Find out the best way to get around Nara, how much bus tickets cost or how hard it is to find a taxi.

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On foot

Nara is not a big city and most tourists move between Nara Park and the train stations. The longest distances in this area are about 2 km, so you can easily get around Nara on foot only.

Buses

The basic transport network for getting around the city is the buses operated by Nara Kotsu.

For timetables or current ticket prices, visit the website: navi.narakotsu.co.jp.

Routes and timetables

There are many regular routes marked with numbers and 3 tourist routes marked with names.

• Map of regular lines: navi.narakotsu.co.jp
• Map of tourist lines: nara-access-navi.com

You will probably use the tourist lines in particular, as they are significantly cheaper and cover almost the entire tourist area of Nara:

• Omiya Street Route - It connects Nara Park, Kintetsu Nara Railway Station and then follows Omiya Street past, for example, the Novotel Nara or JW Marriott Nara hotels to Yamato-Saidaiji Train Station.
  • On weekdays it has a 30-minute interval, running 9:00-17:00
  • On weekends and public holidays it has a 15-minute interval, running 9:00-17:00
• Nara Park Route - Circular line from Nara Park around the centre via Kintetsu-Nara and JR-Nara railway stations
  • Runs only on weekends and holidays with 15-minute interval, 9:00-17:00
• Wakakusayama Mountain Route - Short circular line around Nara Park and doesn't save much time compared to walking
  • Runs only on weekends and holidays at 15-minute intervals, 9:00-17:00

Among the regular lines, the following connections are useful for tourists:

• Nara Park - Kintetsu-Nara - JR-Nara: lines 1, 2, 6, 7, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 62, 77, 78, 97, 98, 123, 124 + Nara Park Route
• Kintetsu-Nara - Omiya Street (Novotel and Marriott hotels) - Yamato Saidaiji: lines 160, 161 + Omiya Street Route
• Kintetsu-Nara - Omiya Street (Novotel and Marriott hotels): lines 28, 160, 161 + Omiya Street Route

Fares - prices and how to pay

Most tourists will only use single tickets, as you will usually take the bus 1-2 times at most.

• 250 jpy - 1 ride on a regular line bus
• 100 jpy - 1 ride on a tourist bus (Omiya Street Route, Nara Park Route, Wakakusayama Mountain Route)
• 600 jpy - All-day ticket valid on the calendar day (valid for regular and tourist routes)

Extended day pass options are also available for the wider area, see the official website: narakotsu.co.jp.

You always board the bus through the back door and get off through the front door.

Purchase a single ticket from the driver when you get off. Pay in exact cash at the ticket office. If you don't have cash, you can change a 1,000 yen note into change at the currency exchange.

Fares can also be paid with one of the 10 Japanese transport cards (Icoca, Suica, etc.).

Fares cannot be paid with a regular debit or credit card.

You can purchase a day pass at the Nara Kotsu office at JR-Nara or Kintetsu-Nara stations.

Taxi, Uber

There are no mobile taxi apps like Uber or DiDi operating in Nara.

However, there are quite a few regular taxis plying the streets and you can flag them down with a wave.

In addition, there are taxi stands in many places around the city where there is always at least 1 car waiting. These stands are especially near train stations.

You will pay around 1 100 jpy for a trip between the main train stations of Nara-JR or Kintetsu-Nara and Nara Park.

Many taxi drivers also accept credit cards.

Train

To get around Nara, use only the trains of the Kintetsu Railway.

They have 3 stations in Nara, with trains running between them about once every 5 minutes.

• Kintentsu-Nara - Shin-Omiya - Yamato Saidaiji
• Ticket price varies between 190 jpy and 240 jpy
• Official website: kintetsu.co.jp

Day bus tickets are not valid for the train ride.