Nara

Introduction

Nara - Worlds largest wooden building

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Nara (奈良市) is a city (population ~370,000) in the Kansai Region of Japan. In the 8th century it was the capital of Japan in a period known as the Nara Period. A selection of stunning temples and shrines make this a popular travel destination. It is also home to a very large population of tame deer that roam freely, particularly in Nara Park. The Daibutsuden Hall, in the Todai-ji temple is the world's largest wooden building.
For more information, check the English website about Nara.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

Buddhist Temples

• Tōdai-ji, including Nigatsu-dō
• Saidai-ji
• Kōfuku-ji
• Gangō-ji
• Yakushi-ji
• Tōshōdai-ji

Kasuga-taisha

The Kasuga Grand Shrine was established in 768 A.D. and is the Fujiwara family's shrine. It has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. The stone lanterns lining the path to the shrine and the bronze lanterns inside make this shrine well worth a visit.

Heijō Palace

Heijō Palace was the Imperial Palace of Japan, during most of the Nara period. Its remains are part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Other Sights and Activities

• Nara Park
• Kasugayama Primeval Forest
• Naramachi
• Nara National Museum
• Isuien Garden
• Sarusawa Pond
• Wakakusa-yama
• Yagyū

Events and Festivals

Weather

Nara has a humid subtropical climate. Summers last from June to September when average daytime temperatures are between 27 and 32 °C and nights are mostly around 20 °C. Winters last from December to February when days are approximately 10 °C and nights are around or just above zero. Most of the rain falls during the warmer summermonths. Snow is possible from January to March with 3-5 centimetres a month on average.

Getting There

By Plane

Nara doesn't have its own airport. International flights in nearby Osaka arrive at the Kansai International Airport (KIX). Airlines flying from Europe to Osaka include KLM (Amsterdam) and Finnair (Helsinki). Osaka Airport (ITM) serves only domestic destinations.

By Train

Japan Rail has trains to and from Nara. Kyoto is about 30 minutes by train, Osaka 40 minutes.

By Car

By Bus

The JR Bus Group has buses to/from Tokyo, among other places.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

Nara Kotsu Bus service (City Loop Route) offers a bus services every 30 minutes.

By Foot

Most of Nara's sites are easily explored on foot.

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

• Nara University
• Nara Women's University

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

The Japanese postal service is excellent! Domestic and international mail service is very quick and reliable. The prices for sending letters, postcards and parcels vary depending on where you send if from and to which country you send it too, and of course depends on weight as well, so check this calculation page of Japan Post for more details. Post offices generally are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays, closing at weekends and also on national holidays, though a few open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Central post offices are sometimes open until 7:00pm, open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Sundays and holidays from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Another thing to remember is that the post office is one of the few places in Japan that is guaranteed to have ATMs that take international cards.