Nara Hidden Gems
20 spots
Asuka Village — Ancient Capital Ruins & Stone Mysteries
Asuka (明日香村) was Japan's capital from 538–710 AD, the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism and centralized government. The vi…
Nara Park — 1,200 Sacred Deer Roaming Free
Nara Park (奈良公園) is a 660-hectare park where over 1,200 wild sika deer roam freely among visitors, temples, and open mea…
Todaiji Temple — Japan's Largest Bronze Buddha
Todaiji Temple (東大寺, 'Great Eastern Temple') houses the Daibutsu (大仏, Great Buddha) — a 15-meter-tall bronze statue of V…
Kasuga Taisha — 3,000 Stone and Bronze Lanterns
Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is Nara's most important Shinto shrine, established in 768 AD as the tutelary shrine of the powerfu…
Naramachi — Edo-Period Merchant District
Naramachi (奈良町) is Nara's preserved merchant quarter with narrow lanes lined with traditional machiya townhouses dating…
Kofukuji Temple — Five-Story Pagoda & Buddhist Treasures
Kofukuji (興福寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage temple founded in 669 AD as the clan temple of the powerful Fujiwara family, s…
Horyuji Temple — World's Oldest Wooden Buildings
Horyuji (法隆寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage temple containing the world's oldest surviving wooden structures — the Main Hal…
Yakushiji Temple — Twin Pagodas & Healing Buddha
Yakushiji (薬師寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage temple founded in 680 AD, famous for its twin pagodas flanking the Main Hall…
Nara Sake — Birthplace of Clear Sake Brewing
Nara is the birthplace of sake brewing's key innovations — monks at Shoryakuji Temple (菩提山正暦寺) invented the bodaimoto me…
Ukimido Pavilion — Floating Pavilion at Sunset
Ukimido (浮見堂, 'Floating Pavilion') is a hexagonal pavilion built on stilts over Sagi-ike Pond in Nara Park's southern ar…
Wakakusayama Hill — Panoramic Nara Views & Grass Burning
Wakakusayama (若草山, 'Young Grass Mountain') is a 342-meter grassy hill on Nara Park's eastern edge offering panoramic vie…
Nara Sumi Ink & Fude Brushes — Traditional Calligraphy Crafts
Nara produces 90% of Japan's traditional sumi ink (墨, solid ink sticks) and is a major center for fude (筆, calligraphy b…
Gangoji Temple — Nara's Oldest Temple & Roof Tile Museum
Gangoji (元興寺) is one of Nara's Seven Great Temples and Japan's oldest temple, originally founded in 588 AD in Asuka befo…
Kashihara Jingu Shrine — Mythical First Emperor's Shrine
Kashihara Jingu (橿原神宮) is a large Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, Japan's legendary first emperor according to…
Toshodaiji Temple — Tang Dynasty Architecture Preserved
Toshodaiji (唐招提寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage temple founded in 759 AD by the Chinese monk Jianzhen (Ganjin in Japanese,…
Nara National Museum — Buddhist Art Treasures
Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館) is Japan's premier museum for Buddhist art, housing over 2,000 Buddhist sculptures, paint…
Asuka-dera Temple — Japan's Oldest Buddha Statue
Asuka-dera (飛鳥寺) was Japan's first full-scale Buddhist temple, founded in 596 AD when Buddhism was still new to the arch…
Nara Hotel — Historic Meiji-Era Luxury & Afternoon Tea
Nara Hotel (奈良ホテル) is a historic luxury hotel opened in 1909 during the Meiji Period as one of Japan's first Western-sty…
Heijo Palace Site — Reconstructed Ancient Capital
Heijo Palace (平城宮跡, Heijo-kyo) was the imperial palace during Nara's time as Japan's capital (710–784 AD), occupying 120…
Nara-machi Koshi-no-ie — Preserved Edo Merchant House
Naramachi Koshi-no-ie (奈良町格子の家) is a preserved Edo Period machiya (merchant townhouse) opened as a free museum showing t…