Nara is famous for two things: its friendly deer and the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple.
And yes, if it’s your first time in Nara, you should absolutely see both. Greeting the deer in Nara Park and standing in front of the Great Buddha are memorable experiences that shouldn’t be skipped.
But there’s more to Nara than deer and Todaiji.
Once you look beyond the most famous sights, you’ll find beautiful Japanese gardens, historic temples and shrines, traditional neighborhoods, local food, sake, and crafts that have been part of Nara’s culture for generations.
This guide focuses on Nara City around Nara Park and Nara Station, making it easy to explore without traveling far outside the city.
The Great Buddha Hall at Todai-ji, one of Nara’s most famous landmarks.
1. See the Deer and Visit Todaiji Temple
Let’s start with the obvious.
Nara Park is famous for its hundreds of freely roaming deer, and meeting them is one of the experiences that makes Nara unique. The deer are considered messengers of the gods in the Shinto tradition and have been closely connected with Nara’s history for centuries. They are also protected under Japanese law, so treating them with respect is essential.
You can buy shika senbei (deer crackers) and feed them, but remember that these are the food specifically made for the deer. The deer may look tame, but they are still wild animals.
It’s also extremely important not to leave garbage behind. Deer will sometimes eat things they shouldn’t, including paper, plastic bags, and other litter, which can make them seriously ill or even cause death. Keep your trash with you and make sure nothing is left on the ground.
Nara’s famous deer freely roam the park around the city’s historic temples and shrines.
Nearby, Todaiji Temple is home to the Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist statues. The enormous bronze statue represents Vairocana Buddha, and the scale of the surrounding Great Buddha Hall is just as impressive. The current hall is a reconstruction of the original and is still considered one of the world’s largest wooden buildings.
The sheer size of the temple, the Great Buddha, and the history behind them make Todaiji much more than a quick photo stop. It has been an important center of Japanese Buddhism for centuries and is one of the places that best represents Nara’s role in Japan’s early history.
Even if you’re looking for things to do beyond the deer, Todaiji and Nara Park are still worth including in your visit, especially if it’s your first time in Nara.
The trick is simply not to stop there.
The Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, inside Todai-ji’s Great Buddha Hall.
2. Visit a Traditional Japanese Garden at Isuien
Just a short walk from Todaiji is Isuien Garden, a peaceful Japanese garden that offers a completely different atmosphere from the busy areas of Nara Park. The garden includes traditional buildings, ponds, carefully arranged scenery, and beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
What makes Isuien particularly interesting is that it actually consists of two gardens created in different periods. The front garden was created during the early Edo period, around 1673–1681, while the rear garden was designed during the Meiji period, around 1890. The two gardens have different styles, allowing you to see how Japanese garden design changed over time.
There is also a traditional tea house where you can enjoy matcha and light refreshments while looking out over the garden, making it a nice place to take a break during your sightseeing.
Another part of Isuien that is easy to overlook is the Neiraku Art Museum, a small museum on the grounds that houses a collection of historical artworks and artifacts from Japan and other parts of East Asia. The collection includes ceramics, bronze objects, paintings, and other works of art.
If you’re visiting Todaiji, Isuien is one of the easiest places to add to your day without going far out of your way.
The peaceful landscape of Isuien, a historic Japanese garden near Todai-ji.
3. Visit Kasuga Taisha
At the eastern edge of Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha is one of Nara’s most important Shinto shrines and one of the places where the connection between Nara, deer, and Shinto tradition becomes especially clear.
Kasuga Taisha was established in 768, when the deity Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto was enshrined here after being invited from Kashima in present-day Ibaraki Prefecture. According to tradition, the deity arrived in Nara riding a white deer, and deer have been regarded as sacred messengers of the gods ever since.
That’s why the deer around Nara aren’t simply animals living in a city park. Their connection to Kasuga Taisha and the area’s religious history goes back more than a thousand years.
Deer often wander along the wooded approach to Kasuga Taisha.
Behind Kasuga Taisha lies the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, a sacred forest that has been protected for more than a thousand years. Because the forest was traditionally considered part of the sacred grounds of Kasuga Taisha, logging and hunting were prohibited, allowing the forest to retain much of its ancient character.
Walking through this ancient forest, with stone lanterns lining the paths and deer appearing among the trees, gives Nara’s deer a completely different feeling. They’re the same deer you see around Nara Park, but seeing them quietly wandering through the shrine’s forest can somehow make them feel much more like the sacred messengers they have traditionally been considered. It’s one of my favorite things about visiting Kasuga Taisha.
If you pay the admission fee to enter the area around the main sanctuary, you can see rows of hanging bronze lanterns inside the shrine buildings. There are said to be around 1,000 hanging lanterns, many of which were donated by worshippers over the centuries.
If you enjoy Japanese architecture, religious history, or simply walking through an ancient forest, Kasuga Taisha is well worth adding to your Nara visit.
Rows of traditional bronze lanterns hang inside Kasuga Taisha’s main sanctuary area.
4. Explore Kofukuji Temple and Sarusawa Pond
Kofukuji is one of Nara’s most important temples and has played a major role in the city’s history. Founded in 669, the temple became one of the most powerful Buddhist institutions in Japan.
Today, one of its most recognizable landmarks is the five-story pagoda, which rises above the surrounding streets. The temple complex also includes several important buildings and Buddhist artworks, including the Central Golden Hall and the National Treasure Museum, where you can see famous Buddhist statues and other works of art.
One of the highlights is the temple’s collection of Buddhist sculptures, including the expressive Ashura statue, which is part of the Kofukuji collection and one of the most well-known Buddhist statues in Japan. If you’re interested in Japanese Buddhist art, Kofukuji is well worth more than just a quick photo of the pagoda.
From Kofukuji, walk down toward Sarusawa Pond, located just below the temple grounds. The pond has a long historical connection with Kofukuji. It was originally created in 749, as a pond for the temple’s hojo-e, a Buddhist ceremony in which living creatures were released to promote compassion and accumulate merit.
Today, the pond is one of the classic views of central Nara, with the five-story pagoda rising behind the water. It is particularly pleasant to walk around the pond and take in the view rather than simply stopping for a photo.
Kofukuji’s five-story pagoda is one of the most recognizable landmarks in central Nara.
5. Walk Through Naramachi
If you want to see a side of Nara that feels very different from the open spaces of Nara Park, spend some time wandering through Naramachi.
This historic neighborhood was once a residential and commercial area of Nara, and many of its traditional machiya townhouses have survived. Today, some of these old buildings have been carefully preserved, while others have been renovated and given a new life as cafés, restaurants, shops, galleries, and small businesses.
That mix of old and new is part of what makes Naramachi interesting. You can walk through a narrow street, admire the traditional architecture, and then step into a beautifully renovated machiya for coffee, lunch, or shopping. Because so many businesses occupy renovated traditional houses, even a simple coffee stop can become part of the experience.
See What a Traditional Machiya Looked Like
If you’re curious about how people actually lived in these traditional townhouses, there are a couple of places where you can look inside.
Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie is a restored traditional Naramachi townhouse that gives visitors a chance to see the characteristic layout and architecture of an old machiya. You can explore the house and its traditional rooms, while the space also makes a pleasant place to take a break during your walk.
Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie offers a glimpse inside a traditional townhouse and shows how people once lived in Naramachi.
Naramachi Nigiwaino-Ie is another historic machiya, originally built in 1917 . The house has been restored and preserved as a place where visitors can learn about the lifestyle and culture of the period. You can see traditional Japanese rooms, a courtyard, and a tea room, and admission is free.
And while you’re wandering around, don’t miss Gangoji Temple, one of the oldest temples in Nara and an important part of Naramachi’s history.
Rather than rushing from one attraction to another, Naramachi is a place where it’s worth taking your time. Look up at the traditional roofs, peek into the small side streets, and step inside some of the old buildings that have been given a new life.
6. Climb or Walk Around Wakakusayama
For a different perspective on Nara, head toward Mount Wakakusayama, the grassy hill rising behind Nara Park.
The hill offers beautiful views over Nara City and is a good option if you want to spend some time outdoors rather than visiting temples all day. Depending on the route you take, reaching the higher parts of the mountain can take around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours on foot.
There are a couple of ways to enjoy the area.
Wakakusayama Hiking Trail
The regular hiking trail takes you up Wakakusayama itself and offers views over Nara Park and the city as you climb.
The trail is seasonally closed, and there is an admission fee when it is open.
Kasugayama Walking Trail
If you’re visiting during the period when the Wakakusayama hiking trail is closed, the Kasugayama Walking Trail is another option. It is open year-round and free to enter.
The trail takes you through the wooded area around Kasugayama and is a good choice if you’d rather enjoy a forest walk than climb a grassy hill.
Drive to the Summit
You can also reach the summit area by car via the Wakakusayama Driveway. The driveway is a toll road, so this is an option if you don’t want to make the climb on foot or are traveling by car.
Whether you hike, walk through the surrounding forest, or simply admire Wakakusayama from Nara Park, the mountain adds a different kind of experience to a day in Nara.
A panoramic view of Nara City from the summit of Mount Wakakusayama.
7. Learn More About Nara at the Nara National Museum
Nara’s temples and shrines are closely connected to the development of Japanese Buddhism and art, and the Nara National Museum is one of the best places to understand that history.
Located near Nara Park, the museum is particularly known for its impressive collection of Buddhist sculptures. Around 100 Buddhist statues, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties dating from the Asuka period (c. 538–710) to the Kamakura period (1185–1333), are displayed in its Buddhist Sculpture Hall. Some works can also be photographed, so you can take a closer look at the details of the sculptures.
If you’re visiting Nara in autumn, you may also have the chance to see the Shosoin Exhibition, one of Japan’s most popular annual museum exhibitions.
The exhibition brings treasures from the Shosoin Repository at Todaiji to the public for a limited time. The collection includes remarkably well-preserved objects from Japan and other parts of Asia, many of which date back more than a thousand years. The exhibition is hugely popular in Japan, and visitors often come from all over the country specifically to see these rare treasures.
It’s particularly worthwhile if you’ve already visited Todaiji and the other historic sites around Nara. Seeing the artworks and religious objects inside the museum can give you a much deeper understanding of the history behind the temples and statues you’ve seen around the city.
The Nara National Museum houses an impressive collection of Buddhist art and historical treasures.
8. Try Nara’s Local Foods
Nara has its own food culture, and exploring it is another way to experience the city beyond its famous sights.
Kakinoha-zushi
Kakinoha-zushi is sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, traditionally made with ingredients such as mackerel or salmon.
The persimmon leaf isn’t simply decoration. It has traditionally been used to help preserve the sushi, making this a food with a long connection to the region.
It’s also easy to take with you, making it a popular choice for lunch or a souvenir.
Kakinoha-zushi is a traditional Nara specialty made with sushi rice and fish wrapped in persimmon leaves.
Miwa Somen
Somen are very thin Japanese wheat noodles—much thinner than udon—usually served chilled with a light dipping sauce. They are another food closely associated with Nara.
Miwa, in Sakurai, is known as one of Japan’s historic somen-producing areas, and Miwa somen can be found at restaurants and shops around Nara.
On a hot day, cold somen can be an especially refreshing lunch. On colder days, try nyumen, a warm noodle dish made with somen served in a hot broth.
Miwa somen are famously thin Japanese wheat noodles, traditionally served chilled with a light dipping sauce.
Narazuke
Narazuke is a traditional type of Japanese pickle made by repeatedly soaking vegetables in sake lees, giving it a distinctive sweet, salty, and slightly alcoholic flavor.
If you order a Japanese meal in Nara and find a small serving of dark brown pickles on the side, there’s a good chance you’re looking at narazuke.
It has a strong and distinctive flavor, so you may not want to buy a whole pack without trying it first. If you’re curious, look for pickle shops around the shopping streets in Nara, where some shops offer free samples. It’s an easy way to try narazuke and decide whether you like it before buying some to take home.
Narazuke are traditional Nara pickles made by repeatedly soaking vegetables in sake lees.
Nakatanidou’s Mochi
You may have seen videos of the dramatic mochi pounding at Nakatanidou.
The shop is famous for its fast-paced mochi-making demonstrations, and its freshly made yomogi mochi is especially popular with visitors. Yomogi is a fragrant Japanese herb, often translated as mugwort, which gives the mochi its distinctive green color and slightly herbal aroma.
The mochi is filled with sweet red bean paste (anko) and is best eaten fresh. When it’s just been made, the mochi is incredibly soft and chewy, making it especially delicious while it’s still warm.
It’s an easy snack to pick up while exploring the area around Naramachi and Kintetsu Nara Station.
Nakatanidou is famous for its freshly made yomogi mochi, filled with sweet red bean paste.
Kakigori (shaved ice)
Nara also has a long connection with ice. Himuro Shrine, near Nara Park, is dedicated to the gods of ice and is said to have originated in 710, when ice was stored in an ice house and presented to the imperial court during the summer.
Japan’s tradition of shaved ice goes back much further than modern kakigori shops, too. The Pillow Book, a famous collection of essays and observations written by the court lady Sei Shonagon during the Heian period (794–1185), describes finely shaved ice served with amazura, an ancient sweetener. In other words, people in Japan were enjoying an early form of shaved ice more than 1,000 years ago.
Today, Nara is also known for its creative kakigori cafés, making shaved ice a fun treat to try while exploring the city, especially during the warmer months.
Nara is known for creative kakigori, a refreshing shaved ice dessert with a long history in Japan.
9. Try Local Sake at Harushika
Nara has a long history of sake brewing, and one of the best-known breweries in the city is Harushika, produced by Imanishi Seibei Shoten.
The brewery has been making sake for generations, and you can stop by the brewery while exploring Naramachi. If you’re interested in trying different types of Japanese sake, the brewery offers a tasting experience where you can sample five different sake for ¥700. You can also purchase your favorite sake to take home.
Try several types of sake at Harushika brewery while exploring Naramachi.
Step Back into Nara’s History at Imanishi Family Shoin
Next to the brewery is Imanishi Family Shoin, a historic building that offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese architecture.
The building is an early example of Shoin-zukuri, a style of residential architecture that developed during the Muromachi period (1336–1573). The building was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1937, and since 1924 it has been carefully maintained by the Imanishi family, the brewers behind Harushika.
Inside, you can see architectural details characteristic of the period, including a traditional cypress-bark roof, shitomido lattice shutters, and distinctive shoji screens. The refined design gives you an idea of how sophisticated Japanese residential architecture was centuries ago.
The building also has a garden where you can enjoy the changing scenery throughout the seasons, along with Harushika-themed sweets.
So even if sake isn’t your thing, the Harushika brewery and Imanishi Family Shoin are worth considering for their history, architecture, and connection to Nara’s traditional culture.
10. Take Home a Traditional Nara Craft
If you’re looking for a souvenir that feels more connected to Nara than a typical tourist gift, consider taking home one of the city’s traditional crafts.
Nara Fude — Traditional Brushes
Nara has a history of brush making that goes back around 1,200 years. According to tradition, the Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) brought brush-making techniques back from Tang China and passed them on to people in Nara.
What makes traditional Nara brushes special is the neri-mamaze method, in which a skilled craftsman carefully combines different types of animal hair—including sheep, horse, deer, raccoon dog, and cat hair—depending on the qualities needed for the brush.
The brushes are made largely by hand, with the craftsman handling everything from selecting and preparing the materials to shaping and finishing the brush. Nara fude are particularly known as calligraphy brushes, with great attention paid to creating a sharp, precise tip.
Nara has a history of traditional brush making dating back around 1,200 years.
Nara Sumi — Traditional Ink
Nara is also known for sumi, the traditional black ink used for Japanese calligraphy and ink painting.
Traditional sumi is made from soot, including soot produced by burning vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil. The soot is carefully processed and shaped by hand using traditional methods, rather than being mass-produced by machines.
Good-quality Nara sumi is prized for its deep, glossy black color and the subtle depth it can create when used for writing or painting.
Even if you don’t practice Japanese calligraphy, seeing the craftsmanship behind a traditional brush and ink makes it an interesting and lightweight souvenir.
Akahada-yaki — Nara’s Traditional Pottery
Akahada-yaki is a traditional style of pottery associated with Nara. It is made using reddish clay containing iron oxide, which can give the exposed clay a warm reddish or creamy color where the glaze is thin.
One of the most recognizable features is Nara-e, a traditional style of decoration featuring simple, charming paintings of deer, temples and shrines, and characters from old stories.
You’ll find everything from traditional tea-ceremony ware to pieces designed for everyday use, so Akahada-yaki can be a particularly nice choice if you’re looking for a practical souvenir with a distinctly Nara feel.
Akahada-yaki is Nara’s traditional pottery, known for its warm colors and charming Nara-e decorations.
Nara Is More Than Deer
The deer are one of the things that make Nara special, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to avoid the famous sights just because you’re looking for something different.
Instead, give yourself some time to look beyond them.
Visit a quiet Japanese garden. Wander through Naramachi. Stop by a traditional sake brewery. Try a local specialty. Browse traditional crafts. Or simply take a slower walk through the streets and parks around central Nara.
You may come to Nara for the deer, but there’s a good chance you’ll leave remembering much more than them.
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