City guide
Nara Travel Guide: Japan’s first permanent capital, where sacred deer roam among giant temples
Nara is Japan’s first permanent capital (710–784), famous for the 1,200 tame deer of Nara Park, the Great Buddha inside Todai-ji temple, and the lantern-hung shrine of Kasuga Taisha. It makes an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, and the best times to visit are spring for cherry blossom and November for autumn colour.
Nara at a glance
| Timezone | JST (UTC+9) |
|---|---|
| Currency | Japanese Yen (JPY) |
| Languages | Japanese |
| Population | 355,000 |
| Coordinates | 34.6851, 135.8048 |
Why visit Nara
Nara packs eight UNESCO sites into a walkable park city: the world’s largest bronze Buddha at Todai-ji, over a thousand free-roaming deer regarded as sacred messengers, and the lantern-lined approach to Kasuga Taisha. Most people day-trip from Kyoto or Osaka — stay overnight and you’ll have the park to yourself at dawn.
When to visit Nara
Nara is a year-round city, but it peaks twice: late March to April for cherry blossom with the deer, and November for fiery autumn maples around the temples. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold and quiet.
Nara Park’s deer are wild animals — they bow for shika senbei crackers, but keep all other food packed away and supervise children during the autumn rut and spring fawning season. Read the full month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Nara.
Also in kansai
Nara travel questions
What is the best month to visit Nara?
April and November are the best months to visit Nara — April brings cherry blossom across the park and November brings brilliant autumn maples around the temples. May and October offer clear skies and comfortable temperatures with slightly fewer crowds.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.