In the Kansai region of Japan, there is a triangle of cities that tourists often visit – Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. As the smallest city of the three, Nara is often relegated to just a day trip in busy itineraries.
It’s a shame, because there’s lots to see in the city of Nara. Just the main temples and shrines of Nara Park can easily fill a day – and that’s before you start to go a little deeper for some of the interesting cultural experiences on offer here.
But going even further, beyond the city and into other parts of Nara Prefecture? I don’t think it’s something that too many tourists know about – yet there is a wealth of treasures hidden here in a relatively small area that’s easy to get around.
Nara Prefecture is packed full of history, including the area where Buddhism was first introduced to the country, where the foundations for a unified Japan were laid, and where samurais would come to train with their swords.
And, as I discovered when I explored more of Nara Prefecture, you can see many of these areas without the crowds of tourists you’ll find in central Nara, perhaps even as you walk or cycle through gorgeous traditional communities.
In the southern part of Nara Prefecture, the landscape is filled with mountains covered with forests and it’s here that some of the most spiritual parts of the country can still be found, including ancient pilgrimage trails.
Visiting the temples gives you an insight into some of this religious heritage, and you can also just enjoy the walks through the beautiful landscapes.
I started my journey through Nara Prefecture by arriving at Kyoto station on the Shinkansen from Tokyo and jumping onto the special sightseeing train called Aoniyoshi. It was a fun way to begin the trip and certainly a lot more comfortable than the usual commuter train.
It set the scene for a few days of experiences that all had a deep connection to the nature and the history of the region, with a little touch of fun and luxury.
In a region so close to Tokyo, it’s amazing how many aspects of Japan you can experience – a former capital, one of the most historic towns, unique cuisine, nature, hiking, and more.
So, with all that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best things to do in Nara Prefecture.
Nara city
The main city of Nara is where most people start their travel in Nara Prefecture. Less than an hour from either Osaka or Kyoto, tourists often just treat it as a day trip – but there’s more than enough to fill a few days.
With World Heritage temples and shrines, interesting modern and historic neighbourhoods, and some great places to eat, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Nara.
Temples and shrines
Nara’s World Heritage Site is the highlight of the city, consisting of seven historic monuments. Most of them are Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, the earliest founded when Nara was Japan’s capital in the 8th century.
The most famous is Todai-ji Temple, which is one of the world’s largest wooden buildings and houses a massive bronze statue of Buddha.
Nearby, Kasuga Taisha Shrine is set within a forest and has stone and bronze lanterns that create a spiritual sense amongst the nature.
Kofuku-ji Temple is another iconic site, with its five-story pagoda dominating the city’s skyline, while Yakushi-ji Temple also has an important pagoda that is one of the best examples of Japanese architecture from that time.
I think it’s worth seeing as many of the temples and shrines of Nara as possible. These sacred spaces showcase different parts of the city’s history and religious heritage and are still active places of worship, with monks living on site.
The temple gardens are also part of the appeal, transforming seasonally, including with cherry blossoms in spring.
Sutra copying at Yakushi-ji
There’s more to do at the temples than just look at them, and I think one of the most interesting activities is tracing sutras at Yakushi-ji Temple.
The temple pioneered the practice of sutra copying as a meditative activity for modern visitors, transforming what was once a crucial method of preserving Buddhist texts into a form of spiritual therapy.
You are given a large sheet of paper that goes over the top of another with 262 printed Japanese characters. Then, with a brush and ink, you trace the writing that you can see beneath.
Before entering the copying room, I do the same purification rituals that the locals do, including putting a clove in my mouth, passing through incense smoke, and wearing a wagesa around my neck.
The experience is called performing o-shakyo and it feels really special to know that my sutra will join all the others in a set of drawers inside the temple’s lecture hall.
Naramachi
The historic neighbourhood of Naramachi preserves the atmosphere of merchant-class Japan from about a century ago, with many original wooden buildings in the narrow winding streets.
They may not look like much from the street, but many of these townhouses were long and narrow (they were taxed by street frontage) with shops at the front and beautiful homes at the back.
Some of these are open to the public and you can visit them for free. The most interesting is probably Nigiwai-no-ie (the home of Nigiwai), which was built in 1917 and sold antiques to travellers and merchants who used to walk along the street. At the back, the tatami-mat rooms lead to a gorgeous courtyard garden.
Another building to pop into is Koshi-no-ie (the home of Koshi), which has similar elements but quite a different design over two levels.
Wandering the streets of Naramachi give you a great sense of this slice of history, and you’ll find lots of interesting shops and restaurants along the way.
Shaved ice (kakigori)
It gets hot in Nara in summer and one of the best ways to cool down is with the city’s traditional shaved ice treat known as kakigori.
These aren’t just simple snow cones, but carefully constructed desserts featuring homemade syrups, seasonal fruits, and traditional toppings like sweet azuki beans or matcha powder.
There are quite a few stores in Nara that serve kakigori, each with their own unique approach (although they all tend to be works of art!).
I had a great shaved ice bowl at Housekibako and would definitely recommend it. The store is in the covered shopping arcade, where you could also pick up some local souvenirs.
EAT: Kasuga Ninai Jyaya
This fascinating restaurant within the Kasuga Taisha Shrine precinct is another way to experience a deeper side of Nara. Dating back to the late Edo period, Kasuga Ninai Jyaya began as a mobile teahouse that was carried on shoulder poles.
The signature dish is called ‘manyo-gayu’, which is a rice porridge featuring seasonal ingredients inspired by a famous poetry collection called the Manyoshu. It changes monthly – for example: rapseed blossoms in March, cherry blossoms in April, and matcha in summer (when it’s served cold).
Originally it was also used as a purification teahouse where visitors cleansed their body and spirit by eating food cooked with sacred fire before worship.
STAY: Nipponia Hotel
For somewhere really special to stay in Nara, I would recommend Nipponia Hotel Nara Naramachi, which describes itself as “the world’s first sake-themed hotel”.
This hotel, converted from an old sake factory, features only a handful of unique guest rooms, each set in different parts of the building that were once used for brewing and selling sake.
Along with the gorgeous rooms, there’s an in-house restaurant within the former sake brewery where you’ll have breakfast.
I would also suggest having dinner here for an incredible degustation menu that incorporates sake into some of the dishes (there’s also an optional sake pairing for the full experience).
STAY: JW Marriott Hotel Nara
For a larger and more modern option, the JW Marriott Hotel Nara brings the brand’s usual luxurious standards to Nara, with some local elements like traditional wind bells hanging from ceiling in the lobby to scare away devils.
There are four floors of guest rooms with different sizes – including ones that would suit families – plus a spa, indoor pool, and executive lounge.
On the ground floor, the Silk Road Dining restaurant has dishes that incorporate different spices and cooking techniques from across the ancient trading network.
There’s also a Japanese restaurant called Azekura offering sushi, kaiseki, and teppanyaki in a space inspired by the treasure room of Todai-ji Temple.
Ikaruga
About ten kilometres to the southwest of central Nara is the town of Ikaruga, a significant centre even before Nara became Japan’s capital in the 8th century.
Ikaruga’s heritage is from the 7th-century Asuka period, when it played an important role in the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, and includes one of Japan’s most famous World Heritage Sites, Horyu-ji Temple.
Fujinoki Kofun
In the 7th century, when Horyuji Temple was founded, it was common for a very important person to be buried in a prominent tomb that was covered in earth to create a mound called a tumulus.
A large number of these tumuli have been found in the region (and in other parts of Japan) but one of the most important is the Fujinoki Kofun.
It got widespread media attention when excavation work began in 1985 and the archaeologists discovered the stone burial chamber hadn’t been looted, like almost all the others. Inside, they found a sarcophagus with two men and a large number of treasures!
The mound is only a few hundred metres from Horyu-ji Temple so it’s easy to visit it. You’ll easily spot the green grass covering it and you can look through a door at the entrance to the stone chamber to see the inner sanctum. There are also information boards explaining some of the story.
Ikaruga Cultural Properties Centre
If you are interested in learning more about Fujinoki Kofun, then head to the Ikaruga Cultural Properties Centre, a few minutes’ walk away.
Here, there’s a museum with replicas of the treasures that were found in the tomb, the highlight being the extraordinary gilt-bronze horse trappings featuring phoenix, dragon, elephant, and devil designs.
There are preserved golden shoes, hair decorations, mirrors, and pottery, plus a recreation of the red sarcophagus with the two bodies and burial items as they were originally found.
A 20-minute video gives a great overview of the story of the tomb and the archaeological work. You can also learn more about some of the theories surrounding the tomb, including who people now think the bodies were likely to be.
(My visit was supported by Ikaruga Town.)
EAT: WaCAFE Fukokuen
Not far from the main sights of Ikaruga, a restaurant called WaCAFE Fukokuen is a great place to try the local speciality of tatsuta-age.
A type of karaage, it’s named after the Tatsuta River that flows through the town. Pieces of chicken are marinated with a soy-sauce-based marinade, coated in potato starch, and then fried in oil.
To try tatsuta-age at WaCAFE Fukokuen, you can get the popular set with rice and somen noodles.
Asuka
While Ikaruga was an important location, the real political centre of the Asuka period was in the town of Asuka, for which it was named.
This is where Buddhism was introduced to Japan, during a period that saw the emergence of the system of centralised national government that would be the foundation for the country we know today.
Head south from Ikaruga (or from central Nara) and you’ll reach Asuka in about an hour. These days, it seems quiet and relaxed – but there’s a lot of history to discover.
Asuka Historical National Government Park
Most of the main sights are contained within the Asuka Historical National Government Park, which consists of five different areas around the town with the remains of monuments from around the 7th century.
Some of the most significant locations are the burial mounds known as tumuli. They’re similar to the one uncovered in Ikaruga that I talked about earlier – but many of these ones are much bigger and more impressive.
The Takamatsu-zuka tomb is one of the most significant ones. It was made between the late 7th and early 8th century with a central stone chamber of sixteen slabs, and its interior walls has a series of murals painted on it.
Kitora Tumulus Mural Experiential Museum
I’m going to make special mention of the Kitora Tumulus, which is considered one of the most important burial mounds in Asuka. Like the Takamatsu-zuka tomb, it has murals painted on the internal walls – but incredibly, these ones represent the twelve signs of the zodiac. Because of the locations of these constellations, it’s claimed to be the oldest celestial map in the world.
A modern museum next to the tumulus has a replica of the central stone chamber and the paintings, along with a lot of exhibitions about what’s been found here and its significance.
The Kitora Tumulus Mural Experiential Museum also offers workshops where you can make an example of the ancient currency from the Asuka period known as ‘fuhonsen’.
You’ll melt some metal in a saucepan and then pour it into a mould. When it cools down and solidifies, the coins will be ready!
Okadera Temple
The sound of cicadas fill the air as I walk up the steps to Okadera Temple, which is set amongst a beautiful forest landscape.
The main temple houses Japan’s largest clay Buddhist statue (4.6 metres tall), which has remained in place for 1300 years while buildings have been reconstructed around it.
Walk to the back of this hall and you’ll find even more treasures, like the 33 golden statues representing each of the Buddhist temples along the region’s ancient pilgrimage route.
It’s interesting to see the tori gate leading to a Shinto shrine within this Buddhist temple, showing how the two religions are intertwined in Japan.
From the main building at Okadera Temple, a trail leads up into the forest where you can go for a short walk through the natural surroundings.
Asuka Night Mystery Tour
For a different way to explore Asuka, you can join a fun bike tour that starts just before dusk and then heads to some of the interesting parts of the town after dark.
Starting in the centre of town, you’ll pedal through rice paddies while the sun sets, experiencing some of the agricultural parts of Asuka.
You’ll go to the most important tumulus sites and learn about the history of Asuka – and you’ll even be able to enter the museum after it’s closed to see the tomb replica in the dark… just as it would be in real life!
The Asuka Night Mystery Tour also takes you to some other important heritage locations to explore them by torchlight and hear about some of the mysterious legends surrounding them.
EAT: Senjutei
There are lots of great places to eat around Asuka, but I would also recommend a short drive to the nearby region of Miwa which is home to a famous type of noodle called Miwa somen.
When you’re there, head to a restaurant called Senjutei, which opened 42 years ago and specialises in Miwa somen… because it belongs to the local noodle company!
Somen is usually eaten cold in summer and the most popular dish here includes different flavours of noodles like tomato, spinach, and pumpkin (the flavour is added as it is manufactured).
Even if you can’t make it to Senjutei, you should definitely look for somen on the menu while you’re in this part of Nara prefecture.
STAY: Branchera Villa Asuka
In a quiet part of Asuka, the gorgeous Branchera Villa Asuka gives you an authentic Japanese escape in a traditional house that’s more than 150 years old.
The building has been revived to keep the original shape and atmosphere, but now offers two boutique suites that each have a main bedroom but also have enough space for extra guests.
With tatami mats, sliding doors, and large bathtubs, it’s all very luxurious but also very Japanese.
Quiet and relaxing, it feels like you’re far away from the crowds even though you’re conveniently close to all the sights of Asuka.
Yagyu
About 15 kilometres to the east of central Nara, through forests and mountains, is an area called Yagyu. Once home to Japan’s most famous sword-fighting clan, this small mountain village was a training ground for samurai from all across the country in the 19th century.
Now, it’s very peaceful but some of that sword-fighting heritage remains amongst the stunning natural landscapes.
Former Karo House of the Yagyu Clan
One of the most interesting spots to visit to get a sense of the history here is a place called the ‘Former Karo House of the Yagyu Clan’.
This was the heart of the Yagyu domain, where the top administrator (known as a ‘karo’) lived and worked. It’s why there are so many formal rooms here with tatami mats and paper walls, because a lot of business was conducted in the house.
Built in 1841, it’s an interesting building architecturally and for what it represents. But for Japanese people, it’s particularly famous because it was the inspiration for an NHK television drama series about the Yagyu clan.
You can visit the Former Karo House of the Yagyu Clan to see all of this for yourself. It’s a good way to start a visit before you head off on a walk… which is my next suggestion for what to do.
Yagyu Kaido road
The Yagyu Kaido was an ancient road that linked the centre of Nara to Yagyu village. Although it existed for centuries, it was during the sword-training era that it became popular for samurai to walk along this route to visit the Yagyu clan.
The whole stretch of the Yagyu Kaido is about 19 kilometres in length and passes through gorgeous cedar forests, along rivers, past small waterfalls, up and down the mounains.
Along the way, there are shrines, temples, and villages. The landscape is reminiscent of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, creating a spiritual and meditative atmosphere – even though this was a commercial, not religious, path.
If you want to walk the whole way from Nara to Yagyu (or vice versa) then that’s possible in a day. Or you could do what I did, which was just go along some of the route from Yagyu to see a bit of the scenery.
You can also take some small detours to see interesting locations like the Amano-Iwato Shrine, which has the tori gate you can see in my photo.
Yoshino
In the south of Nara Prefecture, the Yoshino region represents the heart of Japan’s ancient mountain spirituality.
Amongst the gorgeous peaks of the Kii Peninsula, there are temples and shrines connected to the unique Japanese blend of Buddhism, Shintoism, and nature worship called Shugendo that developed here in relative isolation.
Although it’s relatively close to Nara city, within about 90 minutes you can be amongst the serene nature of the special and historic area of Yoshino.
Kinpusen-ji Temple
One of the most important sights in the region is Kinpusen-ji Temple, which is the spiritual centre of the Shugendo mountain asceticism that is practiced here.
Shugendo is type of Buddhism that originated around Nara and blends several belief systems and philosophies with the concept of mountain worship. For monks and other practitioners, part of the training is to spend long periods out in the wilderness.
You can learn more about this at Kinpusen-ji Temple, where the monks will be happy to talk to you about Shugendo (although you’ll likely need a translator).
The temple is part of a World Heritage Site and is interesting enough even if you don’t have a chat with anyone. The wooden pillars are sourced from large ancient trees like cedars to represent the mountain forests, while the statues and displays all have stories that reflect the Shugendo philosophies.
Mt Yoshino
There’s more to see around Mount Yoshino than just Kinpusen-ji, including a few more parts of the World Heritage Site (which is officially called the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range).
In particular, there are the small Shinto shrines of Yoshino-Mikumari-jinja, Kimpu-jinja, and Yoshimizu-jinja, which are all set amongst the beautiful mountain foliage.
But parts of Mount Yoshino itself are also included, and there are lots of hiking trails you can explore, some of which are parts of old pilgrimage routes.
From the local train station, you can take the Yoshino Ropeway up the mountain if you don’t want to walk up hill. (The ropeway takes about five minutes compared to at least 30 minutes of steep walking.)
The ropeway takes you right into the little town of Yoshino, which is lined with quaint shops and restaurants. Be warned, though, this is one of the most popular spots in all of Japan to see the cherry blossoms, so it gets very crowded in spring.
Miyoshino Sake Brewery
Down along the river, Miyoshino Sake Brewery uses the pristine water from the surrounding mountains to create distinctive sake that embodies the terroir of the Yoshino region.
While the brewery has a range of standard sake brands, it also experiments with different styles, meaning each attempt can produce unexpected flavours that you can try at a tasting – with descriptions like citrus, tropical, or aging.
A tour of the Miyoshino Sake Brewery offers a good insight into the process of making sake, including all the steps along the way like sorting the rice when it’s delivered and using natural yeast in the air for the fermentation process.
EAT: Hiraso
Down the bottom of the mountain, a nice spot to try a really authentic local dish is a restaurant called Hiraso, which has its Yoshino Main Branch here.
The highlight here is ‘kakino hanazushi’, which is a pressed sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves. It shows how the mountain communities developed sophisticated preservation techniques using local ingredients.
The restaurant is nice and casual with a view across the river, and the food is great and just what I felt like for lunch after a morning in the mountains.
Time Travel Turtle was supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Nara Prefecture, but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.
