Free things to do · Nara · Japan
5 free things to do in Nara
Nara without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Nara without paying an entry fee: Nara Park and its deer, Nigatsu-do Hall, Naramachi and Kasugayama Primeval Forest are all free. Nara Park, Nigatsu-do, the outer grounds of Kasuga Taisha and Todai-ji, Naramachi and the Heijo Palace site are free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 10
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- December–February
Free sights and experiences
.jpg){kind=link}
Park · Nara Park
1.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.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Religious site · Nara Park
2.Nigatsu-do Hall
Climb the stone steps behind the hall at sunset for the best free view in Nara.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Naramachi
3.Naramachi
Visit the free Koshi-no-Ie townhouse to see how a narrow, deep machiya works inside.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
Nature · Nara Park
4.Kasugayama Primeval Forest
Walk the trail in the morning and carry water; it is quiet and has few facilities.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Nishinokyo
5.Heijo Palace site
It is large and exposed; visit in spring or autumn and rent a bike from near Yamato-Saidaiji station.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Nara Park | Nara Park and its deer, Nigatsu-do Hall and Kasugayama Primeval Forest | 1–2 hours + 45 minutes + 2–3 hours |
| Naramachi | Naramachi | 1.5–2 hours |
| Nishinokyo | Heijo Palace site | 2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Nara Park
Todai-ji and the Great Buddha
Arrive at opening to see the Buddha before school groups, and look for the pillar with a hole said to be the size of the Buddha's nostril.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Kids
Religious site · Nara Park
Kasuga Taisha
Walk the stone-lantern approach early in the morning, and come back for the Mantoro lantern festivals in early February or mid-August if your dates allow.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Religious site · Kintetsu Nara and Higashimuki
Kofuku-ji
Prioritise the National Treasure Museum, which holds some of the finest Buddhist sculpture in Japan.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Architecture
Museum · Nara Park
Nara National Museum
Visit the permanent Buddhist sculpture galleries in the old building, a good stop on a rainy afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Nara Park
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.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Naramachi
Gango-ji
Look up at the Gokuraku-bo hall's roof, where older, darker tiles mark those carried from the original temple.
- Time needed
- 40 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Nara Park
Mount Wakakusa
Climb to the first plateau for sunset views; the summit can also be reached by car via the Nara Okuyama Driveway.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Couples
Religious site · Takabatake
Shin-Yakushi-ji
Combine it with a walk through Takabatake's lanes and the forest path back to Kasuga Taisha.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Nishinokyo
Yakushi-ji
Walk the 10 minutes north to Toshodai-ji afterwards; the two temples make a natural half-day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Nishinokyo
Toshodai-ji
Find Ganjin's tomb at the back of the grounds, surrounded by moss.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Nara Park, Nigatsu-do, the outer grounds of Kasuga Taisha and Todai-ji, Naramachi and the Heijo Palace site are free.
- Stay in Kyoto or Osaka and visit Nara by Kintetsu train if hotel prices are high; overnighting in Nara is cheaper outside cherry blossom and autumn leaves.
- Combined tickets for Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall and museum save a little over separate entries.
- Take-away kakinoha-zushi for a picnic in the park costs far less than a sit-down lunch.
- A Kintetsu Rail Pass can cover the trip from Osaka or Kyoto plus trains to Nishinokyo or Yoshino.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Nara expensive to visit?
Nara is moderately priced for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Nara?
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.