
Nara
What you need to know before you go
Nara flourished to become one of Asia’s grandest cities during its 74-year reign as Japan’s first capital. As the most eastern destination on the Silk Road, Nara absorbed ideas from other mainland Asian countries and developed into the grand diocese of Buddhism. This compact city was one of Japan’s earliest capitals and is UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed – it's home to a significant collection of ancient Buddhist temples, the grand Shinto shrine of Kasuga-Taisha, the Heijo imperial palace, and the beautiful Kasugayama primaeval forest. A must-see in Nara is Todai-Ji temple, home to the world’s largest bronze Buddha which stands 15 metres tall. In the heart of the city, you can still be close to nature – see wild deer roaming free at the picturesque Nara Park.
There are 3 World Heritage Sites and many impressive shrines, temples and ruins within the 1,300 acres of Nara Park. Over 1,000 tame deer wander the park freely and are regarded by locals as messengers of the gods. You can purchase special wafer biscuits in the park to feed them.
What to see & do in Nara
Featured stories & fun stuffThings to do in Nara include serene outdoor parks, ancient Buddhist shrines, museums, historic ruins and modern theme parks with tons of opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment. The sheer number of Buddhist shrines and temples here is mind-blowing, with some, like Kasuga-taisha, dating back over 1,300 years and Kōfuku-ji dating to 710 CE. Temples like Hōryū-ji have several historic buildings onsite, and at Daibutsu-den... Read more