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Nara

Japan's ancient capital delivers on culture

About Nara

Things to do in Nara

Nara Top 10

  1. Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou
    1

    Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou

    Nara City
  2. Hands-on Sushi School in Yamazoe
    2

    Hands-on Sushi School in Yamazoe

    Activity
  3. Todaiji Temple in Nara
    3

    Todaiji Temple in Nara

    Nara City
  4. Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony
    4

    Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony

    Nara City
  5. Ninja Training at the Akame 48 Waterfalls
    5

    Ninja Training at the Akame 48 Waterfalls

    Activity
  6. The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine
    6

    The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine

    Nara City
  7. The Ancient Yamato Region
    7

    The Ancient Yamato Region

    Sakurai
  8. Nigatsu-do Hall in Nara
    8

    Nigatsu-do Hall in Nara

    Nara City
  9. Cycling Nara
    9

    Cycling Nara

    Nara City
  10. Tōdai-ji, Deer, and Gardens in Nara
    10

    Tōdai-ji, Deer, and Gardens in Nara

    Nara City
  1. Hands-on Sushi School in Yamazoe
    1

    Hands-on Sushi School in Yamazoe

    Activity
  2. Fujiwara Capital and Palace Ruins
    2

    Fujiwara Capital and Palace Ruins

    Kashihara
  3. Ruins of Moto-Yakushi Temple
    3

    Ruins of Moto-Yakushi Temple

    Kashihara
  4. Ofusa Kannon Temple
    4

    Ofusa Kannon Temple

    Kashihara
  5. Introducing Historic Imai-cho
    5

    Introducing Historic Imai-cho

    Kashihara
  6. Kashihara Jingu Shrine
    6

    Kashihara Jingu Shrine

    Kashihara
  7. Tenkawa Shrine in Nara
    7

    Tenkawa Shrine in Nara

    Culture
  8. The Azaleas of Mount Katsuragi
    8

    The Azaleas of Mount Katsuragi

    Activity
  9. Sakura on Mount Yoshino
    9

    Sakura on Mount Yoshino

    Activity
  10. The Ancient Yamato Region
    10

    The Ancient Yamato Region

    Sakurai

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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 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.

Things to Do in Nara
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