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Nara, Japan

Things to Do in Nara

Top sights, the tours and tickets travellers book most, hidden gems and day trips.

Most booked:Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available

Most booked tours and tickets in Nara

Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available

Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available

4.91,216 reviews4h 30m
Nara Half Day Trip Walking Tour (Private Option Available)

Nara Half Day Trip Walking Tour (Private Option Available)

4.91,075 reviews5h
Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option

Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option

4.9354 reviews8h
Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

5.0243 reviews6h
All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!

All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!

4.9122 reviews3h
Perfect Nara Park Half-Day Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide

Perfect Nara Park Half-Day Bus Tour with English Speaking Guide

5.078 reviews4h
Discover Ancient Nara: Private Car Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

Discover Ancient Nara: Private Car Tour from Kyoto or Osaka

5.066 reviews8h

Top sights in Nara

  1. 1Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha)
  2. 2Nara Park Deer
  3. 3Kasuga Grand Shrine
  4. 4Isuien Garden
  5. 5Naramachi Old Town
  6. 6Deer Crackers (Shika Senbei)
  • Encounter Sacred Deer: Over 1,200 wild Sika deer roam freely in Nara Park and temple grounds, considered divine messengers of the Shinto gods. You can feed them special shika senbei (deer crackers) sold by vendors, and many have learned to bow politely for a treat—a magical, interactive experience found nowhere else in Japan.
  • Witness Architectural Marvels: See some of Japan's oldest and most significant structures, including Todai-ji Temple's Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), the largest wooden building in the world housing a 15-meter bronze Buddha. Explore the serene, lantern-lined paths of Kasuga Grand Shrine and the exquisite wooden pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple.
  • Experience Ancient Capital Grandeur: Walk in the footsteps of 8th-century emperors. Nara's layout, with its grand boulevards modeled on China's Tang capital, and its collection of eight UNESCO World Heritage sites—collectively called 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara'—offer an unparalleled immersion into Japan's formative cultural and political history.

Tickets and passes in Nara

Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option

Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option

4.937 reviews8h
Nara Private local Tour with Local Guide and Optional Bungy Jump

Nara Private local Tour with Local Guide and Optional Bungy Jump

5h

Food and drink experiences in Nara

Private Nara Tour and Sake Tasting (Departing from Kyoto/Nara)

Private Nara Tour and Sake Tasting (Departing from Kyoto/Nara)

5.062 reviews4h
Sushi Making Experience Luxury Course in Nara

Sushi Making Experience Luxury Course in Nara

5.036 reviews1h 30m
Nara: Mindful Tasting of 5 Japanese Teas and Tea Ceremony

Nara: Mindful Tasting of 5 Japanese Teas and Tea Ceremony

5.022 reviews1h 30m

Day trips and outdoor activities from Nara

E-Bike Nara Highlights - Todaiji, Knives, Deer, Shrine, and Gems

E-Bike Nara Highlights - Todaiji, Knives, Deer, Shrine, and Gems

4.860 reviews3h 30m

Hidden gems in Nara

Places most visitors miss, many of them free.

Shinyakushi-ji Temple

A small, often-overlooked temple located north of the main Nara Park area, famous for its exquisite collection of twelve 8th-century clay statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals (Juni Shinsho).

Yoshiki-en Garden

A beautiful, compact strolling garden located right next to the more famous Isuien Garden. It is free for foreign tourists (with passport).

Nakamura Tokichi Honten (Nara Branch)

A branch of the famous Uji tea company, located in a modern building near Kintetsu Nara Station, offering an exceptional tea experience.

The Former Site of the Nara Hotel Garden

The sprawling, beautifully landscaped garden of the historic Nara Hotel, one of Japan's oldest classic hotels. The gardens are open to the public, not just guests.

Harushika Sake Brewery

A small, family-run sake brewery in Naramachi that has been operating since 1884. They offer tastings and tours.

Day trips from Nara

Kyoto

45-55 min by Kintetsu or JR train

Japan's former imperial capital and cultural heart, offering a stunning contrast to Nara's ancient feel with its countless temples, shrines, geisha districts, and refined gardens. It's the perfect complement for a deeper dive into Japanese traditional arts and architecture.

Osaka

30-50 min by Kintetsu or JR train

A vibrant, modern metropolis known as Japan's kitchen. Osaka provides a thrilling shift in energy with its incredible street food, neon-lit entertainment districts, and iconic castle. It's ideal for dining, shopping, and experiencing urban Japanese nightlife.

Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu)

About 1.5 hours by Kintetsu limited express train

Japan's most sacred Shinto site, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. The shrine is rebuilt every 20 years in a centuries-old tradition. The surrounding area, Ise-Shima, offers beautiful coastal scenery and pearl cultivation.

Plan your Nara trip

Things to do in Nara: FAQ

What are the best things to do in Nara?+

Top sights include Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha), Nara Park Deer, Kasuga Grand Shrine and Isuien Garden. Away from the crowds, try Shinyakushi-ji Temple and Yoshiki-en Garden.

What are the most popular tours in Nara?+

The most booked experiences on Viator are Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available (4.9 stars, 1,216 reviews); Nara Half Day Trip Walking Tour (Private Option Available) (4.9 stars, 1,075 reviews); Kyoto Private Car Tour – Full Day with Local Guide & Nara Option (4.9 stars, 354 reviews).

How much do tours in Nara cost?+

The tours and tickets on this page start between €37 and €518 per person, depending on length and what is included.

Tours and prices from Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Prices change with your dates. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.