3 days in Nara

Day by day

1. Day 1: Todai-ji and the Great Buddha and Nara Park and its deer

   Todai-ji and the Great Buddha, Nara Park and its deer and Kasuga Taisha, then Sunset at Nigatsu-do in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Todai-ji and the Great Buddha

      Founded in the 8th century as the head of Japan's provincial temples, Todai-ji's Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) holds a seated bronze Buddha about 15 m tall.

   2. Late morning

      Nara Park and its deer

      Feed crackers one at a time and show empty hands when you are done; deer can nip or butt when they see food, especially in autumn rutting season.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Persimmon-leaf sushi

      Specialist shops along Sanjo-dori, in Higashimuki and at the stations; good as a take-away lunch in the park.

   4. Afternoon

      Kasuga Taisha

      Founded in 768 for the guardian deities of the Fujiwara clan, this vermilion shrine sits at the foot of the sacred Mount Kasuga.

   5. Evening

      Sunset at Nigatsu-do

      Watch the sun set over the Great Buddha Hall's roof and the city from the hall's wooden veranda.

2. Day 2: Kofuku-ji and Nara National Museum

   Kofuku-ji, Nara National Museum and Isui-en and Yoshiki-en gardens, then Ukimido at dusk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kofuku-ji

      Prioritise the National Treasure Museum, which holds some of the finest Buddhist sculpture in Japan.

   2. Late morning

      Nara National Museum

      Japan's leading collection of Buddhist art fills a 1894 Western-style building and a modern wing linked by an underground passage.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Nara-zuke pickles

      Pickle shops on Sanjo-dori, Higashimuki and in Naramachi, often with samples.

   4. Afternoon

      Isui-en and Yoshiki-en gardens

      Combine both with lunch at Isui-en's restaurant overlooking the pond; Yoshiki-en has been free for foreign visitors showing a passport.

   5. Evening

      Ukimido at dusk

      Walk to the hexagonal pavilion on Sagi-ike pond, lit up in the evening, a short walk from Kasuga Taisha.

3. Day 3: Nigatsu-do Hall and Mount Wakakusa

   Nigatsu-do Hall, Mount Wakakusa and Kasugayama Primeval Forest, then Naramachi café and sake in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nigatsu-do Hall

      A hillside hall of Todai-ji with a wooden veranda looking over the Great Buddha Hall's roof and the city.

   2. Late morning

      Mount Wakakusa

      Climb to the first plateau for sunset views; the summit can also be reached by car via the Nara Okuyama Driveway.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Miwa somen

      Noodle restaurants in Naramachi and near the stations, especially in summer.

   4. Afternoon

      Kasugayama Primeval Forest

      Hunting and logging have been banned in this sacred forest behind Kasuga Taisha for more than a thousand years, preserving old-growth trees.

   5. Evening

      Naramachi café and sake

      Share kuzu sweets in a machiya café, then try local sake at a tasting counter in the old quarter.

Before you go

• Nara National Museum: During the autumn Shoso-in Exhibition, timed or advance tickets have been needed; check the museum's site.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Kintetsu Nara and Higashimuki keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, JR Nara and Sanjo-dori ($$) suits budget, first-timers and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–15 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Nara
• 2 days in Nara

Questions travellers ask