Travel for Life: Japan: Visiting Nara (奈良) in One or Two Days

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Japan: Visiting Nara (奈良) in One or Two Days

If you plan to visit Kyoto (京都), you may want to plan a 1-to-2-day's side trip to Nara (奈良). Assuming you do, here is a plan for you to consider.

Video 1. Nara (奈良) In Japan—A Deer Theme Park and More (YouTube link)

Todaiji (東大寺)

You can visit Todaiji Temple, Nara Park and its surrounding gardens and temples in one or two days. If you're also in the season, you may also view the splendor of autumn colors as reported here. The plan is as follows:

Train Stations

Kintetsu Nara Station
JR Nara Station

Kofukuji (興福寺)

Kofukuji is a five minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or a 20 minute walk from JR Nara Station.
Kofukuji's pagoda is both a landmark and symbol of Nara.

Yoshikien (吉城園)

10 minute walk away Kofukuji Temple
The entry fee to the garden is waived for foreign tourists.
A visit to Yoshikien provides the opportunity to see three different variations of Japanese gardens in one spot.^[27]

Isuien (依水園)

If visitors still want to see more techniques of Japanese gardening, the Isuien Garden is located just across the small river to Yoshikien Garden (10 mins walk away).

Todaiji (東大寺)

The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara (video).
Deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely (video).

Nara Park (奈良公園)
Naramachi (奈良町 or literally "Nara Town")

Former merchant district with old houses.
Boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and a few museums now line the district's narrow lanes.

More What-to-sees

Arriving Nara from KIX

There are three options of arriving Nara from Kansai International Airport (KIX) depending on whether you use JR Pass or not (thanks to Hiroko for her feedback).

With JR Pass (~ 1 hr and 18 mins)

KIX

Take JR trains

Tennoji (天王寺)

Arrival track No.18 / Departure track No.16 (Warning: this information may differ)

JR Nara Station (奈良駅)

Without JR Pass

Option #1 (~ 1 hr and 40 mins)

KIX

Take Nankai Line (KIX関空 →Namba難波)

NAMBA(NANKAI) Station

Walk (12 mins)

OSAKA-NAMBA Station (大阪難波)

Take Kintetsu Nara Line (Namba大阪難波 →Nara近鉄奈良)

Kintetsu-Nara Station (近鉄奈良駅)

Option #2 (~ 1 + ½hours)

Take a Limousine bus KIX → Nara

References

Nara (Japan-guide.com)
Nara Travel Guide
Japan Rail Pass
Japan Rail Group
Public toilets in Japan

"Public toilets are usually readily available all over Japan, and can be found in department stores, supermarkets, book stores, CD shops, parks, most convenience stores, and in all but the most rural train stations."
Carry some toilets just in case.