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Nara

Japan's ancient capital delivers on culture

About Nara

Things to do in Nara

Todaiji
Nara
Culture

Todaiji

4.7 (3) 3 Reviews

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Nara Top 10

  1. Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou
    1

    Mochi Pounding at Nakatanidou

    Nara City
  2. The 71st Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures
    2

    The 71st Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures

    Nara City
  3. Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony
    3

    Nara Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony

    Nara City
  4. Todaiji Temple in Nara
    4

    Todaiji Temple in Nara

    Nara City
  5. The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine
    5

    The Stone Lanterns of Kasuga Shrine

    Nara City
  6. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival
    6

    Nara Tokae Lantern Festival

    Nara City
  7. Tōdai-ji, Deer, and Gardens in Nara
    7

    Tōdai-ji, Deer, and Gardens in Nara

    Nara City
  8. Nara City
    8

    Nara City

    Nara City
  9. Nara Tokae Lantern Festival
    9

    Nara Tokae Lantern Festival

    Nara City
  10. Hiking the Yagyu Kaido
    10

    Hiking the Yagyu Kaido

    Nara City

Upcoming Nara Events

Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
Culture

Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri

Dec 15th - Dec 18th

Traditional performing arts can be enjoyed at this annual festival held since the 12th century.

Kasuga Taisha Free
Yamayaki Festival
Culture

Yamayaki Festival

Sunday - Jan 26th

For over 250 years, people have gathered at the base of Mt. Wakakusa in Nara on the fourth Saturday in January to watch the mountain..

2 Free
Oni Fest on Mt. Yoshino, Nara
Culture

Oni Fest on Mt. Yoshino, Nara

Feb 2nd - Feb 3rd

Embrace your demons on Yoshinoyama! The locals of this mountain welcome oni (demons) into their houses and inns ever since mountain..

Yoshinoyama, Yoshino, Yoshino.. Free
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Where to eat in Nara

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Latest

One Day in Nara Park 22
Culture

One Day in Nara Park

Elena Lisina

Just one day spent in Nara Park can create a lot of impressions from its beautiful gardens, old temples and the special atmosphere..

3
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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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