• The Uneme - matsuri Festival 2026
  • Enjoy special nighttime visits to five World Heritage temples and shrines in autumn, along with stunning sunset and nighttime views! Autumn Night Trip to Nara 2026
  • Why are there deer in Nara Park? This feature looks at how to interact with them, etiquette for tourists, and the historical background.
  • What to see & do
  • All About The Great Buddha

Pickup

Special feature on the proper etiquette to observe when visiting Shinto shrines and temples

Special feature on the proper etiquette to observe when visiting Shinto shrines and temples

All About the Great Buddha

All About the Great Buddha

Nara for first-timers - a thorough guide to Nara City, from history, highlights, and the popular, to hidden gems! Recommended sightseeing spots, gourmet food, access information, and more.

Nara for first-timers - a thorough guide to Nara City, from history, highlights, and the popular, to hidden gems! Recommended sightseeing spots, gourmet food, access information, and more.

Nara's World Heritage Sites

Nara's World Heritage Sites

Why are there deer in Nara Park?

Why are there deer in Nara Park?

Ki-kou — a fully bespoke cultural stay in Nara We curate exclusive and meaningful experiences.

Ki-kou — a fully bespoke cultural stay in Nara We curate exclusive and meaningful experiences.

Nara's Autumun Festival "Uneme Festival" 2026

Nara's Autumun Festival "Uneme Festival" 2026

Enjoy special nighttime visits to five World Heritage temples and shrines in autumn, along with stunning sunset and nighttime views! Autumn Night Trip to Nara 2026

Enjoy special nighttime visits to five World Heritage temples and shrines in autumn, along with stunning sunset and nighttime views! Autumn Night Trip to Nara 2026

Nara Nishinokyo Lotus Road

Nara Nishinokyo Lotus Road

Map of Tourist Information Centers and About Interpreters & Tour Guides

Map of Tourist Information Centers and About Interpreters & Tour Guides

Information

First visit to Nara City

This article offers comprehensive information for first-time visitors to Nara on how to enjoy the city to the fullest, from popular areas to hidden gems! It also covers sightseeing spots, recommended dining options, accommodations, souvenirs, and access.

First visit to Nara City

Manners and rules of worship

Nara has many Shinto shrines and temples designated as national treasures and important cultural properties. What are the differences between temples and shrines? What should you avoid doing when visiting? This guide explains all this and more!

Manners and rules of worship

What you should know about deer in Nara

Nara Park is home to around 1,300 deer. But why are there so many deer in Nara Park? This article provides basic information about the deer in Nara Park, the correct way to interact with them, and the etiquette that tourists should observe.

What you should know about deer in Nara

All About the Great Buddha

  • The Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple - What Is Vairocana (Birushanabutsu)? -
  • The Size of the Great Buddha of Nara
  • How Buddhism Came Down to Japan
  • Why Todaiji Temple Was Built?
  • Why the Great Buddha Was Constructed
All About the Great Buddha

WHEN TO GO

Nara City has a mild annual average temperature of 14.6°C, but its geographical location in the Nara Basin makes it hot and humid in summer and cold in winter. The winters in Nara City are especially colder than those of Osaka and Kyoto, and the period from mid-January to early February is said to be the coldest time of the year.
Visitors are advised to dress appropriately for each season.

Spring

Spring in Nara is said to begin with the celebration of the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji Temple. It is a season in which the stillness of temple gardens and natural greenery becomes beautifully adorned with flowering blossoms. Amidst this atmosphere of calm, the city is brought to life with parties of cherry blossom-viewers and traditional festivals.

Spring

Summer

Spring in Nara is said to begin with the celebration of the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji Temple. It is a season in which the stillness of temple gardens and natural greenery becomes beautifully adorned with flowering blossoms. Amidst this atmosphere of calm, the city is brought to life with parties of cherry blossom-viewers and traditional festivals.

Summer

Autumn

Spring in Nara is said to begin with the celebration of the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji Temple. It is a season in which the stillness of temple gardens and natural greenery becomes beautifully adorned with flowering blossoms. Amidst this atmosphere of calm, the city is brought to life with parties of cherry blossom-viewers and traditional festivals.

Autumn

Winter

Spring in Nara is said to begin with the celebration of the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji Temple. It is a season in which the stillness of temple gardens and natural greenery becomes beautifully adorned with flowering blossoms. Amidst this atmosphere of calm, the city is brought to life with parties of cherry blossom-viewers and traditional festivals.

Winter
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