Ticket Hall

Experience the best of Nara

Nara, in the Kansai region, was Japan's capital in the eighth century and is now a city of great Buddhist temples and free-roaming deer.

Read moreShow less

Nara was the capital, Heijo-kyo, from 710 to 784, and its monuments from that age make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Todai-ji temple houses a bronze Great Buddha in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Around it spreads Nara Park, where more than a thousand sika deer roam freely and bow for crackers sold at stalls.

Kasuga Taisha shrine, in the forest at the park's edge, is lined with stone and bronze lanterns, and Kofuku-ji temple has a five-storey pagoda. The Naramachi quarter keeps old merchant houses, the reconstructed gate of the Heijo Palace site stands west of the centre, and Horyu-ji, in nearby Ikaruga, has some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Yoshino, to the south, is famous for cherry blossom.

Kakinoha-zushi, sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, narazuke pickles and Miwa somen noodles are Nara's foods, with kudzu sweets and pounded mochi as treats. Cherry blossom comes in early April and the maples turn red in November, and the deer are a presence in every season.

  • Free cancellation on 91% of experiences
  • 4.9 across the top 15

Top experiences in Nara

Special offers in Nara

See all

Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

Day trips from Nara

19

Landmarks and attractions in Nara

6

Guided tours in Nara

92

Walking and bike tours in Nara

24

Food and drink experiences in Nara

39

Go beyond Nara

  1. Osaka · 28 km

    Tsutenkaku Tower

    4 hr4.914k reviewsfrom $3
  2. Osaka · 28 km

    Osaka Castle (Osaka-jo)

    4–8 hr4.912k reviewsfrom $3
  3. Kyoto · 36 km

    Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha)

    8 hr4.942k reviewsfrom $1
  4. Kyoto · 36 km

    Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

    8 hr4.937k reviewsfrom $6
  5. Otsu · 36 km

    Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple

    8 hr5.01 reviewfrom $141
  6. Kobe · 56 km

    Kobe Harborland

    8 hr4.9425 reviewsfrom $46
  7. Kobe · 56 km

    Kobe Port Tower

    6 hr, 30 min4.742 reviewsfrom $78
  8. Takashima · 68 km

    Shirahige Shrine

    9–10 hrfrom $60
  9. Tokoname · 97 km

    Tokonyan

    2 hr4.716 reviewsfrom $65
  10. Nagoya · 115 km

    Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

    7 hr4.9177 reviewsfrom $77
  11. Nagoya · 115 km

    SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

    7 hr4.912 reviewsfrom $129
  12. Gifu · 120 km

    Gifu Castle

    2 hrfrom $92

Questions about Nara

What is there to do in Nara?
We list 135 experiences in Nara. The largest groups are day trips (20), city tours (15).
What is the most popular experience in Nara?
By number of traveller reviews it is "Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available", rated 4.9 out of 5 from 1,196 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Nara take?
The typical experience in Nara lasts about 4 hours; the middle half run between 2 hours and 6 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Nara?
The operator lists free cancellation on 91% of the 135 experiences we hold for Nara. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

Why book here

  • Compare before you buy

    Every ticket, tour and pass we carry for a city, side by side on one page.

  • Free cancellation on most experiences

    Where the operator offers it, the card says so before you click.

  • Real reviews, real photos

    Ratings and reviews are collected from travellers by our booking partner and Tripadvisor; nobody pays for placement.

  • Secure checkout on our partner’s site

    Card details are entered on our booking partner’s site, never on ours.

Three steps to add it

Plan with AIYour trip, day by day