Nara Day Trip Itinerary From Kyoto Or Osaka

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Are you considering a Nara day trip during your time in Japan, but aren’t sure if Nara is worth visiting? Nara is one of the most popular day trips from Kyoto or Osaka, best known for the hundreds of sika deer that roam the city.

We almost didn’t visit Nara during our Japan trip, but I’m so glad we did! Nara is a beautiful city that was once the capital city of Japan! This means you get a whole lot more than cute deer when you visit Nara.

There are also multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We share our experience of taking a day trip to Nara, with tips to help you plan your own Nara one-day trip.

sika deer with baby in nara.

How To Get To Nara

Nara is a popular day trip from Kyoto or from Osaka. The distance from each city to Nara is similar and there are multiple transport options to get you there.

We visited Nara from Kyoto before transiting to Osaka (more on this later).

  • Nara Day Trip From Kyoto: Take the JR Nara Line or Kintetsu Limited Express from Kyoto Station. The journey takes around 35-45 minutes.
  • Nara Day Trip From Osaka: The JR Yamatoji Line and Kintetsu Nara Line from Osaka bring you to Nara in 30-40 minutes.

There are two train stations in Nara:

  1. JR Nara Station: Served by JR lines like the Yamatoji Line, it’s a great option for those using the JR Pass, with convenient access to the Nara Park area by bus or a 20-minute walk.
  2. Kintetsu-Nara Station: This station is closer to Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, and other attractions, making it ideal if you’re arriving via the Kintetsu Line from Osaka or Kyoto.

Both stations offer easy access to Nara’s major sights, with buses, taxis, and walking paths connecting visitors to the main attractions.

Insider Tip: The JR Pass covers JR trains, while the Kintetsu Rail Pass covers other transit options and includes additional discounts in Nara. Depending on your Japan itinerary, it’s worth checking if either of these options will save you money during your trip.

Nara Day Trip Itinerary

nara map at kintetsu nara station.

If you are planning to visit Nara from either Kyoto or Osaka, there’s a good chance you’re making a round trip and heading back to where you started. We did things a little differently.

For our day trip to Nara, we almost weren’t going to fit it into our 2 week Japan trip with kids. We did not have a full day to spare with everything else we wanted to fit into our Osaka and Kyoto itinerary.

Instead, we turned our transit day between the two cities into our Nara day! We left Kyoto in the morning with our luggage, visited Nara and then transitted on to Osaka in the afternoon. This was possible because most large train stations in Japan will have lockers to store your luggage.

luggage lockers at kintetsu nara station.
Luggage lockers at Kintetsu-Nara Station

So while I will share our exact Nara one-day itinerary, know that you can adapt it to be a day trip to and from the same starting point too, whether that be Kyoto or Osaka.

Early Morning:

Depart from Kyoto or Osaka early to beat the crowds, unless you are taking your luggage on the train with you like we did. If that’s the case, it’s worthwhile waiting until after 9 am when the trains are a lot less busy.

We took the Kintetsu Line from Kyoto as it was a short walk from our accommodation at Bon Kyoto Station and it meant a shorter walk to the deer park upon arrival to Nara.

Unfortunately for us, it was a rainy day in Nara with sporadic showers and the occasional heavy downpour so we had our rain ponchos on for half of the day. It didn’t stop us from having fun!

Mid Morning:

kintetsu nara station.
Kintetsu Nara Station.

Once you arrive at your train station in Nara (either Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station) store your luggage in the paid lockers.

There are loads and they range in size and price. We found there were larger ones in a different area, with the help of a station attendant which perfectly fit our standard large suitcases and carry-on bags.

Make your way to Nara Park. From Kintetsu Nara Station, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the deer park or around 20 minutes if you arrive via JR Nara Station.

two kids posing with a wild sika deer in nara.

You will start seeing deer even before you make your way to the park. This was exciting for us as we were worried once we arrived, there would only be a few deer. We were very wrong… there were deer everywhere!

And I mean, everywhere!

In garden beds, crossing the street, sitting on shopfronts and peeking around trees. It was exciting!

deer crackers in nara.

There are several places where you can purchase deer crackers. They are 200 yen for a pack of 10. This is a fun experience but it can get overwhelming, as the deers are very eager for those crackers.

Make sure you read our tips below on feeding the deer.

nara deer park.

Late Morning:

After enjoying time with the deer in Nara Park, head to Todai-ji Temple, one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks and home to one of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statues.

Nandaimon Gate in Nara.

As you approach, you will walk beneath the impressive Nandaimon Gate, with its large guardian statues.

todai-ji temple.

There is an admission fee for visiting the Todai-ji Temple. You can either just visit the temple or get a combined temple and museum pass. Check the website for the latest information and opening times.

  • Temple only admission: ¥800 for adults & ¥400 for kids (6 to 12 years)
  • Temple and museum: ¥1,200 for adults and ¥600 for kids (6 to 12 years)

Inside the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), you’ll find the towering Buddha statue and an array of intricate statues and relics.

Insider Tip: Visit the small hole in a wooden pillar inside the temple – it’s meant to be the size of Buddha’s nostril and it’s said that passing through brings good fortune! Both of our kids crawled through.

There are also many other shrines and sites of cultural significance scattered throughout the temple grounds, and the gardens are quite lovely to explore.

tori gate in nara.

We would have spent more time exploring, were it not raining so hard by this time. We still wandered around a few areas (and spotted many more deer lurking in the trees).

Lunch:

After you’ve finished with your visit to the temple, enjoy some local cuisine near Naramachi or the bustling areas around Nara Station. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Nara.

It’s worth noting that many of the restaurants in Nara are cash-only so make sure you bring cash with you.

Nara is known for several unique specialty foods that make any day trip even more memorable:

  1. Kakinoha Sushi: Sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, with a delicate, slightly earthy flavour imparted by the leaf.
  2. Somen Noodle: Thin wheat noodles are often served chilled with a dipping sauce, a refreshing choice on warmer days.
  3. Chagayu (Tea Porridge): A comforting rice porridge cooked with tea, popular in local temples and traditional eateries.
  4. Narazuke: Pickles made from various vegetables marinated in sake lees, offering a rich, slightly sweet flavour.
  5. Kuzumochi – A traditional Japanese dessert popular in Nara and made from kuzu starch, giving it a soft, jelly-like texture and often served chilled with sweet toppings.

This Nara food guide will give you even more recommendations on what to try while you’re there.

Afternoon:

You can either wrap up your visit to Nara here, making it more of a Nara half-day trip if you’re short on time or spend the afternoon visiting some of the many other sites this historic city has to offer.

Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine, explore Isuien Garden, Nara National Museum or walk through Naramachi’s historic streets.

There are also many souvenir shops to explore and find yourself some unique gifts to take home. There are, of course, plenty of deer-themed souvenirs that are very cute.

Then make your way back to your accommodation by train, or transit to your next destination like we did.

Top Attractions in Nara

There are quite a few Nara tourist attractions that we did not have time to visit during our trip to the former capital of Japan. We have included some of the ones we visited as well as some that are highly recommended for a more thorough Nara itinerary.

1. Nara Park and the Famous Sika Deer

Home to hundreds of freely roaming deer, Nara Park is an iconic spot. You can feed the deer with special biscuits and experience these gentle animals up close.

2. Todai-ji Temple

todai-ji temple.

Todai-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. The massive wooden hall, Daibutsuden, is a must-see for its historical significance and impressive architecture.

Interesting Fact: The Great Buddha Hall has been rebuilt twice after fire, with the current building finished in 1709. It sits at 49 metres high. Up until 1998, it was the largest wooden building in the world. Pretty cool!

3. Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Known for its ancient stone lanterns, Kasuga Taisha is Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine, set in a picturesque forest backdrop.

4. Kofuku-ji Temple

A short walk from Nara Park, this temple’s five-story pagoda is one of Japan’s oldest and offers incredible photo opportunities and cultural insights.

5. Nara National Museum

nara national museum building.

The Nara National Museum houses an impressive collection of traditional Japanese Buddhist art, including statues, paintings, and ritual objects. It’s located within Nara Park.

6. Isuien Garden

This beautiful Japanese garden is known for its pond, tea house, and seasonal flora, providing a peaceful break from Nara’s busier areas.

Tips For Feeding The Deer In Nara

feeding sika deer in nara.

Feeding the sika deer in Nara is a fun and memorable experience, but it can also go very wrong, very quickly! They are wild animals and can be unpredictable!

We saw a lot of funny but concerning videos on social media when deciding if to visit Nara with people getting swamped by a hoard of deer or bitten on the butt. When you’re visiting Nara with kids, the last thing you want is for the experience to turn bad.

Deer crackers (shika senbei) are sold throughout the park and are safe to feed.

Start by holding the crackers in front of you and bow your head slightly, and the deer may bow in response, which is their way of asking politely.

Be mindful, as some deer may get excited or insistent, especially if they see food and take extra care if they have antlers.

After you’ve fed them, show your empty hands to signal that you’re out of rice crackers.

nara deer rice crackers.

Make sure you aren’t tempted to feed them anything else either and don’t leave any wrappers behind.

And if you’re still feeling overwhelmed by the experience, consider finding an area outside of Nara Deer Park where there are just one or two wild deer, so you know you won’t end up with a hoard of them eager for your crackers.

Insider Tip: We found that putting the crackers out of sight, in our bag, helped prevent getting mobbed. Also, break your crackers into smaller pieces so they go further. There’s no need to give a deer a whole cracker in one go. They are quite large.

Is One Day In Nara Enough Time?

One day is generally enough to see Nara’s main highlights. With efficient planning, you can visit Todai-ji Temple, wander around Nara Park, interact with the deer, explore Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and even enjoy some specialty foods.

Arriving early will give you plenty of time to take in Nara’s peaceful atmosphere without feeling rushed, and you will still have time for a relaxing meal before heading back to nearby cities like Kyoto or Osaka since it’s only 40-50 minutes on the train.

Final Thoughts: Is Nara Worth Visiting?

Yes, Nara is definitely worth a visit! We were worried that we would be disappointed upon arrival but we loved our day trip to Nara! Even in the rainy weather.

The deer were our favourite, however, the historical sites and cultural significance to Japan is an equally great reason to visit the city.

Nara is said to be even more stunning in cherry blossom season or autumn. The blend of natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and peaceful surroundings makes Nara a wonderful addition to any Japanese itinerary and a perfect 1 day or half-day trip from surrounding cities.