Nara

Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region, one of the most traditional in Japan, in southern Honshu, the main island of Japan.

It was the capital of the country in medieval Japan. Nara is one of the most important tourist destinations in Japan due to the large number of ancient temples and good conservation. The temples and ruins of Nara are part of the Unesco World Heritage Site, since 1998, forming the group called Historical Monuments of ancient Nara, and these are: Horyu-ji, Todai ji, Kofuku-ji, Kasuga sanctuary , Gango-ji, Yakushi-ji, Toshodai-ji and the remains of Heijo palace.

Access : Coordinates: 34.683333, 135.8 / By train :
From Kyoto leads the Kansai line of the JR to Nara, as well as the private Kintesu Kyoto line. From Osaka, the Kintesu Nara Line is the fastest way to get to Nara. Both JR Nara Station -1.5 km and Kintesu Nara Station -1 km are within walking distance of Nara Park’s main attractions.

Getting around : JR Station, Nara Station is the city’s main train station. From here public buses to all attractions.

Highlights :

• Todai-ji Temple , 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211, Open : 8:00 am – 5:00 pm , Todai-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Nara. It houses the largest Buddhist bronze statue. With a width of 57.01 meters, a depth of 50.48 meters and a height of 48.74 meters, the main hall is the largest all-wood building in the world.The Todai-ji complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Nara Park – Central city park with wild deer , 469 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211, Nara Park is a large park in central Nara,Opened on February 14th, 1880, by the Taishi official. Most are state-owned land, and Nara Prefecture borrows and manages them free of charge. The official name of the city park is “Nara Prefectural City Park Nara Park”, with a total area of 502 hectares. Including the surrounding Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara National Museum, etc Most of Nara’s sights, including temples, shrines and famously mercenary deer, are concentrated in Nara Park.
• Nara National Museum , 50 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213, Open : 9:30 am – 5:00 pm , The main activities are collecting, storing, researching, and exhibiting cultural assets centering on Buddhist art, as well as conducting dissemination activities through lectures and publishing activities. The exhibition facilities include the main building, the main building annex, the East New Building, the West New Building, and the underground corridor. The main building was completed in 1894 (Meiji 27) by the design of the court architect Tokuma Katayama.
• Kasuga Grand Shrine , 160 Kasuganocho, Nara 630-8212, Kasuga Taisha  is a shrine located in Nara Park, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It was called the Kasuga Shrine in the old days. Built in the second year of the copper . The gods enshrined in the community include the commandments of the martial arts, the life of the Jingjin, the life of the gods and the gods. The shrine festival day is March 13 (Spring Festival). The builder is no more than Fujiwara. As part of the cultural wealth of the ancient capital Nara, it is listed as a World Cultural Heritage. It is one of the twenty-two.
• Nigatsu-do Temple , 406-1 Zoshicho | Todaiji Temple, Nara 630-8587, Open : 12:00 am – 11:59 pm , Todaiji Nigatsudo is a Buddhist hall built in the Nara period (8th century) at Todaiji Temple in Nara City. The existing building was rebuilt in 1669 and has been designated as a Japanese national treasure. It is known as the building where the event of “Water taking”, an event of early spring in Nara, takes place. “Omizuri” is formally called Shujikai, a religious event that has continued since the 8th century. Nigatsu-do has a unique space structure specializing in Shujikai’s event buildings, and while it was reconstructed in the 17th century, it retains a medieval atmosphere with the Shujikai’s manners and customs.
• Toshodai-ji Temple , Nara 630-8032, Open : 8:30 am – 5:00 pm , Located in Gojo-cho, Nara City. It is a Tang Dynasty architectural style temple built by the monks of the Tang Dynasty in China. It is known as the temple of Sino-Japanese friendship. It has been included in the National Treasure of Japan and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1998 as part of the “Cultural Finance of the Ancient Capital Nara”.
• Isuien Garden , 74 Suimoncho, Nara 630-8208, Isuien is a recreational garden It is divided into a front garden and a rear garden, each showing a different landscape. Maezono is the garden of Kiyosumi Mido Kiyo who was a bleach craftsman in Kanbun 12 (1673). Gozoen is a pond spring migratory garden built by businessman Jiro Kanto in the Meiji era. With the capital of Ningle as a motif, Mt. Wakakusa and Todaiji Namdaemun are borrowed.
• Kofuku-ji Temple , 48 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213, Open : 9:00 am – 5:00 pm , ofuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara in Japan.is one of the main temples of the Hosso-shu, which is believed to have originated in Yamashina-ku, a district of Kyoto, where he was founded by members of Fujiwara clan 669 as Yamashina -dera . 672, as well as the Jinshin civil war took place, he should then as Umayasaka – dera  to Asuka or on the territory of the later Fujiwara – kyo have been moved to what is now Nara Prefecture.
• Yoshikien , Yoshikien is a Japanese garden in Nara City southwest of Isui-en, It consists of a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea garden.Pond Garden-It is built to unite with the former orthodox house in the west, making the best use of natural terrain, undulations and curves since the Edo period .
  Moss Garden-A garden covered entirely with cedar moss, showing a quiet appearance together with a detached tea room with a thatched roof .
  It is said that underground water veins similar to Hibino are flowing underground, making it suitable for the growth of cedar moss .
  Tea Flower Garden-Seasonal flowers that are attached to the tea ceremony are planted, creating a rustic and moist landscape.
• Naramachi , Nara , Naramachi is a region with a historic townscape located in the southeastern central city area of Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Many town houses from the Edo period are lined up in a narrow street.In February 2014, Nara City announced a plan to widen the area around Tsurufukuin shopping street on the city street Saruzawa Line, which passes through the town, due to the tourist bus traffic, focusing on local residents who want to protect the scenery The opposite movement took place.
• Yakushi-ji Temple , 457 Nishinokyocho, Nara 630-8563, Open : 8:30 am – 5:00 pm , Yakushiji is a temple located in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City. The foundation was Emperor Tenmu. This is a pharmacist. It is counted as one of the Nanto Seven Great Temples. In 1998, it was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the “National Cultural Property of the Ancient City Nara”.
• Gango-ji Temple , 11 Chuincho, Nara 630-8392, Open : 9:00 am – 5:00 pm , Established by Su I Mazi. It is the predecessor of the Faxing Temple. In the Nara era and the neighboring Todaiji Temple and Kofuku Temple, it is listed as a large local temple. After the Middle Ages, it gradually declined. It is divided into two monasteries, which are located in Naka-cho, Nara-shi, and the Shiraishi-cho, Nara-shi (Hua Yanzong). It is included in the World Heritage List as part of the cultural capital of the ancient capital Nara.
• Shinyakushiji Temple , 1352 Takabatakecho, Nara 630-8301, The temple was founded in 747 by Empress Komyo, wife of Emperor Shomu, to pray for her blindfolded husband. The original complex consisted of a main hall, a lecture hall, an east and a west pagoda, but nearly all of the Tempyo temple buildings were destroyed by lightning, typhoons and the devastation at the end of the Heian era. Only the main hall (kondo) has been preserved and is thus an important testimony of the architecture of the early Nara period.many cultural properties such as the national treasure main hall and the Twelve Gods statue in the Nara period are conveyed.
• Heijokyu Ruins,3-5-1 Nijoojiminami, Nara 630-8012, Open: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm , The remains of the palace and the surrounding area, together with other buildings, are declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as part of the “Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara”
• Akishinodera Temple , 757 Akishinocho, Nara 631-0811, Known for the craftsman statue and the national treasure main hall. Located northwest of Nara city and north of Saidaiji. The construction of Akishini -dera was begun at the request of Emperor Konin at the end of the Nara period in 776 and is said to have been completed around 794,Originally, the temple belonged to the Hosso direction of Buddhism, in the Heian period he moved to the Shingon, and flourished as a temple of this direction. In the Meiji period, the temple joined the Jodo direction, currently it does not belong to a direction retabled.
• Sarusawa Pond , Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213, It is an artificial pond built in 749 as a basin for the “Hoseikai” held by Kofukuji Temple. Hosokai is a religious ritual that creates the lives of all things and releases the captured creatures to the field.
• Manyo Botanical Garden , 160 Kasuganocho | Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara 630-8212, The Manyo de Nara Botanical Garden also called Kasuga Taisha Garden is one of the largest and oldest Manyo botanical gardens, and is located in Nara in Nara prefecture. It is located on the slopes of the hill “Kasuga-taisha”, next to the great sanctuary Kasuga-taisha.
• Higashimuki Shopping Street , Higashimukinakamachi, Nara 630-8215, It is a shopping street that represents the old town of Nara City, and has long-established stores. In addition, it is located in front of Kintetsu Nara Station, which is directly connected to Osaka (Namba), Kyoto, and Kobe, and is close to Nara Park and Naramachi, so it is full of tourists all day.
• Shosoin Temple , 129 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211 / Daibutsuden , the main pavilion of the Todai-ji temple 406 Zoshicho | Todai-ji Temple, Nara 630-8211 / Great South Gate , 406-1 Zoshicho | Todai-ji Temple, Nara, The Giant wooden Gate Leading to Todai-ji / Enjyouji , 1237 Ninnikusencho, Nara 630-1244, a Shingon Buddhist temple located northeast of Nara / Saidaiji Temple ,1-1-5 Saidaijishibamachi, Nara 631-0825, the “Great Western Temple” mirrors Todaiji in the East. Founded in 765, Saidaiji was one of the “7 Great Temples of Nara,” / Todaiji Temple Cultural Center , 100, Suimoncho, Nara 630-820, Nara Prefecture /
• Kazugayama Genshirin , 630-8212, Nara, peaceful primeval forest with Awesome routs / Suzakumon Gate , main gate of the former Nara Palace / Ukimido pavilion , 1170, Takabatakecho KakIuchI, Nara, Open : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Naramachi Townhouse of Traditional Lifestyle , 5 Nakashinyacho, Nara 630-8333 / Hokkeji Temple , 882 Hokkejicho, Nara 630-8001, quiet and peaceful built in 745 temple / Naramachi Mechanical Toy Museum , 7, Inyocho, Nara 630-8338, Open: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm / Hannyaji Temple , 221 Hannyajicho, Nara 630-8102, Open : 9:00 am – 5:00 pm / Himuro Shrine , 1-4 Kasugano-cho, Nara 630-8212 / Okumura Commemorative Museum , 4 Kasuganocho, Nara 630-8212, simulations applies the technology to demonstrate how an earthquake can be managed. /
• Byakugoji Temple , 392 Byakugojicho, Nara 630-8302 Many wooden statues from the Heian and Kamakura periods / Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine , 434 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211 / Zuto pyramid stone monument, 921 Takabatakecho, Nara 630-8301 / The Nara Episcopal Church , 45 Noborioji-cho, Nara 630-8213 / Nigatsu-do Urasando , Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211, Nigatsu-do Urasando is the road from Nigatsu-do to the Great Buddha Hall / Nanen-do , 48 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213, a shine with bells which also leads to Kofuji Temple as well / Hokke-do , 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211, a part of a very large Todaiji Temple complex / Kaidan-do , 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211, a hall that lies quietly in the west of Todaiji Daibutsuden /
• Ryosen-ji Temple , 3879 Nakamachi, Nara 631-0052 / Naramachi Museum , 14 Nishinoshinyacho, Nara 630-8334, Open : 10:00 am – 5:00 pm,exhibits various tools, signboards and other items used in the Edo and Meiji Periods / Daianji Temple , 2-18-1 Daianji, Nara 630-8133 / Mochiidono shopping arcade in Nara, Japan – 12 Mochiidonocho, Nara 630-8222 / Nishinokyo District , craft shop complex across from Kintetsu Train station / Todaiji Keidaicho , Nara 630-8211, extensive complex, a real feel for traditional semi-residential Japanese arcitecture / Shiga Naoya Former House , 1237-2 Takabatakecho, Nara 630-8301, / Kikoji Temple , 508 Sugaharacho, Nara 631-0842, Open : 9:00 am – 4:30 pm / Rokuen , 160 Kasuganocho | Within Kasuga Grand Shrine Premises, Nara 630-8212,a deer park near Kasugataisha Shrine, in Nara Park. /
• Heijo Palace Museum , 2-9-1 Sakicho, Nara 630-8577, Open: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm / Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City , 600-1 Takahatacho, Nara 630-8301, Open : 9:30 am – 5:00 pm / Kairyuoji Temple , 897 Hokkejikitamachi, Nara 630-8001 / Shouhaku Art Museum ,2-1-4 Tomigaoka, Nara 631-0004 / Jurinin Temple , 27 Jurinincho, Nara 630-8312 / Former Imperial Audience Hall , Sakicho, Nara 630-8003 / Shoryakuji Temple , 157 Bodaisencho, Nara 630-8413 / Tomb of The Emperor Suinin and Tajimamori , Amatsuji Nishimachi, Nara 630-8023 / Nara Prefectural Art Museum , 10-6, Noboriojicho, Nara / Obitoke Temple , 734 Imaichicho, Nara 630-8444 / Kasuga Taisha Museum , 160 Kasuganocho, Nara 630-8212 / Nara Kasugano International Forum Iraka , 101 Kasuganocho, Nara 630-8212, Open : 9:00 am – 5:00 pm /
• Tegaimon , 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara 630-8211,the gate on the west side of Shosoin. / Tokondo , 48 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213 , the Eastern Golden Hall / The Museum Yamato Bunkakan , 1-11-6 Gakuenminami, Nara 631-0034, / Japanese Tattoo Art Gallery, Higashimuki Shopping Street / Imanishike Shoin , 24_3 Fukuchiincho, Nara 630-8381, traditional resident house / Heijokyo Izanaikan , 3-5-1 Nijoojiminami | Nara Palace Site Historical Park, Nara 630-8012, free of charge at the state-run exhibition hall on the south side of Heijo-miya Historical Park / The Former Nara Prison , 18 Hannyajicho, Nara 630-8102 / Yagyu Kaido , Yagyucho, Nara 630-1237, primeval forest and stream, and tricky cobbled paths / Futaiji Temple , 517 Horencho, Nara 630-8113 / Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine , 518, Sugaharacho, Nara / Goryojinja Shrine , 24 Yakushidocho, Nara 630-8321 /
• Kofuku-ji Temple 5 Stories Pagoda , 48 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213 / Kofuku-ji Temple Chukon Hall , 48 Noboriojicho, Nara 630-8213 / Daibutsu Pond , Shibatsujicho, Nara 630-8114 / Kaika Tenno Tomb , Imazushicho, Nara 630-8243 / Meisho Daijoin Garden , 1083-1 Takabatakecho, Nara 630-8301 / Nara Palace Site Historical Park , 4-6-1 Nijooji Minami, Nara 630-8012, Open: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm /

Activities : photo opportunities- photography trips / sightseeing / walking / cycling / Cultural & Theme Tours / snapping selfies / Walking tours

Events : Kasuga Wakamiya Ommatsuri : an annual spring festival and a nationally-designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It is held for several days around December 17th at Wakamiya Shrine / Mount Wakakusa Fire Festival ,The night before the 2nd Monday in January / Deer-horn Cutting Ceremony, Rokuen, Nara Park. October /

Go next : Kashihara / Tenri / Ikoma / Uda / Sakurai / Yamatokoriyama / Kizugawa / Kasagi / Minamiyamashiro