Our Nara Day Trip from Kyoto

Grand temples, ancient shrines, and historic treasures were established here under imperial patronage, and much of it remains remarkably well preserved. While Nara was the capital for only 75 years, the number of buildings and their immense scale, as well as the beauty of the area, are impressive.

If you’re not using the JR Pass, an alternative is the Kintetsu Kyoto Line to Kintetsu Nara Station, which is slightly closer to Nara Park. The JR Pass doesn’t cover this line, but it is popular due to its more convenient location. They cost ¥760 for the direct express (45 minutes) or ¥1,280 for the limited express (35 minutes).

Once you arrive at JR Nara Station, walk to the bus stop outside – just follow everyone else – and find bus #1 and #2. The Nara City Loop Buses stop at major tourist attractions, and volunteers are available at the bus stop to help ensure you board the right bus.

Getting from Nara Station to popular sites like Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine involves a slight uphill walk, so we recommend taking the bus and then walking back down if you still have energy at the end of the day.

Note that Nara city buses are not included in the JR Pass. A single ride costs ¥ 250/130 adult/child, or you can purchase a day pass for ¥ 1,900.

Also read: Our 4-day Kyoto itinerary

Many have learned to bow politely in exchange for treats. It’s become a bit of a ritual—offer a cracker, give a little bow, and the deer often bow right back. Tourists love snapping photos of this unusual exchange, and you’ll see plenty of people and deer mid-bow, both parties looking surprisingly dignified.

You can buy shika senbei (deer crackers) from official vendors, though they might as well call them deer magnets. Once you’re holding a pack, the deer suddenly appear, bowing, nudging, and sometimes helping themselves. I naively tucked mine into my pocket, only to have a determined deer start chewing on my trousers. Lesson learned: crackers go in the backpack.

Generally, the deer near Kasuga Taisha were gentle, photogenic, and strangely good at posing in scenic spots. Down by the Nara National Museum, though, it was a different vibe with packs of young stags mobbing tourists like fluffy gangsters. We even saw a toddler getting headbutted by a protective mum deer keeping an eye on her fawn.

Compared to Miyajima, which we visited a few days earlier, Nara’s deer are more numerous, more forward, and definitely more cracker-savvy.

Be kind, keep your food secure, and don’t tease them. These sacred fluffballs may look cute, but they mean business when snacks are involved.

Jin had grilled eel while I went for the mountain vegetable rice bowl. Both meals came with a bowl of somen noodles. We also shared an oh-so-crispy shrimp tempura.

Get there: Bus #2 and get off at Wariishicho Bus Stop. It’s a five-minute walk from the bus stop.
Location
Hours: 11:00 – 16:00 (Closed Tuesday)

This quiet, moss-lined trail winds through Kasugayama Primaeval Forest, a sacred area protected since 841, where hunting and logging have been forbidden for over a thousand years.

The towering trees and mossy paths give the forest an almost spiritual stillness. If you listen closely, you might just hear the forest whispering.

There’s no better way to reach Kasuga Taisha Shrine, one of Nara’s holiest sites.

Some of the cutest deer we saw in Nara were at this shrine. Most of them seemed to be young females and fawns eager to pose for photos or practice their bows.

Inside the shrine grounds, you’ll find corridors filled with bronze lanterns lit only during the Lantern Festivals held in February and August. It must be a magical (and I’m sure crowded) sight if your visit coincides.

Initially built in 752, Todai-ji was the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan. It played a major role in the spread of Buddhism during the Nara period and has been rebuilt several times due to fire and earthquake damage. In its current form, the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is the world’s largest wooden building.

Inside, you’ll find the massive (but calm, as always) Great Buddha, a 15-metre-tall bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha, seated in meditation. The hall also houses other (massive) guardian statues and offerings, adding to the theme of biggest is best.

The garden is divided into two sections. The front garden features stone paths, tea houses, and meticulously pruned trees, while the rear garden offers a serene pond. I hoped to see some koi, but unfortunately, I had no luck.

Together, these sections create a beautifully balanced space where every view is thoughtfully composed.

I loved the entire garden, especially the expansive moss garden.

Adjacent to Isuien Garden is the Yoshikien Garden, which offers free entry, making it a great alternative for those who want to experience a classic Japanese garden in Nara while saving money. We did not visit this garden, so I cannot provide details about what to expect.

We both ordered tofu set meals. Jin had the standard version, while I chose the vegan set. It’s amazing how many textures and flavours they manage to create from tofu alone—silky smooth, chewy, even crispy. The tofu-based desserts were pretty amazing, too.

Each dish was beautifully plated and surprisingly filling. It was the kind of meal that felt healthy, delicate, and indulgent all at once.

See the seasonal Kyotofu menu.

And that’s exactly how our Nara day trip from Kyoto happened. Nara is a very nice place, and we’re sure you’ll like it as much as we did
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