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- Feel the History of Japan: a One-Day Sightseeing Plan of Nara
PLAN
Feel the History of Japan: a One-Day Sightseeing Plan of Nara
PLAN LENGTH：1 day | LOCATION：Nara |
HIGHLIGHTS：Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Naramachi, Deer, Local specialty foods | COST PER PERSON：5,070 YEN (Excludes transportation fees) |
You can't call a trip to Japan complete without a visit to the ancient city of Nara. The city is filled with World Heritage Sites and National Treasures, making it a paradise for history buffs. For those not so passionate about history, Nara is also famous for gorgeous scenery especially in the spring and autumn. Located only 30 minutes from Kyoto by train, it's a great destination for a day trip!
Kintetsu Nara Station
There are two train stations in the city with the name Nara: JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station. Although it only takes about 15 minutes to walk from one to the other, Kintetsu Nara Station is more convenient if you're planning to go to Nara Park or Naramachi.
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Approx. 5 min
Kofuku-ji Temple
- TIME NEEDED：1 hour
- COST：800 YEN
Kofuku-ji Temple is home to Nara's tallest five-tiered pagoda, which stands at 50 meters tall. The statue of Asura, a designated National Treasure, is also a must-see.
(Eastern Golden Hall: 300 yen; Kofuku-ji National Treasure Museum: 600 yen; Combo Ticket: 800 yen)
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Approx. 20 min
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
- TIME NEEDED：1 hour
- COST：500 YEN
Kasuga Taisha Shrine is instantly recognizable by its brilliant vermillion gate and the approximately 1,000 lanterns that hang in the eastern corridor. A extremely photogenic shrine, make sure your cameras and phones are charged so you can take plenty of pictures!
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Approx. 10 min
Kasuga Ninai Jaya
- TIME NEEDED：50 min
- COST：1,620 YEN
If you start getting hungry, head to Kasuga Ninai Jaya for their popular set menu which includes kayu (rice porridge) made with white miso paste and seasonal ingredients and kaki no hazushi, a type of pressed sushi wrapped in persimmon leaf.
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Approx. 5 min
Ukimido
- TIME NEEDED：10 min
- COST：0 YEN
You can enjoy sakura in the spring, colorful foliage in the autumn, and night time light displays in the summer at this beautiful lake.
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Approx. 5 min
Nara Park
- TIME NEEDED：30 min
- COST：0 YEN
Not only does Nara Park have a great view of Mt. Wakasa and contain several World Heritage Sites such as Kofuku-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, it’s also home to Nara’s famous deer! They’ll be more than happy to come visit you if you buy some deer senbei. Keep in mind that these deer have been known to nibble on paper in addition to senbei, so make sure you keep important documents like passports and Japan Rail Passes safely tucked away!
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Approx. 10 min
Todai-ji Temple
- TIME NEEDED：1 hour
- COST：500 YEN
Todai-ji is one of Japan’s most famous temples. Two of its most iconic features are the Daibutsu or Great Buddha statue and the Ni-o, two guardians housed in the Great South Gate of the temple. There’s a lot to see in the spacious compound of the temple, so take your time enjoying it.
Great Buddha Hall: 500 yen; Kaidan-in: 500 yen; Hokke-do: 500 yen
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Approx. 5 min
Nigatsu-do
- TIME NEEDED：30 min
Another must-see inside Todai-ji Temple is Nigatsu-do, an elevated hall built in a style known as butai-zukuri. The many lanterns hanging inside the hall are particularly lovely.
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Approx. 15 min
Yoshino Honkuzu Kurokawa Honke
- TIME NEEDED：30 min
- COST：800 YEN
Kurokawa Honke is a sweets shop specializing in products made from kudzu (Japanese arrowroot), the regional specialty of the Yoshino mountain area of Nara. We recommend trying the kudzu-mochi as well as the popular kudzu blancmange, which comes in flavors like raspberry.
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Approx. 20 min - 5 min. walk → Todaiji Daibutsuden ・ Kasuga Taisha-mae Bus Stop → City Circular Bus (10 min; 210 yen) → Tanakacho → 5 min. walk
Mentouan
- TIME NEEDED：45 min
- COST：850 YEN
The thing to get from Mentouan is the kinchaku udon. The deliciously chewy udon noodles stuffed inside the kinchaku or purse made from salty-sweet aburaage fried tofu skin goes great with the katsuo-based soup broth.
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Approx. 5 min
Naramachi
- TIME NEEDED：1 hour
Naramachi is home to many traditional Japanese-style machiya houses that provide a glimpse back to the time when this area existed as a merchant district. Before the construction of these buildings, however, the entire area was part of the compound of Gango-ji Temple. Now only a few temple buildings remain. In addition to interesting history, there are plenty of cafes and shops to enjoy here.
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Time at leisure
Naramachi-BENIYA
- TIME NEEDED：30 min
Browse from a selection of items made from hemp and other traditional fabrics from Nara. Stuffed deer dolls handmade from pieces of old kimono cloth are popular as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
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Approx. 10 min
Kintetsu Nara Station
Notes
While walking around is a great way to enjoy Nara, it's also a good idea to use the city buses in order to cut down on travel time between destinations. There are some amazing festivals in Nara such as Omizutori and Daimoji Okuribi. If possible, time your trip to coincide with one of these events!
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 11 30,2016 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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