日本NipponPlan

Nara

Day trip from Osaka
Stays
  1. 003 Nara deer in Japan - deer of Nara Park under autumn leaves
  2. Deer @ Todai-ji Temple @ Nara (13324417775)
  3. Nara Todai-ji Nandai-mon South Side 1
  4. Nara Kasuga-taisha Lanterns & Deer 05
  5. Temple building, shrine, Rōben Sugi and deer below Nigatsu-dō, Tōdai-ji, Nara, 2016

A small old capital with a great Buddha and friendly deer in the park.

Worth a day?

Yes. The ride from Osaka-Namba to Kintetsu-Nara takes about 40 minutes with no change, and the day is the same as a Nara day from Kyoto: temples, Nara Park deer and the Great Buddha. It is a poor choice for people who want to avoid long walks or who plan to see only one sight.

Pick your pace

Nara works as a slow day or a full one. Choose the pace that fits yours and the stops that suit it come first. Nothing is removed.

楽EasyShort stops and plenty of time to sit.歩ActiveWalks, outdoor places and more ground.寺CultureTemples, museums and history, with the reason for each.食FoodStreet food, sweets and a proper meal between sights.

Not sure? Start with Easy.

A day in 3 stops

In the order that suits your pace.

  1. 2 hMorningTodai-ji Great Buddha Hall 大One of the largest wooden buildings in the world, with a giant bronze Buddha inside.
  2. 1.5 hMorningNara Park deer 鹿Hundreds of free deer walk in the park. Buy the crackers sold for them and bow to get one to bow back.
  3. 1.5 hMorningKasuga Taisha lantern shrine 灯A forest shrine with thousands of stone and bronze lanterns.

How to get there

From OsakaFrom Kyoto

FastestKintetsu Railway, Kintetsu Nara Line rapid express → Kintetsu-Nara

Time
40 min
Changes
None
Seat
Included
  1. Go to Osaka-Namba station and find the Kintetsu Nara Line platform.
  2. Take a Kintetsu Nara Line rapid express to Kintetsu-Nara Station.
  3. Walk about 5 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara Station to Nara Park.
A cheaper way

JR Pass holders can use the JR Yamatoji Line, which takes about 50 minutes from Osaka Station; a Kintetsu Rail Pass does not cover limited express by itself.

Coming back. Check the Kintetsu timetable for return trains and the last train, because the sources do not give last-train times.

Typical times. Check the timetable before you go.

Stay a night

Sleep in Osaka and come by train, because Namba is about 40 minutes from Nara by direct Kintetsu train and needs no change.

Stay in NaraNara stays range from ryokan and guesthouses to hostels, hotels and temple lodging. Some ryokan are in the mountain hot spring areas of Yoshino and Dorogawa. Nara is less than an hour from Kyoto and Osaka, so a night lets a visitor see the temples and park at a slower pace than a day trip allows.Find stays in Nara

Stays link to partner sites. A commission never changes our advice.

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Posts that help you plan this day.

Guides5 min readNara from Kyoto: deer, Todai-ji and a short walkA day in Nara from Kyoto: the deer in the park, the great temple, a walk through the woods and tips for dealing with the deer.Guides5 min readArashiyama in a half day, away from the crowdsArashiyama is busy at midday. Go early for the bamboo grove, walk the river and choose one temple garden. Here is a half day that avoids the worst crowds.Guides5 min readGion after dark: how to walk it respectfullyGion at night is beautiful, and people live and work there. Here is how to walk its lanes, take photos and eat with respect for the neighbourhood.