2019.05.23
During hot summer season, stay cool and enjoy local spots in Nara city in the morning or at night.
NIGHT TIME ACTIVITY
Nara Park (a.k.a. Deer Park) is known as a place where you can meet and greet deer in the daytime. However, there is also a great night view spot just behind the park, the grass-covered mountain ‘Mount Wakakusa’.
Night View from Mount Wakakusa
Between July 13 and September 22 as well as August 12, 2019, a special shuttle bus operates on Saturdays and Sundays from JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station to Mount Wakakusa. You can casually hop on without reservation.
Shuttle Bus Information
Operation period:
Saturdays & Sundays, July 13 – September 22, 2019
as well as August 12 (public holiday)
Route:
JR Nara Sta. Exit East Platform 4 (7:30 p.m.) – Kintetsu Nara Sta. Nara Kotsu Bus Platform 20 (7:35 p.m.) – Mount Wakakusa (8:00 p.m.) – enjoy view for approx. 30 min. – Kencho mae (8:53 p.m.) – Kintetsu Nara Sta. (8:55 p.m.) – JR Nara Sta. (9:00 p.m.)
Price:
Adults 600 yen, Children (up to elementary school children) 300 yen
*Please note that operation may be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
MORNING VISIT TO LOTUS TEMPLES
In summer, beautiful lotus flowers bloom at temples in Nara.
The World Heritage Yakushiji-temple and Toshodaiji-temple in Nishinokyo area, as well as Saidaiji-temple and Kikoji-temple near Yamato Saidaiji Sta. in particular are known as ‘lotus temples’ by the locals, and their connecting roads are now called ‘Lotus Road’.
Lotus Flower at World Heritage Yakushiji-temple
Between June 7 and August 18, 2019, Lotus Road tickets are available at receptions of the lotus temples, which you can use to enter the temples, receive special ‘goshuin’ (temple seal / hand-written certificates of worship or visit at temples and shrines) and lotus petal-shaped paper ‘sange’.
Each temple offers its own Sange
Lotus Road Ticket Information
Period: June 7 and August 18, 2019
Place: Saidaiji-temple (Hondo / main temple building), Kikoji-temple, Toshodaiji-temple, Yakushiji-temple
Price: 3,800 yen per person (no concession)
Where to buy: Each temple, and Nara City Tourist Information Centers near JR Nara Sta. and Kintetsu Nara Sta.
JOIN DEER GATHERING ‘SHIKAYOSE’ IN THE MORNING
If you will wake up early in the morning, enjoy the peaceful scenery of deer gathering ‘Shikayose’ at Nara Park.
Deer will be invited to the field from woods with the sound of the horn.
Deer Gathering Scene
Period: Every Sunday, July 14 – September 22, 2019
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Tobihino within Nara Park (Deer Park)
