back to the 8th Century and repeatedly damaged or destroyed by earthquakes and fires – was even more massive, as was the statue.
The charm of Todai-Ji goes way beyond its size and the Buddha statue.

The temple enshrines beautiful sculptures of guardians and Enlightened Beings, and the external architecture showcases exquisite details, starting from the wooden roof, or the finely decorated bronze lantern facing the entrance, one of the few treasures from the original building that survived natural disasters.

All of a sudden, I realized that I had spent hours in the fantastic Nara Park. And I could have stayed longer if only the temples weren’t closing so early. Time to take the train back to Kyoto, relishing the images of an extraordinary ancient site.

Practical Information

How to get to Nara:

You can comfortably make a day trip to Nara from Kyoto (42km / 26 mi) and Osaka (32 km / 20 mi).

♦ From Kyoto to Nara: Japan Railways connects Kyoto Station to Nara JR Station by rapid trains (twice per hour, journey 45 minutes, covered by Japan Rail Pass). An alternative option is taking the Kintetsu Railway from Kyoto Station to Nara Kintetsu Station (frequent limited express and express trains, journey 35/45 minutes, not covered by Japan Rail Pass).

♦ From Osaka to Nara: Japan Railways connects Osaka JR Station to Nara JR Station by frequent rapid trains (journey 45 minutes, covered by Japan Rail Pass). Alternatively, the Kintetsu Railway connects Osaka-Namba Station to Nara Kintetsu Station (frequent limited express and express trains, journey 30/40 minutes, not covered by Japan Rail Pass).

Traveling by train to visit Japan is very common, but navigating the many tickets and Japan Rail Passes options can be puzzling. You may want to read my article on How to Travel by Train in Japan.

A  few tips to get the most out of your day trip to Nara

♦ Stop by the Tourist Office right outside Nara JR Station to ask for a map of the city and advice on the best walking tour of Nara Park. When I was there, the staff was excellent and spoke decent English, providing useful information on the city.

♦ Nara Park is a 15-20 minutes walk from the JR Station, but you can also opt for a bus or taxi ride.

♦ Wear comfortable shoes for Nara Park is enormous and you’ll walk a lot. Envisage a full day off to take your time enjoying the temples and the park, where there are many lovely spots where to stop for a little rest or a picnic.

Where to stay in Nara:

I visited Nara on a day trip from Kyoto, but honestly, I wish I had spent the night. Here are a few places where I would stay when I return (because I’ll pay another visit to beautiful Japan one day!).

♦  Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Spring

Excellent location near the railway station, with light wood everywhere, and a small Onsen – the Japanese hot springs. Rooms are decorated in contemporary Japanese style and have all amenities. Find the best rates here

♦ Kasuga Hotel

Kasuga offers Japanese- and Western-style rooms and is only 5 minutes away from Kofuku-Ji Temple. Kasuga also has indoor and outdoor Onsen, where guests can relax after a long day walking across Nara Park. Find the best rates here

♦ Kotono Yado Musashino

If you fancy experiencing a stay in a Ryokan (the Japanese guesthouses), you may want to look at Kotono Yado Musashino. Located on the edge of Nara Park, this Ryokan offers a wide array of amenities (kimono, onsen, and more). Furthermore, it’s an excellent choice for couples looking for a romantic and unique stay. Find the best rates here. 

Check out -> more Hotels in Nara

Pin for later!

_______

Note: This article contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.