1 Day Itinerary in Nara: Day Trip to Nara from Kyoto
Best walking itinerary in Nara for First-timers
Nara is a treasure trove of Japanese history and culture, offering an intriguing blend of ancient temples, shrines, and recently popular spots. It is also a place that you can access easily from Kyoto, making it a highly popular tourist location for those who visit Japan’s old capital.
In this article, I will be sharing with you our version of a 1 Day Itinerary in Nara: Day Trip from Kyoto. The perfect guide for first-timers seeking to explore the enchanting city of Nara.
Prepare for a day filled with fascinating discoveries, and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, as exploring Nara’s charming streets and historical sites involves plenty of walking. Let’s dive into the heart of Nara’s rich heritage and modern allure!
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Head to Kintetsu Nara Station (Start)
We begin our day trip by heading to Kintetsu Nara Station. From Kyoto Station, take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line Express
to Kintetsu-Nara (近鉄京都線). There’s about 1 train per hour and It takes a little over 40 minutes from Kyoto to Nara. The earliest train leaves Kyoto at around 6:50 am (this can change, so be sure to check beforehand).
*Note: There is also a different train station named “JR Nara Station”, but for this itinerary, we will use the Kintetsu Nara Station because it is closer to the locations we’re visiting this day.
1. Nara Park
From Kintetsu Nara Station, head East, and in a few minutes you will be entering Nara Park territory. You will immediately start noticing deer around you as you head to your first destination.
Nara Park (奈良公園) is home to wild deer, designated as national natural treasures. You can buy Shika-senbei (deer crackers) in various stores within the vicinity of the park. You can feed the deer these crackers. Although you will be walking a lot this day, it is a fun walk since you’ll be seeing these precious creatures through out most of the day.
*Note: Although these deer are in most cases calm, remember that these are not domesticated and should be treated with respect. Please don’t hit, chase, or play pranks on them. Also, please don’t feed the deer anything other than the “deer crackers”. This ensures both the safety of the visitors and the well-being of these treasured animals.
2. Kofukuji Temple (30 mins)
About 5 minutes walking from Kintetsu Nara Station, you will arrive at your first destination. Kofukuji Temple (興福寺), with a history spanning over 1300 years, is a significant cultural and religious site in Nara.
It houses numerous national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Central Golden Hall (中金堂) and the iconic Five-Story Pagoda (五重塔). The temple’s National Treasure Museum is a highlight, showcasing a wide array of Buddhist statues, including the famous Ashura statue (阿修羅像), and treasures from the Nara to Kamakura periods.
As the main temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism, it’s part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Todaiji Temple (60-90 mins)
From Kofukuji Temple, head deeper into Nara Park (20 minutes walk) to arrive at Todaiji Temple (東大寺). This is a historic temple and part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Founded in 752, the temple is renowned for housing the Great Buddha, a colossal statue of Vairocana Buddha. This iconic statue, approximately 15 meters tall and 12 meters wide, is awe-inspiring in its size and presence. The temple has endured and been rebuilt after destruction by fires twice in its history, preserving wood-constructed buildings from the Nara to Edo periods, with eight structures designated as National Treasures.
The Great Buddha Hall, also a National Treasure, is one of the world’s largest wooden structures, standing at a height of 48.742 meters, further highlighting the temple’s grandeur.
Check out more about this temple from the following links!
Check out more about this temple from the following links!
▶Todaiji Temple: Meet the World’s Largest Buddha
▶Omizutori: the Oldest Festival in Japan
4. Have lunch in the Nara Park area
Depending on your pace, either after Todaiji Temple or after Kasuga Taisha Shrine will be a good time to have lunch. You won’t find many restaurants deep into Nara Park, but various places are near Kofukuji Temple.
Pretty much anything you find in this area will be delicious, but if you would like to experience Nara food, you may want to look for Kakinoha Zushi (柿の葉寿司). This is a delicacy that originated in Nara involving pressing sushi rice and toppings like mackerel or salmon into a compact shape and then wrapping it in a fragrant persimmon leaf. You can also purchase this to take back to Kyoto!