Day 1 in Nara

Welcome to Nara! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city, stroll around the ancient narrow streets in the heart of the city. Here you will find quaint cafes, Japanese restaurants, and local shops. Grab some lunch here and take in the authentic atmosphere, wander around the shop and buy some local delicacies and souvenirs to treasure.

Nara is a picturesque city featuring the spectacularly beautiful Nara Park right in the heart of the city center, at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. This park is not only one of the oldest parks in Japan, home to verdant green lawns and wooded areas that expand for 1,240 acres, but it also houses some of the city`s most historic landmarks. The magnificent Kofuku-Ji Temple, one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara is situated in the park and sits adjacent to the large Sarusawa Pond.

Check out the temple and it`s spectacular 164 ft 5-story towering pagoda, wander around the treasure hall containing interesting Buddhist images. The temple grounds are among the eight sites in the city of Nara listed as Historic Monuments, there are multiple buildings on site and the pagoda here is the second tallest in Japan.

While you are in the park you may notice the presence of hundreds of wild sika deer! These animals call the park home and they are a national treasure and sacred to the residents of Nara. According to the legendary history of Kasuga Shrine, Takemikasuchi the god arrived in the city of Nara on a white deer, the deer have since been regarded as heavenly animals or messengers of the gods that protect the city. You can purchase `shika sembei` deer crackers from vendors in and around the park and feed the deer.

The massive park is also home to Todai-Ji (Great East Temple) dating back to the 8th century AD, it is the most famous of the Seven Great Temples of Nara and some of its famous features include the massive bronze statue (50 feet) of the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), the Great South Gate (Nandoaimon), a two-story structure which stands on 18 columns with two Nio statues that stand 26 feet tall and guard the temples entrance, the Hall of the Great Buddha, and the largest timber building in the world where the Great Buddha lies. The grounds of Todai-Ji are well worth walking around as they are simply beautiful and features verdant lawns, vibrant gardens, spectacular water features, ponds, bridges, and pagodas.

Naramachi is a traditional neighborhood in Nara, the streets here are lined by beautifully well preserved traditional Japanese Houses including Koshi-no-le which you can enter and other buildings housing shops, workshops, cafes, restaurants, and ryokans. Stroll the ancient streets and admire the buildings, stop into the shops and buys some traditional goods, stop at a cafe for some tea and sweet treats, sit back and relax and take in the surroundings.

The Nara National Museum is another landmark located in Nara-goen Park, the museum is divided into two buildings; the Hall of Buddhist Images in the older building on the west side containing an interesting permanent collection of fine Buddhist images and the newer building on the east side featuring temporary special exhibitions.

Head up the slopes of Mount Wakakusa, which sits behind Nara Park, it takes a short hike to reach the plateau. At the top, you can enjoy panoramic views over the city and the scenery from here at sunset is simply spectacular and the atmosphere is so peaceful.

Head back down to the downtown area and visit one of Nara`s Michelin-starred restaurants. Dine on delicious gourmet soba and sashimi, try fancy French cuisine and authentic Japanese cuisine.

Nightlife in Nara is pretty laid back with some traditional neighborhood izakayas and some world-class bars tucked away down the quaint side streets. Stop in at one of these unique establishments and enjoy a rare whiskey or Nara`s famed sake, listen to some live music and mingle with the locals.

Day 2 in Nara

Start the day with a nice refreshing walk around the iconic Nara Park in the heart of the city, feed the local deer and stop into one of the nearby cafes for some breakfast.

Head out to Asuka Village, an old Japanese village that dates back to the late 6th century featuring ancient ruins that once included a palace during the Asuka Period. This picturesque region is filled with natural beauty including rolling verdant hills and rice paddies with quiet countryside roads. We recommend you rent a bicycle and discover the surrounding mysterious historical sights and natural landscapes. Asuka is a great place to be outdoors and examine artifacts including large monoliths and carved stones that can be seen scattered around the region.

Horyu-Ji Temple is an iconic temple in Nara housing the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 607 by Crown Prince Shotoku, a famous aristocrat and politician of the 7th century. The grounds are divided in two parts; the Western Precinct and the Eastern Precinct along with 55 other buildings, which are designated as national treasures and important cultural properties. The five-story Goju-no-To Pagoda and the Kondo (main hall) are other iconic buildings on site and there are outstanding works of Buddhist art displayed throughout the buildings.

The Chugu-Ji Temple is just a short walk east of Horyu-Ji, a small temple that seemingly floats on water and houses the Miroku statue, a breathtaking masterpiece of a wooden statue of Bodhisattva in half-lotus position (a National Treasure), considered to be one of the three great works of art with enigmatic smiles.

Alternatively, you could spend the entire day exploring the beautiful natural landscapes of Yoshino Mountain. This stunning mountain is part of the Omine Renzan mountain ranges in the town of Yoshino and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. This area is famed for its gorgeous cherry blossom blooms, one of the best viewing spots in the entire country. There are over 30,000 sakura trees planted on the mountain slopes, the trees are planted in four groves at different altitudes and they bloom at different times during the spring. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy in this area, take a ride on the scenic Yoshino Ropeway, which runs through the area, one of the oldest cable cars in Japan. Go hiking on the mountain trails, or ride a mountain bike on the trails. Visit some of the important religious sites in the area including the Kimpu Shrine, Yoshino Mikumari Shrine, and Impusen-Ji.

On your last evening in the city of Nara, enjoy the nighttime cityscape from a number of locations including the Nigatsu-do Hall and Sarusawa Pond. The pond is a stunning sight to see at night with views of shadows of the moon dancing across the pond and views of Kyofuku-Dera Temples five-story pagoda which looks magical lit up at night. The pond is one of the famous `Eight Views of Nara`.

Enjoy the sights from the Nigatsu-do Hall platform, see the magical, vibrant lanterns hanging around the hall which creates a unique evening atmosphere.

Most of the cities excellent eateries can be found around the two train stations in the city. The streets here are packed with restaurants, pubs, cafes, and bars, this is where to dine on some of the best authentic dishes in Nara. Try a bowl of Soumen traditional noodles or some `Kakinoha-zushi` specialty sushi. After dinner sample some sweet match ice cream.

Additional Days in Nara

If you are able to spend additional days in Nara, head to Wazuka a quaint town with a population of around 5,000 and home to Uji green tea, holding nearly half of the green tea production in Kyoto. Visit tea plantations here that have been in business for over 800 years, take a guided tour, and tea ceremony lessons while enjoying homemade green tea.

Visit the Ninja Museum of Igaryuis, a great day trip from Nara to take with the kids. The town of Iga is less than two hours from Nara and features fascinating historical displays and exhibits giving the history of `ninjutsu`, the traditional Japanese art of camouflage and stealth. Visit the Ninja House complete with fake rooms and booby traps, watch ancient rituals and martial arts performances with real swords and other weapons.

Your Last Day in Nara

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.