Getting around · Nara · Japan
Getting around Nara
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Central Nara is compact: the main sights are within about 20 minutes' walk of Kintetsu Nara station. City buses run a loop past the stations, Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, and Kintetsu trains reach the western temples. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- KIX, ITM
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Kintetsu Rail Pass
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the best way to see Nara Park, Naramachi and the main temples, which are linked by flat paths and gentle slopes.
Bus
Nara Kotsu buses run loop routes from JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara stations past Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the National Museum, and other routes to Horyu-ji and the western temples.
Nationwide IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica work on Nara Kotsu buses.
Train
Kintetsu trains run directly from Kyoto (about 35–45 minutes on the express) and Osaka-Namba (about 40 minutes), and to Nishinokyo for Yakushi-ji. JR trains link JR Nara with Kyoto, Osaka and Horyu-ji.
Kintetsu Nara station is closer to the sights than JR Nara; the Japan Rail Pass covers only JR trains.
Cycling
Bicycles can be rented near the stations and are handy for reaching the Heijo Palace site and the western temples.
Taxi
Taxis wait at both stations and are useful for reaching Takabatake or the Mount Wakakusa summit road.
Tickets and passes
Kintetsu Rail Pass
Passes for foreign visitors covering Kintetsu trains between Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and further afield for one or more days.
Nara Kotsu bus day passes
One-day bus passes covering the central loop and, in wider versions, Horyu-ji and the western temples.
From the airport
Nara has no airport. From Kansai International Airport, limousine buses run to Nara in about 1.5 hours, or take trains via Osaka; from Osaka Itami Airport, limousine buses take about an hour.
Do you need a car?
No. The city is walkable and well served by buses and trains. A car only helps for rural Nara Prefecture, such as Yoshino, Muro-ji or the Kii Mountains.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Horyu-ji | About 30 minutes by train and walk or bus | JR Yamatoji line to Horyuji station, then walk or bus |
| Uji | About 30–45 minutes by train | JR Nara line to Uji |
| Fushimi Inari-taisha | About 45 minutes by train | JR Nara line to Inari station |
| Mount Yoshino | About 1.5–2 hours by train and ropeway | Kintetsu trains via Kashiharajingu-mae to Yoshino, then ropeway or walk |
| Asuka | About 45 minutes to 1 hour by train | Kintetsu trains to Asuka or Kashiharajingu-mae, then bike or bus |
| Hase-dera | About 1 hour by train | Kintetsu Osaka line to Hasedera station, then walk |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Nara?
No. The city is walkable and well served by buses and trains. A car only helps for rural Nara Prefecture, such as Yoshino, Muro-ji or the Kii Mountains.
+How do you get from the airport to Nara?
Nara has no airport. From Kansai International Airport, limousine buses run to Nara in about 1.5 hours, or take trains via Osaka; from Osaka Itami Airport, limousine buses take about an hour.
+What is the best way to get around Nara?
Walking: Walking is the best way to see Nara Park, Naramachi and the main temples, which are linked by flat paths and gentle slopes.