Comparison · Hiroshima vs Nara · Japan
Hiroshima vs Nara
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Hiroshima for Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and nightlife; choose Nara for Todai-ji Great Buddha and Nara Park deer. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 309 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 309 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Hiroshima
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Nara
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Hiroshima | Nara | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Known for | Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine | Todai-ji Great Buddha, Nara Park deer and Kasuga Taisha lanterns |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 2 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$230 | $110–$220 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | August, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | HIJ, IWK | KIX, ITM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Hiroshima for…
Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and nightlife. Hiroshima is a rebuilt, river-laced city of about 1.2 million on the delta of the Ota River, best known as the first city struck by an atomic bomb, on 6 August 1945. The Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum are moving and…
Choose Nara for…
Todai-ji Great Buddha and Nara Park deer. Nara was Japan's capital from 710 to 784, and the temples and shrines founded then — Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji and Kasuga Taisha among them — now form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of the headline sights sit in or around Nara Park, a large green area on the…
Top sights compared
| # | Hiroshima | Nara |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park | Todai-ji and the Great Buddha |
| 2 | Atomic Bomb Dome | Nara Park and its deer |
| 3 | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum | Kasuga Taisha |
| 4 | Children's Peace Monument | Kofuku-ji |
| 5 | Itsukushima Shrine | Nara National Museum |
Food compared
| Hiroshima | Nara |
|---|---|
| Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki | Persimmon-leaf sushi |
| Oysters | Nara-zuke pickles |
| Conger-eel rice | Miwa somen |
| Momiji manjū | Tea porridge |
Which is cheaper?
Hiroshima and Nara cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$230 in Hiroshima and $110–$220 in Nara (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Nara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Hiroshima and Nara are about 309 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Hiroshima and 2 in Nara.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hiroshima or Nara cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$230 in Hiroshima and $110–$220 in Nara (estimates).
+Is Hiroshima or Nara better for a first trip?
Pick Hiroshima for Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and nightlife, or Nara for Todai-ji Great Buddha and Nara Park deer.
+How far is Hiroshima from Nara?
About 309 km in a straight line.