Nara is a great day trip from Kyoto. There are several attractions in the main park downtown, but I think most people just want to see the deer.

Getting to Nara

Nara is easily reached by train from Kyoto.  The JR Nara line goes from Kyoto to Nara several times an hour.  It is un-reserved.  But note that there are local and express versions – the express are MUCH faster.  The train is covered by the JR pass.

At the JR Nara station, stop by the tourist info desk and pick up an english sight seeing map.

To get to the main park area from the station, you can walk (about 20 minutes) or you can take the city loop bus (#2).  The #2 bus is at stop #1.  At the time we were there, the station was being extensively rebuilt and so the path to the bus area was complicated, but the people at the tourist desk can guide you.

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple is the main attraction (besides the deer).  To get there from the bus, exit when the bus makes a sharp right turn after it enters the park.  Then follow the crowd (north) to the temple.

The temple grounds are beautiful.  When you get to the main building, what’s inside is one huge Buddha – Japan’s largest.  Inside the building you can walk all the way around the statue.  One of the pillars in the back has a hole in its base, the same size as the nostril of the statue – people (small people anyway) can squeeze thru it.

For photography fans, this is one of the few places that allow unrestricted photography inside.

Left – the statue.  Below:  the “nostril” sized hole.

Elsewhere in Nara Park

The park is large, there are other shrines, halls, gardens to be seen (we didn’t).  As I said earlier, I think most people come to see the deer.  The deer are free roaming in the park.  They will generally ignore you until you have some food – buy the crackers from numerous vendors.  Then you will instantly become very popular, as my daughter discovered.

The other thing that is ubiquitous – here and at other main attractions – are student groups. They are out in force all the time, not just on holidays or weekends.

To get back to the JR station, you can walk or pick up the #2 bus (going the opposite direction will be faster, but it’s a loop.)