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Nara

Japan's ancient capital delivers on culture

About Nara
Photo: Benny Marty / Shutterstock.com

Top Attractions in Nara

Todaiji
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Todaiji

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Upcoming Nara Events

Plum Blossoms at Tsukigase Plum Grove

Plum Blossoms at Tsukigase Plum Grove

Mid Feb - Late Mar

One of Nara's best plum blossom spots is the Tsukigase Plum Grove, where over 10,000 plum trees burst into bloom in shades of..

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Where to eat in Nara

Places to stay in Nara

Latest Nara Reports

Nara Ikimono Museum

Nara Ikimono Museum

Kim

The Japanese word ikimono translates to living creatures in English, and the soon-to-open Nara Ikimono Museum will allow visit..

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About Nara

Okinawa Nagasaki Fukuoka Saga Kumamoto Kagoshima Miyazaki Oita Ehime Kochi Tokushima Kagawa Yamaguchi Hiroshima Okayama Tottori Shimane Hyogo Kyoto Osaka Wakayama Nara Shiga Mie Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Gifu Aichi Nagano Shizuoka Niigata Yamanashi Kanagawa Tokyo Saitama Gunma Tochigi Chiba Ibaraki Fukushima Miyagi Yamagata Iwate Akita Aomori Hokkaido
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Population 1,400,728
Area 3,690.94 km²

Japan’s first permanent capital from AD 710 to 794 (known then as Heijo), as well as the site of the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, it goes without saying that Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) is filled with history and culture.

Nara is renowned for its many prestigious temples, led by Todai-ji (home of the Nara Great Buddha) and Horyu-ji, the oldest wooden building in the world. The lesser-known Asuka Temple is considered to be the oldest temple in Japan, constructed in AD 588. The traditional performing art of Daimokutate is performed every October 12th and is a sight to behold.

One of the most iconic sights of Nara is Nara Park; in addition to it containing Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, and Kasuga Shrine, it is famous for its roaming deer - visitors can even feed them! The town of Yoshino is arguably the best spot in Japan for cherry blossom viewing. 

Around Nara

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