Nara
Japan
- Safety rating
- 9.4/10
- Best time to visit
- Spring and autumn are ideal, with cherry blossoms or fiery maples framing the temples.
- Population
- 0.4M
Overview
Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, is a tranquil city where free-roaming deer wander among ancient temples and vast parkland. It holds some of the country's oldest and grandest wooden structures, including the colossal Great Buddha of Todai-ji. Its compact scale makes it a perfect day trip steeped in history.
Top attractions
See Todai-ji's Great Buddha, the deer of Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha shrine, and Isuien Garden.
Getting around
The main sights cluster in walkable Nara Park, with buses linking outlying temples.