- Nara is one of the few places in the world where Sika deer are legally protected as 'national treasures' and permitted to roam freely through public streets.
- The city's ancient grid-based urban plan was modeled directly after Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty China.
- Nara was the terminus of the Silk Road, marking the eastern end of the trans-continental trade route that stretched across Eurasia.
- Local tradition dictates that the deer in Nara are messengers of the gods from Kasuga Taisha shrine, leading to their historical protection.
About Nara, Nara
Nara served as Japan's first permanent capital in the 8th century, established as Heijō-kyō in 710 AD. The city is defined by its massive parkland where hundreds of free-roaming deer interact with visitors near historic sites like Tōdai-ji. It holds a dense concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the wooden architecture of Toshodai-ji and the complex structures at Yakushi-ji. Modern Nara retains its ancient grid layout, contrasting urban development with the sprawling Heijō Palace Site Historical Park.
Highlights of Nara, Nara
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Temples
Houses the massive bronze Vairocana Buddha statue within one of the world's largest wooden buildings.
Temples
Features an enormous supporting pillar with a hole at the base, which visitors attempt to crawl through for good luck.
Temples
Provides an elevated wooden veranda that offers panoramic views over the city rooftops.
Temples
Displays two imposing 8-meter-tall wooden guardian statues flanking the entrance to the Tōdai-ji complex.
Places of interest
Offers a steep hiking trail that culminates in a wide view of the Nara basin.
Places of interest
Features a picturesque hexagonal pavilion reflected in the calm waters of Sagi-ike Pond.
Parks
Features reconstructed palace buildings that showcase the layout of the 8th-century imperial capital.
Museums
Holds an extensive collection of Buddhist art and artifacts spanning from the Nara period to the present.
Top things to do in Nara, Nara
The 799 highest-rated places in Nara, Nara, ranked by travellers.
1
Temples
Tōdai-ji is a historic Buddhist temple complex in Nara, housing one of the world's largest bronze statues of the Buddha,...
2
Temples
Kohfuku-ji is a historic Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan, originally established in 710 A.D. as the family temple...
3
Temples
Yakushi-ji is a historic Buddhist temple complex in Nara, originally established in the 7th century under Emperor Tenmu....
4
Temples
Toshodai-ji is an 8th-century Buddhist temple founded by the Chinese monk Ganjin in 759 AD, serving as the headquarters...
5
Museums
The Nara National Museum specializes in pre-modern Japanese Buddhist art, holding a significant collection of sculpture,...
6
Parks
Heijō Palace Site Historical Park marks the location of the imperial capital of Japan, Heijō-kyō, established in 710 AD....
7
Temples
Todai-ji Nandaimon is the largest temple gate in Japan, serving as the main entrance to the Todai-ji complex. Originally...
8
Temples
Todai-ji Daibutsuden is the world's largest wooden building, housing one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues, the V...
9
Temples
Nigatsu-do is a sub-complex of Tōdai-ji known for its elevated wooden veranda that offers panoramic views over Nara City...
10
Temples
Gango-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, originally founded in Asuka in...
11
Places of interest
Mount Wakakusa is a 342-meter tall hill located at the eastern edge of Nara Park, characterized by its treeless, grass-c...
12
Places of interest
Ukimido Pavilion is a wooden hexagonal structure built directly over the surface of Sagi-ike Pond in Nara Park. The curr...
13
Temples
Joruri-ji is a Pure Land Buddhist temple renowned for its preserved Heian-period architecture and its Jodo-style garden....
14
Parks
Isuien Garden is a private Japanese strolling garden in Nara that uniquely incorporates the 'borrowed scenery' of Todai-...
15
Temples
Shin Yakushi-ji is a temple founded in 747 by Empress Komyo, primarily recognized for its main hall (Hondo) which is a N...
16
Parks
Yoshikien Garden is a landscape garden located on the site of the former residence of the Kofukuji Temple priests. The g...
17
Historical places
The Keihanna Commemorative Park, established to celebrate the 1994 opening of the Kansai Science City, is a 24-hectare l...
18
Museums
The Kohfuku-ji National Treasure Museum houses a collection of Buddhist sculptures and artifacts recovered from the hist...
19
Temples
Nanen-do is an octagonal hall located within the Kofuku-ji temple complex, originally established in 813 by Fujiwara no...
20
Natural attractions
Mount Wakakusa is a 342-meter tall grassy hill located on the eastern edge of Nara Park, characterized by its treeless s...
21
Temples
The Five-Storied Pagoda at Kofukuji Temple is the second-tallest wooden pagoda in Japan, standing at approximately 50 me...
22
Temples
Gansenji is a historic Buddhist temple belonging to the Shingon Risshu sect, famously known as the 'Temple of Hydrangeas...
23
Temples
Hannya-ji is a historic Buddhist temple in Nara renowned as the 'Temple of Flowers,' particularly for its massive cultiv...
24
Temples
Tokon-do, or the Eastern Golden Hall, is a principal structure within the Kofuku-ji temple complex in Nara. Originally c...
25
Temples
Daian-ji is one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, originally established in Asuka before being relocated to Nara in 7...
26
Places of interest
Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie is a restored merchant townhouse, or 'machiya', that serves as a living museum of traditional Edo-...
27
Temples
Saidai-ji, established in 765 AD by Empress Kōken, serves as the head temple of the Shingon Risshu sect of Buddhism. Ori...
28
Temples
Ryosenji Temple is a Buddhist complex founded in 736 by the monk Gyoki, known specifically for its expansive rose garden...
29
Parks
Suzakumon Square serves as the main entrance plaza to the Heijo Palace Site, the former capital of Japan during the Nara...
30
Zoos
Nara Park is a vast public park known for its free-roaming population of over 1,000 wild sika deer. The deer are conside...
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Nara, Nara on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Nara, Nara
Spring (April) for cherry blossoms or Autumn (November) for vibrant maple foliage, offering the most temperate weather for walking.
2 days, as most primary temples and the central park area can be explored thoroughly within 48 hours.
The city is highly walkable in the central temple district, supplemented by a local bus network and the Kintetsu and JR rail lines.
Stay near Kintetsu-Nara Station for immediate access to the main shopping arcades and the entrance to Nara Park.
Mid-range; while temples often require modest entry fees, the majority of the city's park areas and historical walking routes are free.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 799 curated attractions in and around Nara, Nara, ranked by traveller ratings.
Tōdai-ji is the highest-rated place to visit in Nara, Nara right now.
The largest category is temples, with 322 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Kyoto.
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Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
