Nara City is a town filled with natural scenery, temples, and shrines. You may want to visit Todai-ji Temple to see the Great Buddha, but also wish to savor the local cuisine. Today, Japan Travel presents a demonstrative itinerary designed for you to fully enjoy sightseeing and gourmet dining in just two days and one night.
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Consider Purchasing the Nara World Heritage Free Pass!
The Nara World Heritage Free Pass is an excellent value pass perfect for tourists visiting Nara. It not only allows unlimited rides on transportation between Nara and Ikaruga for 1-2 days but also provides discounts at certain attractions.
Tickets for round-trip travel on the Kintetsu Line departing from Osaka, Kyoto, or Nagoya, as well as free-zone Kintetsu Line or Nara Kotsu buses, can be used for 1-2 days. However, special express tickets on the Kintetsu Line are not included and must be purchased separately.
- Nara World Heritage Free Pass（奈良世界遺産フリーきっぷ）
- Price:
- Nara/Ikaruga Route (1 day): Adults ¥1,660, Children ¥840 (Departing from Osaka Namba Station/Kyoto Station)
- Nara/Ikaruga Route (2 days): Adults ¥2,030, Children ¥1,020 (Departing from Osaka Namba Station/Kyoto Station)
- Kintetsu Nagoya Station Free Pass (2 days): Adults ¥4,610, Children ¥2,310
- Sales Locations: Designated Kintetsu Line stations, Kinki Japan Tourist, JTB, Japan Travel Group, other tourist information centers, and sales outlets
- Official Website: https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/senden/Railway/Ticket/sekaiisan/nara_nishi.html
【Day 1】Experience Nara's Historical Park at the Heijo Palace Site!
First, we will visit the Heijo Palace Historical Park, which was the capital of Japan during the Nara period and has a history of over 1300 years. It spans approximately 1.3 kilometers east to west and 1 kilometer north to south, featuring grand palace buildings and gardens that you can freely explore.
9:30 AM - Arrive at Kintetsu Nara Station! Take a bus to the Heijō Palace Site
Begin your journey from Kintetsu Nara Station! You can reach here by Kintetsu train from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. It takes approximately 40 minutes from Osaka Namba Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line Express, about 35 minutes from Kyoto Station on the Kintetsu Express, or around 2 hours and 30 minutes from Kyoto Station by Express and Limited Express trains. If you're departing from Nagoya, a local train ride will get you here in just a few minutes. From the bus stop, take the "Gurutto Bus (ぐるっとバス)" for 100 yen per ride, and you'll reach the nearest "Shujaku-mon Square Front (朱雀門ひろば前)" bus stop in about 10 minutes.
Upon arriving at the bus stop, head towards the direction of Heijo-kyo. If you continue straight, you will come across the main gate of Heijō Palace Site, known as the "Suzakumon Gate," which was restored in 1998 based on existing structures like the To-ji Temple East Pagoda.
- Suzakumon Gate（朱雀門）
- Address: 3 Chome-209 Nijoojiminami, Nara, 630-8003 Google Map
- Opening Hours: 9:00～16:30（Last admission 16:00）
- Official Website: https://www.heijo-park.jp/guide/suzakumon/
After crossing the level crossing of the Kintetsu Nara Line and walking a bit further, you will come across the Great South Gate (Nanmon). This building has undergone restoration and maintenance in recent years, including the East Tower, West Tower, and the Tsukiji Corridor.
If you continue forward, you will discover the 'Daiichiji Daigokuden' (第一次大極殿). It is the most important structure in Heijo Palace, used for various ceremonies including the enthronement of the emperor, and it was restored in 2010.
You can visit the interior of the Daiichiji Daigokuden, where the centerpiece is the restored Imperial Throne Takamikura (たかみくら). Inside the building, there are wall paintings depicting Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, Seiryu, and more, which you can admire in detail.
- Heijō Palace Site Daiichiji Daigokuden（平城宮跡 第一次大極殿 ）
- Address: 710-1 Sakicho, Nara, 630-8003 Google Map
- Opening Hours: 9:00～16:30（Last admission 16:00）
- Close Day: Mondays (If it falls on a national holiday, it will be closed on the following day), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)
- Official Website: https://www.heijo-park.jp/guide/daigokuden/
In addition, you can also take a short stroll to the Heijo Palace Site Museum, located just a few steps away from the Great Hall. Here, you can explore artifacts such as ceramics and pottery that were excavated during research conducted by the Nara Cultural Property Research Institute, allowing you to gain insights into the history of Heijo-kyo.
- Heijo Palace Site Museum（平城宮跡資料館）
- Address: Sakicho, Nara, 630-8003 Google Map
- Opening Hours: 9:00～16:30（Last admission 16:00）
- Close Day: Closed on Mondays (If Monday falls on a holiday, it will be postponed to the next working day), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 26 to January 3).
- Official Website: https://www.nabunken.go.jp/heijo/museum/
11:00 AM - Have Lunch at the Restaurant in Suzakumon Square!
After a walk in the park, return to Suzakumon Square and enjoy lunch. Cafe & Restaurant IRACA is located inside the Tempyo Collection Hall (天平つどい館) and offers Italian dishes, pizza, and dishes like omelette rice made with Nara ingredients. You can savor delicious food while admiring the beautiful view of Shujaku-mon.
- Cafe＆Restaurant IRACA（カフェ＆レストラン IRACA）
- Address: 4 Chome-6-1 Nijoojiminami, Nara, 630-8012 Google Map
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Last food order at 1:30 PM, last drink order at 1:30 PM) and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Last food order at 7:00 PM, last drink order at 8:00 PM)
- Regular Holiday: Irregular
- Official Website: https://tokijiku.owst.jp/
Additionally, within the Tenpyo Mitsukikan (天平みつき館), there is a Nara Tourist Information Center and a souvenir shop. There is also a fully restored 30-meter-long envoy ship used during the Tang Dynasty era that you can ride for free.
【Day 1】Experience Goldfish and Art at the "Nara Goldfish Museum"!
After touring the Heijō Palace Site Historical Park, head to the next attraction. At the Nara Goldfish Museum, you can admire artworks centered around goldfish. Located on the 4th floor of the commercial facility "Mi-Nara," this attraction, which reopened in April 2021, has become the "largest goldfish entertainment aquarium in Japan."
1:00 PM - From Heijokyo Ruins Park to the Goldfish Museum
You can reach the Goldfish Museum from Heijokyo Ruins Park by bus or on foot. It's about a 3-minute bus ride or a 10-minute walk.
Inside the museum, you can gracefully observe over ten varieties of goldfish, including bubble-eyed goldfish, Ryukin goldfish, Oranda goldfish, and Crown Pearlscale goldfish.
In addition to showcasing goldfish using projection mapping and colored glass, you can also see the world's first diamond-cut aquarium.
You can experience goldfish acrobatics photography using montage techniques and even try activities like riding goldfish and catching goldfish. Be sure to give these activities a try!
- Nara Kingyo Museum（奈良金魚ミュージアム）
- Address: 〒630-8012 Nara, Nijoojiminami, 1 Chome−3−1 ミ・ナーラ ４F Google Map
- Ticket Price:
- Adults (Junior high school students and above): 1,200 yen
- Elementary school students: 800 yen
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Open Year-Round)
- Official Website: https://kingyomuseum.com/
【Day 1】Savor Delightful Cuisine in Nara Town and Surroundings!
After enjoying the goldfish and art, let's explore the culinary delights in Nara Town and its surroundings. From shaved ice shops to Japanese cuisine restaurants, you can taste dishes made with Nara ingredients.
3:30 PM - Reservation Required! Taste Exquisite Shaved Ice at the Popular "ほうせき箱"!
From the nearest bus stop "宮跡庭園"to the Goldfish Museum, take a return bus ride, which will take about 10 minutes to reach Kintetsu Nara Station. From there we'll walk to a shaved ice shop in the shopping area near Nara Town.
The shop we're introducing this time is "Hosekibako（ほうせき箱）" In this shop leading the Nara shaved ice trend, you can savor shaved ice made from seasonal ingredients like peaches, grapes, and raspberries. It's not only popular among the locals but also crowded with tourists from all over, so it's recommended to make a reservation in advance.
- Hosekibako（ほうせき箱）
- Address: 47 Mochiidonocho, Nara, 630-8222 Google Map
- Business Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM, last orders taken 10 minutes before closing. [12:50-14:00 Break]
- Reservation Time: Until 9:00 PM on the day before the reservation date. The reservation website is available on the official Instagram page ⬇.
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/housekibaco/
5:00 PM - Indulge in Creative French Cuisine at A Restaurant Housed in A Renovated Row Villa!
After enjoying the shaved ice, have dinner at the townhouse restaurant in Nara. "French o・mo・ya (フレンチ・オ・モヤ)" is a French restaurant that has been renovated from a row villa built at the end of the Edo period, and one unique feature is that you eat with chopsticks instead of a knife and fork.
Dinner (6,800 yen per person, including tax) offers creative French dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. You can savor bite-sized dishes like roasted Iberian pork (considered one of the finest pork) and marinated seafood.
- French o・mo・ya（フレンチ・オ・モヤ）
- Address: 11 Kunodocho, Nara, 630-8382 Google Map
- Business Hours: Lunch: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM (Last Order) / Dinner: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Last Order)
- Official Website: http://www.secondhouse.co.jp/omoya/omo3.html
【Day 1】Spend a Meaningful Time at the Japanese Business Hotel "Onyado Nono Nara"
After enjoying dinner, we will head to the hotel to rest for the day. The accommodation we're introducing this time is "Onyado Nono Nara," a Japanese-style business hotel just a few steps away from JR Nara Station. This hotel, filled with Japanese charm, is highly regarded by foreign tourists.
- Onyado Nono Nara Hotel
- Address: 1 Chome-1-6 Omiyacho, Nara, 630-8115 Google Map
- Business Hours: Check-in: From 3:00 PM / Check-out: Until 11:00 AM
- Booking Sites: Booking.com Agoda Hotels.com
8:00 PM - Check-in
All floors of the hotel are covered with tatami mats, and you must remove your shoes and place them on the shoe rack when entering. After checking in at the front desk, proceed to your room and experience the warm atmosphere of traditional Japanese accommodation.
There are nine types of tatami mat rooms, including single rooms, double rooms, and twin rooms. Some rooms may not have a view, but you can relax and immerse yourself in the Japanese ambiance.
After spending some time in your room, soak in the hot springs to relieve the fatigue of your journey. The "Yoshino Sakura no Yu" on the first floor features a large communal bath, open-air bath, and a sauna.
Following your hot spring or sauna session, head to the post-bathing area. In the evening, you can enjoy complimentary vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and in the morning, you can have free probiotic drinks.
Additionally, from 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM, there is complimentary "Yonaki Soba（夜鳴きそば）" available. If you're feeling a bit hungry, you can try the late-night soy sauce ramen. And that concludes your activities for the first day of your journey.
【Day 2】Explore the Shrines and Temples Around Nara Park to Your Heart's Content!
On the second day, explore the shrines and temples around Nara Park. The lush green park is home to the deer, considered messengers of the Kasuga deities. You'll also find historic shrines and temples like Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and Kofuku-ji, which attract Japanese and international tourists alike.
7:00 AM - Enjoy the Hotel's Signature Breakfast!
Start your day with breakfast at the Miyado Nara Hotel before heading to Nara Park. Offering a buffet-style meal, you can enjoy a variety of dishes, including persimmon leaf sushi, Sanuki udon noodles, seafood donburi, soup, and other local Nara delicacies.
8:30 AM - Begin Your Visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasuga Taisha Shrine!
After breakfast, check-out, and walk to Kintetsu Nara Station. Store your luggage in coin-operated lockers and then take a bus to your first destination, Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Board a bus bound for Kasuga Taisha. It takes about 8 minutes to reach the nearest bus stop, Kasuga Taisha Honden.
As you walk along the path, you'll see about 2,000 stone lanterns lined up in a row. It's said that many notable and unknown individuals made donations in the past.
Pass through the South Gate, and you'll see the Middle Gate, which stands about 10 meters tall. It was reconstructed in 2016, and for a special visit, you can pay 500 yen at the welcoming ceremony.
The corridor is adorned with approximately 1,000 hanging lanterns, including golden ones. It's said that famous figures like Naoe Kanetsugu from the Warring States period made donations, providing a fantastic sight.
Beyond the corridor, you'll come across the Shinto shrine（藤浪之屋）. This area recreates the traditional event "Stone carving（万灯籠）" held during the Setsubun and Obon festivals, with beautiful illuminated lanterns.
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine（春日大社）
- Address: 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, 630-8212 Google Map
- Opening Hours: Please this page for details.
- Official Website: https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/
9:30 AM - Don't Miss the Adorable Deer in Nara Park!
A few minutes' walk from Kasuga Taisha Shrine, you can reach Nara Park, another famous tourist attraction in Nara that welcomes over 13 million visitors annually. When you visit Nara Park, you'll encounter herds of deer basking in the sun or leisurely strolling around.
Deer crackers (shika senbei) are available for purchase at roadside stalls and shops in the park, so be sure to get some for your children. Interestingly, the Nara deer won't eat the crackers directly from the stalls. Instead, they cleverly gather around you after you've paid for them, showing their clever and money-savvy nature!
- Nara Park (奈良公園)
- Address: Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Noboriojicho 30 Google Map
- Official Website: https://www3.pref.nara.jp/park/
10:30 AM - Visit the World-Famous Todai-ji Temple!
After exploring Kasuga Taisha Shrine, we move on to our next destination, Todai-ji Temple, home to Nara's iconic Great Buddha. This temple, built by Emperor Shomu in memory of his deceased son during the Nara period, houses grand halls like the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), the Shoso-in Treasure House, and the Hokke-do Hall, featuring statues of mighty guardians, some reaching heights of approximately 8 meters.
Pass through the Nandaimon Gate and proceed to the Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), where one of the world's largest wooden structures stands, housing a colossal Buddha statue approximately 15 meters tall. Additionally, there's a mysterious hole in one of the temple's pillars, measuring about 30 cm in height and 37 cm in width. It is said that passing through this hole will bring protection from evil spirits.
After visiting the Todai-ji Daibutsuden, head a bit uphill to the Todai-ji Nigatsudo (February Hall), which offers a panoramic view of Nara's cityscape. This hall hosts the Shuni-e ceremony from March 1st to 14th every year, and you can witness the entire city of Nara from its stage.
- Tōdai-ji（東大寺）
- Address: 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8211 Google Map
- Admission Fees: Junior high school students and above: ￥600 / Elementary school students: ￥300
- Opening Hours: Please refer to the information on this page.
- Official Website: https://www.todaiji.or.jp/
【Day 2】Have Lunch and Shop at Nara's Commercial Complex "Shika Saru Kitsune Building"
After visiting Nara's most iconic shrines and temples, let's head to the Shika Saru Kitsune Building, a popular complex created by the Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a well-known variety store. This facility opened in April 2021 and houses original craft shops, cafes, restaurants, as well as workshops for tea ceremony, tea spoon crafting, and cloth dyeing for tea.
"Itsune（㐂つね）" on the first floor serves dishes featuring beef. In addition to Sukiyaki and Wagyu Beef Steamed Meal (4,400 yen including tax), you can taste Udon noodles with slightly larger pieces of fried tofu (2,200 yen including tax).
- Itsune（㐂つね）
- Address: 1F Shika Saru Kitsune Building, 22 Motomoriin-cho, Nara, Nara Prefecture Google Map
- Business Hours:
- Lunch: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM / Set Meal Last Order: 1:00 PM, A La Carte Last Order: 2:00 PM / Lunch reservations are for set meal customers only.
- Dinner: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM / Set Meal Last Order: 7:00 PM, A La Carte Last Order: 8:00 PM
- Official Website: https://tabelog.com/nara/A2901/A290101/29012524/
Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten is located on the first and second floors, offering a variety of goods such as dishcloths and plates, as well as Nara specialties like Akahigashi-yaki pottery and Yoshino cedar chopsticks. We recommend the "Kasaru Kitsune Set" which includes deer and fox decorations, as well as dishcloths with deer patterns.
- Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara Main Branch（中川政七商店 奈良本店）
- Address: Nara, Ganriincho, 22 鹿猿狐ビルヂング Google Map
- Business Hours: 10:00～19:00
- Official Website: https://www.nakagawa-masashichi.jp/staffblog/store/s165002/
After enjoying food and shopping at the Shika Saru Kitsune Building, head to Kintetsu Nara Station. This concludes our 2-day, 1-night journey in Nara.
In Conclusion
We've outlined a 2-day, 1-night itinerary for Nara. Nara City has many other attractions, including Yakushiji and Toshodai-ji, both designated as World Heritage Sites, and places like Sarusawa Pond where you can see the Five Story Pagoda of Kōfuku-ji Temple. In addition, many temples and row villas around Nara have cafes where you can enjoy sightseeing and dining. Enjoy your historical walk in Nara to the fullest.
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