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Nara

Japan travel guide

What to see in Nara

Japan’s first permanent capital: giant temples and deer roaming free in the park.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from October to April
Photo: Wiiii · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nara highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Tōdai-ji

    The bronze Great Buddha, inside one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.

  2. Nara Park

    Hundreds of sika deer that come up to you for shika senbei crackers.

  3. Kasuga Taisha

    A shrine with thousands of stone and bronze lanterns in the middle of the forest.

  4. Kōfuku-ji

    A temple with one of the country’s most famous five-storey pagodas.

  5. Naramachi

    A district of old wooden merchant houses, with shops and cafés.

  6. Isuien Garden

    A traditional garden that “borrows” the scenery of the surrounding hills.

Day trips from Nara

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Nara

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Nara are from October to April.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • May

    Golden Week

    From 29 April to 5 May half of Japan is on the move: bullet trains packed, hotels expensive and queues everywhere.

    What to do: Book reserved shinkansen seats and your hotels as early as possible.

  • June, July

    Rainy season (tsuyu)

    From early June to mid-July it rains often and it’s hot and humid.

    What to do: Bring a folding umbrella and keep an indoor plan for each day; Hokkaido escapes it.

  • August, September

    A typhoon may pass through

    In August and September a typhoon can stop trains and flights for a day (in October it’s rare).

    What to do: Have an indoor plan (museums, covered temples, onsen) for the day it happens.

Curious facts about Nara

  • Nara’s deer are considered messengers of the gods and are protected.
  • Some deer bow if you bow to them… and then wait for their cracker.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: an izakaya. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Japan guide.

Frequently asked questions about Nara

What to see in Nara?

Tōdai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Kōfuku-ji, Naramachi and Isuien Garden.

What to see in Nara in one day?

Don’t miss Tōdai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Kōfuku-ji, Naramachi and Isuien Garden. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Nara?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Nara are from October to April.

What are some curious facts about Nara?

Nara’s deer are considered messengers of the gods and are protected. Some deer bow if you bow to them… and then wait for their cracker.

What day trips can you take from Nara?

Nara from Kyoto and Nara with a guide.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.