Nara walking tour & city guide

Nara Park and its deer

Nara Park is a vast, open park at the edge of the city center where the famous sika deer wander among visitors. Vendors sell special crackers called shika senbei, and many deer have learned to bow their heads before receiving one. They are wild animals, so feed them gently and keep paper maps out of reach.

Within the park stands Todai-ji, whose Great Buddha Hall houses a bronze Buddha about 15 meters tall. The wooden hall is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, even though the current structure is smaller than the original. Look for the pillar with a hole said to be the size of the Buddha's nostril; squeezing through is believed to bring good fortune.

Shrines, pagodas and old streets

A forest path lined with around 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns leads to Kasuga Taisha, a vermilion shrine founded in 768. Kofuku-ji, with its five-story pagoda, rises near the main shopping streets, and the grassy slopes of Mount Wakakusa offer views over the city.

South of the park, the Naramachi district preserves narrow lanes of traditional merchant houses, now home to cafés, craft shops and small museums. It is a peaceful place to wander after the crowds of the park.

Visiting tips

Nara is less than an hour by train from both Kyoto and Osaka, so many people visit as a day trip. Staying overnight lets you enjoy the park in the quiet early morning. Autumn, when the maples turn red, and spring cherry blossom season are particularly beautiful.