How to have fun in Nara, Japan and how many days to spend here?

Nara is a very small city by Japanese standards and many tourists only go for 1 day from Osaka or Kyoto.

Nara is mainly a spiritual, historical and natural place.

Book a hotel in Nara in advance

Feeding the sika deer

Most tourists head to the popular Nara paku, where hundreds of sacred Japanese deer roam freely.

According to Shinto tradition, sika deer are believed to be messengers of the gods.

Stroll through the park, where you'll encounter dozens of fearless deer and their fawns day and night.

You can buy special animal crackers for 200 jpy from many vendors and feed them to the deer. Once they see that you have crackers in your hand, they will readily come to you.

Sights and history

Nara was an important spiritual centre in the past and was the seat of the Japanese emperors and capital between 710 and 794.

This is one of the reasons why there are many interesting and valuable monuments in the small town of Nara, of which the following are described in detail:

• Todai-ji - a temple with the largest wooden building in Japan and the world's tallest bronze Buddha statue.
• Kasuga - a shrine dedicated to the gods who protect the city of Nara
• Kofuku-ji - Buddhist temple with the 2nd highest pagoda in Japan

Hiking

The deep forests and hills east of the city centre beckon hiking.

Trails start right in Nara Park, and you can choose short hikes to nearby peaks or long day trips.

For example, the official tourist website nara-sightseeing.com offers tips on the 5 best treks