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Nara

Japan's ancient capital delivers on culture

About Nara

Things to do in Nara

Todaiji
Nara
Culture

Todaiji

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Nara Top 10

  1. Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou
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    Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou

    Nara City
  2. Yamayaki Festival
    2

    Yamayaki Festival

    Nara City
  3. Todaiji Temple in Nara
    3

    Todaiji Temple in Nara

    Nara City
  4. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival
    4

    Nara Tokae Lantern Festival

    Nara City
  5. Nara City
    5

    Nara City

    Nara City
  6. Setsubun Mantoro
    6

    Setsubun Mantoro

    Nara City
  7. Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony
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    Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony

    Nara City
  8. The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine
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    The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine

    Nara City
  9. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival
    9

    Nara Tokae Lantern Festival

    Nara City
  10. Hiking the Yagyu Kaido
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    Hiking the Yagyu Kaido

    Nara City

Where to eat in Nara

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Places to stay in Nara

Inside Rice Terrace Villa Sasayuri-ann
Accommodation

Inside Rice Terrace Villa Sasayuri-ann

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An ancient paradise beyond memory, Sasayuri-Ann in Nara Prefecture is the perfect combination of Japanese style and luxurious accommodation...

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Maximizing the Fun in Ikaruga-Cho
Culture

Maximizing the Fun in Ikaruga-Cho

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Ikaruga-cho is a town in Nara Prefecture. It's most famous for Horyuji Temple, home of the world's oldest wooden buildings.

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Kashihara Jingu
Culture

Kashihara Jingu

Gary Luscombe

Kashihara Jingu is a shrine dedicated to the very first Emperor of Japan and sits close to where his palace is thought to have been...

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About Nara

Okinawa Nagasaki Fukuoka Saga Kumamoto Kagoshima Miyazaki Oita Ehime Kochi Tokushima Kagawa Yamaguchi Hiroshima Okayama Tottori Shimane Hyogo Kyoto Osaka Wakayama Nara Shiga Mie Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Gifu Aichi Nagano Shizuoka Niigata Yamanashi Kanagawa Tokyo Saitama Gunma Tochigi Chiba Ibaraki Fukushima Miyagi Yamagata Iwate Akita Aomori Hokkaido
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Capital Nara
Population 1,400,728
Area 3,690.94 sq. km

Japan’s first permanent capital from AD 710 to 794 (known then as Heijo), as well as the site of the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, it goes without saying that Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) is filled with history and culture.

Nara is renowned for its many prestigious temples, led by Todai-ji (home of the Nara Great Buddha) and Horyu-ji, the oldest wooden building in the world. The lesser-known Asuka Temple is considered to be the oldest temple in Japan, constructed in AD 588. The traditional performing art of Daimokutate is performed every October 12th and is a sight to behold.

One of the most iconic sights of Nara is Nara Park; in addition to it containing Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, and Kasuga Shrine, it is famous for its roaming deer - visitors can even feed them! The town of Yoshino is arguably the best spot in Japan for cherry blossom viewing.

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