The ancient city of Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan. Formerly known as Heijō, Nara became Japan’s capital in the year 710. It remained as the capital till 784, before moving to Nagaoka and then Kyoto. During this period, several majestic buildings were created by Japanese emperors. Therefore, Nara city remains full of historic treasures, including some of Japan’s oldest and largest temples. Due to the historical grandeur of these top attractions in Nara, it continues to attract lots of visitors.
Nara city was one of the most serene, beautiful places we encountered in Japan. We visited Nara several times, while we were living in Kyoto. Nara city was located just half an hour train ride from our rented home in Uji, Kyoto. Therefore, Nara became one of our favorite places and we used to visit there whenever we had free time. During these visits, we could cover most of the important places and sightseeing spots in the city.
Access to Nara
Nara city locates around 35 km from Kyoto. Since there is no Shinkansen stop in Nara, you cannot go directly from Tokyo to Nara via bullet train. You need to go to Kyoto first and transfer to a train headed for Nara. From Kyoto Station, you can take either the JR train or the Kintetsu train bound to Nara Station. The train takes 45 minutes between Kyoto and Nara cities.
Here we are going to show you around Nara and bring you the details of the top attractions in the city. Remember to include these marvelous places on your bucket list and visit them while touring in Japan.
1. Nara Park
Nara Park call as Nara Kōen is a large park located in central Nara. It is a five-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station or about a 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station. Alternatively, you can reach the park by Nara Loop bus too. This is the most popular place in Nara city because it is home to herds of freely roaming deer. Certainly, Nara Park is among the top attractions in Nara city.
Deer are designated as a natural treasure and they have become a symbol of the Nara city. There are over 1000 deer living in the city. They are completely sociable and surprisingly tame. They will let you touch and pet them too. Since deer in Nara consider as guardians of the city, they’re treated with reverence and respect. You’ll see the visitors adore them a lot.
You can buy some deer crackers to feed them. There are shops selling deer crackers or Shika senbei around the park. Deer in Nara are polite and patient, they wait until you feed them. But sometimes they may become aggressive and request to feed them quickly.
We bought plenty of deer crackers and made sure to feed all deer who came closer to us. Moreover, we could get some lovely snaps with these cuties. This was the most wonderful and pleasurable experience we had in Nara city.
It was very cool to see herds of deer casually walking down the sidewalks, mixed in with the crowds of tourists. The harmony between amazing wildlife and bustling city life in Nara gave us a wonderful experience.
2. Todaiji Temple
Located in the northern part of Nara Park, Todaiji or Great Eastern Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the must-see attractions in Nara. This important landmark is one of eight Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara city. The temple constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan. Definitely, this special monument with great architectural value is one of the top attractions in Nara.
Above all, Tōdaiji Temple is a top historically significant temple in the whole of Japan. Todaiji’s main hall, the Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall) is the largest wooden structure in the world. Actually, the original Great Buddha Hall was much bigger. It has been rebuilt twice after the fire destroyed the original one. The present reconstruction is only two-thirds of the original temple hall’s size.
This main hall houses one of Japan’s biggest bronze statues of Buddha. (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall statue of seated Buddha is flanked by two Bodhisattva images. Reportedly, this huge statue weighs 500 tonnes. The dimly-lighted main hall with this incredible statue creates a peaceful atmosphere inside the hall. You’ll experience Buddha’s serene expression and radiating feelings of calmness. Certainly, you will be enchanted by the spiritual power filled in this sacred place.
Todaiji temple comprises multiple structures, including Nandaimon Gate. This is the main entrance to the temple. The existing gate is a construction created at the end of the 12th century. There are two solemn figures of Nio at the entrance, the two 8.5 m tall guardians of the temple.
3. Ukimidou Pavilion
Ukimidou Pavilion is a photogenic gazebo overlooking tranquil waters in the middle of Nara Park. There is a bridge leading to this picturesque gazebo. It is a classical hexagonal wooden pavilion that appears to float on Sagiike Pond. This beautiful secluded spot is an ideal place to relax and take photographs.
In early August each year, there is a grand festival to visit in Nara city. It is Nara Tokae Lantern Festival held on August 5-14 at Nara Park. During this festival, Nara Park and its surroundings light up with hundreds of candles, giving it a fairytale-like atmosphere. At this time, Ukimidou Pavilion becomes a great photogenic spot.
4. Kofukuji Temple
With a history of more than 1300 years, Kofukuji Temple is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Nara city. You’ll find a huge Five Storied Pagoda in this temple. This is Japan’s second tallest pagoda. It is just seven meters shorter than the five-story pagoda at Kyoto’s Toji Temple, the tallest one in Japan. Definitely, Kofukuji’s pagoda stands as a landmark and symbol of Nara city.
Other than the five-story pagoda, there is a Three Storied Pagoda in the temple. Moreover, there are several beautiful architectures including Central Golden Hall and Southern and Northern Round Halls. Remember to visit this ancient temple with great architectural value, while you are visiting Nara city.
5. Heijō Palace
Heijō Palace was the imperial residence in the ancient capital of Nara. For its great historical and cultural importance, the palace site includes as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nara. This building served as the administrative center of the city for most of the Nara period around 84 years. It has built in accordance with the Chinese models used for the design of the capital.
Although the palace once stood as the majestic center of the ancient capital, all of its original buildings were eventually lost. What you’ll see today are all reconstructions. Still, the Heijō Palace is a great sightseeing spot for visitors.
6. Yakushiji Temple
Yakushiji Temple is a classic example of the ancient architecture of the Nara period. This temple dedicates to the Healing Buddha (Yakushi) and this important religious site contains a large statue of Yakushi-nyorai carved from a single piece of wood. There are several important statues, that consider as masterpieces of Nara. Without a doubt, Yakushuji is among the top attractions in Nara city.
Yakushiji has a strictly symmetric layout with the main hall and lecture hall standing on a central axis, flanked by two pagodas. The presence of two three-storied pagodas is a unique feature that you cannot see anywhere else in Japan. This unique layout refers as “yakushiji-style”.
However, all the buildings of the original Yakushiji Temple were destroyed over time. The main hall was rebuilt in the 1970s. The East Pagoda is the only part of the original temple that survived from the Nara period. Although most structures are relatively new, the East Pagoda recalls the grandeur of the original features. You’ll see this huge temple complex has an awesome scenic beauty and it is a must-visit attraction in Nara city.
7. Mt. Wakakusa-yama
If you visit Nara in January, you can see an interesting event. On the fourth Saturday of each January, there is an event of burning grass on 342 m high Mt. Wakakusa-yama. It is a traditional event that takes place throughout history, continued since the mid-18th century. The burning of grass in the mountain creates wonderful scenery in the darkness of the night. This event follows by an awesome fireworks display. This is an amazing festival to witness in Nara city.
To sum up, Nara city is a completely worthy sightseeing spot in Japan. The ancient temples in Nara showcase impressive architectures which amazes the visitors. You can have very enjoyable experiences wandering through the Nara Park and get so much fun feeding the deer. Without a doubt, you should include Nara in your Japan itinerary. Hope you all will visit the ancient city of Nara someday and enjoy the wonderful scenery!
