Visiting Nara: 9 essentials to know before traveling to Japan's ancient capital

While history and culture are the main things that attract visitors to the quaint prefecture of Nara, the charming blend of old and new things along the streets here is a highlight as well.

Shop for the latest souvenirs in a traditional folk house, stroll down paved roads escorted by tame and docile deer, and let the unique atmosphere of pleasant dichotomy in this ancient city refresh you from inside out.

2. When is the best time to visit Nara?

Spring and autumn are especially recommended for those planning to make the most of their trip to Nara. To be sure, each new season in the region presents an opportunity for visitors to be excited by something different.

Springtime Spotlights

If you don't mind going a bit out of the way into the suburbs, there's also Asuka Village, Ishibutai Kofun, and Yoshino to consider for sakura viewing spots. Mount Yoshino itself covers a large area, and the sakura here bloom from foot to peak during early to mid-April.

Summer Sights
A word of warning first of all: Nara summers are unforgivingly hot! So make sure you're fully prepared to deal with the stinging heat when going sightseeing outdoors. That said, some sights can only be caught during this season of growth, so Nara's definitely worth visiting during summer as well.

The best time to enjoy the fall foliage is from late October onwards, when tree leaves start turning a vivid shade of red. Nara Park should obviously be on your list, but don't forget to consider Tōdai-ji and the famous Isui-en, a garden with two beautiful lakes and leisure parks as well!

Winter Wonders

On the fourth Saturday of January every year, the dry grass on Mount Wakakusa is burned up in a yamayaki (mountain burning) ceremony. The intense flames from the ceremony brighten up the winter night sky while coloring it a vibrant hue of fiery orange, and the entire scene is truly a sight to behold.

The Nara Rurie Winter Illumination that takes place in February is yet another must-see sight in winter. During the event, the pathways connecting Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, and Kasuga-taisha are lit up with dreamy illuminations that seem to draw visitors into a fantastical world.

Mt. Miune, located in the southeastern part of the village of Mitsuemura in Nara Prefecture, is famous for the fantastic sight of rime (fog) ice, which forms when moisture in the air freezes on the branches of trees near the summit during the harsh winter months of January to March. The Miuneyama Ice Festival, an event organized by the tourism association, is held during this period to welcome climbers.

Finally, be sure to check out Tōdai-ji's omizutori water ceremony, part of an event known as the Shuni-e that heralds the coming of spring in Nara.

3. Getting to Nara from Tokyo and transport within Nara

Via Shinkansen From Tokyo
Train is the easiest way to get to Nara. Since the Shinkansen bullet train doesn't stop at Nara, if you're taking a Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, you'll have to stop at Kyoto Station first.

A Nozomi Shinkansen will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete this trip (13,970 yen for a reserved seat). A Hikari Shinkansen takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes between Tokyo and Kyoto. The Hikari Shinkansen is covered under the Japan Rail Pass.

Change into a regular train at Kyoto Station bound for Nara Station (Miyakoji Rapid will take about 45 minutes and cost 720 yen).

Via Airplane From Tokyo
Flying to Nara is also an option; while there is no direct flight, it may be cheaper than a Shinkansen. From Tokyo's Haneda Airport, fly over to Kansai International Airport (about an hour and 20 minutes). This is slightly longer at one hour and 35 minutes if you take off from Narita Airport instead. A one-way ticket on a low-cost carrier should only cost about 5,000 yen or so.

After arrival, take a JR or Nankai Electric Railway train from Kansai International Airport to Osaka's city center, then transfer to another train bound for Nara. JR offers an express train that takes you from the airport to Tennoji Station in Osaka, where you can transfer to a rapid service train on the Yamatoji Line that will take you to Nara Station. This should cost about 1,740 yen and take around 90 minutes from the airport.

To get to Nara using the Nankai Electric Railway, hop on a train to Namba Station, then transfer to a Kintetsu Railway train at Osaka-Namba Station to Nara Station, both on the Kintetsu Lines. This should take about 90 to 100 minutes from the airport and cost 1,500 yen. Limousine bus services are also available for those looking for a direct way to get to Nara from the airport.

Getting Around Nara
Both JR and Kintetsu Railway offer discount tickets for their trains.

For example, JR's Kansai 1-Day Pass (3,600 yen per adult) allows you to board and disembark regular trains at stations within the Kansai region.

You can also use the Ekirin-kun bicycle rental service from stations that offer them for one time.

Kintetsu Railway also has several discount tickets that provide great access to major sightseeing hotspots, such as the Nara, Ikaruga, and Yoshino World Heritage Ticket or the Nara & Ikaruga 1-day Ticket. These tickets come with unlimited bus rides on Nara Kotsu Bus Lines as well, so sightseeing will be a literal breeze with any one of them! Note that pricing for the tickets may differ depending on what perks they come bundled with.

Thinking of staying over for a night or two for an extended exploration of all that Nara has to offer? You're spoiled for choice here, with almost anything you can find from a scale of luxurious to budget.

We definitely recommend accommodations near train stations - within a 15-minute walk from either a Kintetsu or JR train station if possible.

If your itinerary is mainly focused on Kyoto and the Osaka Umeda area, try to find a place near Nara Station on the JR Lines.

For Nagoya or the Osaka Namba area, on the other hand, stay somewhere nearer to a Kintetsu train station instead.

Nara Station on the Kintetsu Lines is connected to a shopping arcade with all the usual amenities you can expect to find in one, such as restaurants and shops.

Once you cross Sarusawa Pond, you'll reach Naramachi, a great area to do your shopping in, or just roam around for a bit. In case you start feeling hungry, remember that the closer to Nara Station you get, the more restaurants you'll be able to find along the way.

To explore Nara at leisure, we highly recommend staying over for at least two nights or even using it as a base of operations to branch out to other top destinations like Osaka and Kyoto due to their proximity.

5. Must-try foods in Nara

Those with a sweet tooth will definitely want to make a pilgrimage to the famous Himuro Shrine, also known as Nara's "shaved ice paradise," for being situated in an area with a variety of shaved ice desserts available all year round. The shrine holds a water festival every year in May, and shaved ice desserts are accepted as offerings during this time.

Nara is also known for its abundance of well-designed museums and art galleries where visitors can learn more about the prefecture's history and immerse themselves in its culture.

Naramachi, the town located on the outskirts of Heijō Palace, has a long history as well, and this is reflected in its olden-style streetscape. One of the buildings here, Nigiwai-no-le, is a registered cultural asset.

This historic house was built over 100 years old ago and now serves as a facility to educate visitors about traditional Japanese architecture and lifestyle, such as what life was like for people in the past who lived in these houses during a time when each year was divided into 24 seasons instead of the modern four.

7. Recommended activities and things to do in Nara

The rustic looks of Nara's streets make it the perfect place to take a stroll in - dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono to really get into the mood!

There are kimono rental shops in the Nara Park and Naramachi area where you can rent full-fledged retro kimonos or summer yukata (unlined cotton kimono) if this is something that appeals to your sense of adventure. Don't forget to take lots of pictures if you do try it out!

As one of the foremost producers of refined sake in Japan, Nara is home to many sake breweries, such as the Harushika Sake Brewery in Naramachi. The brewery offers a special deal as well - purchase an original Harushika glass cup for 500 yen and get to taste-test up to five different types of sake available here. An irresistible deal for sure, considering you also get to take the glass cup home as a souvenir after that!

A great shopping experience awaits in Naramachi because of the sheer variety of local goods and craftwork available and the fact that you get to see the traditional buildings that have been preserved here while you're at it!

Head south from Sarusawa Pond to reach this quaint little area and start enjoying your souvenir shopping right away.

Narameihinkan is another place to shop for souvenirs, especially famous local snacks and general goods. The shop is located on the first floor of the west building of Nara Park Bus Terminal, where there are also restaurants and cafes for you to take a quick rest in if needed.

Visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of Nara Park from the building's rooftop garden - another reason you should definitely visit this place sometime during your trip!

9. Other sightseeing hotspots around Nara

Generally speaking, Nara Prefecture can be divided into four main areas:
・1. Nara - The city center
・2. West Nara - Ikoma, Shigi, Ikaruga, and Katsuragi areas to the west of Nara city
・3. South Nara - The mountain range, Asuka, Kashihara, and Uda areas to the south of Nara city
・4. Yoshinoji - An area that lies even farther south of South Nara
(*Info according to the Official Nara Travel Guide website)

The South Nara area is where you can find natural monuments like the mysterious kameishi (tortoise stone) or Ishibutai Kofun in Asuka Village. Either cycle around the area or walk along Yamabenomichi (mountainside road), the oldest road in Japan. Most natural and historical places of interest here can be comfortably covered with a day trip out.

For the Yoshinoji area, arrange your itinerary to stay at least a night or two to maximize your enjoyment of the various sights and sounds on display all year round in one of the most well-known scenic spots of Japan.

As mentioned earlier as well, since Osaka and Kyoto are easily accessible from Nara as well, it can potentially be a base of operations for your sightseeing foray into Kansai. Although it's unlikely anyone can cover all of Nara's amazing appeal within just a few days, we hope we've given you a great headstart at least!