The ancient capital of Nara is located in Nara Prefecture, just south of Kyoto. It was the site of the city of Heijo-Kyo, established in 710. It flourished until 784, when the capital was transferred. This epoch of Japanese history is known as the Nara Period. Heijo-Kyo was built after the government passed legislation in 701 to concentrate and centralize its power. The official name of the capital was Heijo-Kyo but it was called the Capital of Nara because of its location.
Getting there from Osaka was really easy as they had direct train rides to Nara. We decided to make an morning trip of it and we took the Kintensu Line cost 560 yen per adult to Nara.
Arrived at Kintetsu Nara station, there is a tourist information desk just above the station and you can enquire about the attractions around the area.
From the station, you could either walk to the park or take the bus just outside the station, but we decided to walk along the main road to the Nara Park.
The entrance to the park is free and if you want to feed the deer, you can buy biscuits at stores within the park or crackers vendors along the way. Cost 150 yen for deer crackers (10 pcs).
The park itself was huge and really spectacular and the deer were a great attraction. Hundreds of deer roam in the park. Some could get really pesky and if you do not watch out, a deer would sneak up and literally chew up anything from your bag.
Deer will come very close to you once you have crackers on hands and whenever they wanted crackers, they do bow their heads although there were times when the deer would get a bit pushy trying to get food from your hands. Equip yourself with wet wipes tissue as you may like to clean your hands after you feed the deer. Also, equip yourself with a empty plastic bag as you may not be able to find a trash bin vicinity, therefore you may need to carry your trash back to the train station.
Kofuku-Ji Temple
Kofuku-Ji used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful family clan during much of the Nara and Heian periods. The temple was established in Nara at the same time as the capital in 710. At the heights of Fujiwara power, the temple consisted of over 150 buildings.
A very important temples in Nara and the compound is quite large and populated with wild deer. There are two truly ancient pagodas on the site, the taller, five tiered one has a wonderful sacred to it inside. The smaller pagoda is also ancient and impressive.
Hours and Fees (Eastern Golden Hall)
Mon - Sun : 9.00am - 5.00pm
Fees : 300 yen
Getting here
Kofuku-Ji Temple is a five minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara station or a 20 minutes walk from JR Nara station. Kofuku-Ji can also be reached from JR Nara station by clockwise running loop bus number 2 or any of the buses bound for Kasuga Taisha (7 minutes, 190 JYP). Get off at Kencho-mae bus stop.
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha is Nara's most celebrated shrine. It was established at the same time as the capital and it dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city.
There are many tall trees and stone lanterns lining the shaded path leading to the shrine. The walk was quiet and peaceful even with the disturbance from the deer around.
Inside the temple, there is so much details in the design and decoration of the shrine. Lanterns hanging all throughout give off a sense of enlightenment. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two Lantern Festivals and one in early February and one in mid August.
Beyond the shrine's offering hall, which can be visited free of charge, there is a paid inner area which provides a closer view of the shrine's inner building.
Hours and fees
April - September : 6.00am - 6.00pm
October - March : 6.30am - 5.00pm
Inner area : 8.30am - 4.00pm
Fees : Free (Outer area) & 500 yen (Inner area)
Todai-Ji Temple
Todaiji is a Buddhist temple complex translated as Eastern Great Temple. It was once one of the powerful seven great Temples, located in the city of Nara. Its great Buddha hall houses the world largest bronze Buddha status known in Japanese as "Daibutsu". It is a UNESCO world heritage site as one of the historic monuments of ancient Nara.
The entrance ticket is 500 yen for the Great Buddha and believe me, you won't regret for this payment. After entered, you would see the Great Buddha Hall in a supper green background of grass and other trees. Today we are lucky with a very good weather, so the image of Great Buddha Hall is so outstanding on the blue sky.
When you enter the hall, you would see the statue of Vairocana Buddha made from bronze that was later plated with gold. This status has the height of body in 14.98 and of head in 5.33m. You also can see the great lotus-petal (3.5m) and other statues inside the hall.
Hours and Fees
November - February : 8.00am - 4.30pm
March : 8.00am - 5.00pm
April - September : 7.30am - 5.30pm
October : 7.30am - 5.00pm
Fees : 500 yen
Getting here
Todaiji is located in the northern part of Nara Park. It is about a 30 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara station, or about 45 minutes walk from JR Nara station. It can also be reached by bus from either station. get off at Todaiji Daibutsuden from where it is a 5-10 minutes walk to Todaiji's main building.
Getting here - Nara
JR Kanjo-Yamatoji Line
780 yen, 50 minutes by Yamatoji Kaisoku (express) departs from JR Osaka station and arrives at JR Nara station
Kintetsu Nara Line
560 yen, 40 minutes, departs from Kintetsu Namba station in Osaka and arrives at Kintetsu Nara station in Nara
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