Sep 28, 2013 - 1 min read

Nara Prefectural Government Office

A secret view over the city

By John Carter

Community writer

Mist rolls down the mountains towards the city of Nara

An amazing view of the cities five-story Pagoda in Nara

The incredible structure that is Tōdai-ji is just as impressive from above from the Nara Prefectural Office

Benches can be enjoyed on a sunnier day but the rain isn't enough to ruin such a view

As soon as you step onto the roof you'll instantly enter a state of awe

I also spotted the local NHK broadcasting centre

This little character offered me a pleasant greeting on arriving

Located just opposite Nara's main park area the building hides its secret well

Nara is a beautiful little town that’s as popular for its deer as it is for its many historical sights. Visiting such a place is always taken to a new level when you can get a bird's-eye view over the area and luckily you can even here. In fact it’s actually more of a local secret that the public has access to a rooftop garden on top of the prefectural government building. I luckily came across this secret and now I’m sharing it with you, and believe me it’s not a place that should be missed. The garden offers a complete 360 view over the city and from here you can view the towns temples from a different angle as well as the incredible mount Katsuragisan. It’s no Tokyo tower but its views are no less spectacular. It's also a small walk from Guesthouse Nara Backpackers.