Where to visit in Nara park; my recommended rouite

Nara park is one of the most interesting sightseeing spots for traveller in Japan. Nara was the capital of Japan 1300 years before, so there are historical templs, shrines, museums and also cute deer. Actually I'm from Nara and I will show my recommended rouite in Nara park here.

 

 

 

 

1. Nara station (JR line)

 

You can access to Nara park by foot from Nara station of JR line or Kintetsu line. Souvenir shops are in station building. And there is a sightseeing information center in front of Nara station.

 

 

2. Shopping arcade and Sanjo street

 

 

There are many shops and restaurants at this shopping arcade Sanjo street between Nara park and Nara station. You can enter also Karaoke.

 

 

3. Statue of Gyoki

 

 

Statue of Gyoki is on Nara station of Kintetsu line. This is convenient to meeting and I often use it.
Gyoki is historical Japanese monk who contribute to charity work and build Todaiji temple.

4. Feeding Shika Senbei to deers

There are many deer in Nara park. You can buy Shika Senbei and feed it to deer. It might be pretty experience.

5. Street for Todaiji temple

 

I recommend to turn left at "Daibutsuden (大仏殿)" intersection after entering Nara park. There are many shops and stall stands.

Many people might feed Shika Senbei to deer here, too.

 

 

6. Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji and the statue of Kongo-Rikishi



 

Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji and the statue of Kongo-Rikishi are very famous gate in Japan.

The statue of Kongo-Rikishi was build by historical monk Chogen about 800 years before and it is designated a national treasure.

 

7. Todaiji temple Hall of the Great Buddha

 

Todaiji temple Hall of the Great Buddha is the highlight in Nara park. The great Buddha is really big.

It's not free for entering the hall (600 yen for an adult), but I recommend to look this statue. It might be impressive experience.

 

 

8. Kasuga Taisha shrine

 

 

Kasuga Taisha shrine is one of the most famous shrine in Japan. It was build about 1300 years before.

This is designated an world heritage.

Seasonal events are held there. For example, this is illuminated at night in summer.



9. Wakakusa mountain

 

Mt. Wakakusa is a small mountain, it's covered by beautiful green lawn.

The view from top is nice, so I recommend to enter it if you have time.

 

10. Nigatsudo

 

 

Nigatsudo is good viewpoint, this is my favorite spot in Nara park. You can view Nara park and Nara city. It has a typical Japanese atmosphere.

11. The street from Nigatsudo

 

The street from Nigatsudo is also my favorite spot. This street has a very typically Japanese atmosphere.



12. Kofukuji temple

 

Kofukuji temple is typical Japanese style temple, this was built by power Fujiwara about 1300 years ago. This is designated an world heritage.

 

13. Sarusawaike pond

 

Sarusawaike pond is a place for relaxation. The scene which is reflected on the surface of the water is beautiful.

 

Especially, Tokae is famous event of Nara park. You can view special light view there.

Horyuji temple in Nara; the oldest wooden building in the world, world heritage

Horyuji temple in Nara prefecture is the oldest wooden building in the world, and it's registered as the world heritage.
Horyuji is built about 1300 years ago and this is one of the representative temples in Japan.

And I can recommend this spot because it' not crowded in spite of the preciousness. You can take your time there. It also be easy to take your picture.

It was built more than 1300 years ago, so you can see the state of old wooden building. 

And many precious old items which appears in school textbook are exhibited in the museum. 

 

The roads in the temple area have also nostalgic Japanese atmosphere. It might be beautiful and interesting for foreign traveller especally.

You can access to there by bus from Horyuji station of JR Line.

Yamato Minzoku Park; you can enternese old house

In Yamato Minzoku Park, many old Japanese folk houses　which were built a couple of hundreds years ago are shown. "Yamato" is old name for Nara, and "Minsoku" means race.
So you can experience as you were in "Edo" period.

You can see more pictures at http://www.pref.nara.jp/28769.htm.

Besides old houses, there are museum, field of flowers, and so on.
This park is located in between Nara park and Horyuji temple.

Nara city; old capital and traditional town in Japan

Nara is known as one of the tourist spots in Japan.
In fact, I'm from Nara.

Nara was the capital city of Japan about 1,300 years ago.
So, there are many cultural heritages, such as temple, ancient tomb, unearthed article.
The Big Budda in Toudaiji is amaging size　(the just hand is bigger than us).

There are many deer all over the place in Nara Park.
Deer is so cute, and you can experience feeding.

Nara is often compared with Kyoto, which is also former capital city in Japan.
I had lived in both Nara and Kyoto, and in my imagination, Nara is more austere than Kyoto and provide more Japanese characteristic atmosphere.
I can recommend you that visit Nara, not only Kyoto, when you will come to Japan. Nara is easy to access by train, and not far from Kyoto, concretely speaking, about one hour by train.