Nara
Nara was Japan's capital from 710 and is known for sika deer in Nara Park and a large bronze Buddha at Tōdai-ji.
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Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture in Japan's Kansai region, at the northern end of the Nara Basin. It was Japan's capital from 710, when it became the first permanent capital, until the court moved to Nagaoka in 784. The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1998, include Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine and the Heijō Palace site.
Tōdai-ji houses a very large bronze Buddha in a wooden hall described as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. In Nara Park, tame sika deer roam through town, and local legend holds that they are sacred. The deer can be pushy when they expect food, so keep a safe distance and keep snacks out of reach. Day trips from Osaka or Kyoto are common, and Kintetsu limited express trains link Nara with both cities. The city has a limited number of hotel rooms, so book early if you plan to stay. Summer is hot, with highs close to 35°C in the basin.
Nara in five
- Day-trip from Osaka or KyotoKintetsu trains take about 40 minutes from Osaka Namba, and the JR Miyakoji Rapid takes 45–50 minutes from Kyoto Station. Both drop you within a 5–10 minute walk of the park.Nara day trip guide
- Reach Tōdai-ji at openingThe Great Buddha Hall opens at 8:00 from November to March and earlier in summer. Admission is ¥800, and the hall is calm before the tour buses arrive.
- Feed the deer only park crackersBuy shika senbei from vendors in the park, hold them out only when ready, and don't tease. The deer are wild and will nip or butt if you wave food and then hide it.
- Add Naramachi after lunchThe old merchant lanes south of Sarusawa Pond have machiya cafés and shops, and they are quieter than the park in the afternoon.
- Skip the pass for a Nara-only dayOne round trip costs a few hundred yen each way, so single tickets or an IC card beat any pass. Passes only help if you add Kyoto, Kobe or Himeji the same days.Is a Kansai pass worth it?
Need to know
- Getting there
- Kintetsu from Osaka Namba, about 40 min; JR Miyakoji Rapid from Kyoto, 45–50 min
- Getting around
- On foot; the main sights lie within about 2–3 km of Kintetsu Nara
- Best base
- Osaka or Kyoto; sleep in Nara only for the park at dawn
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours; a full day with Kasuga Taisha and Naramachi
- Entry fee
- Nara Park is free; Tōdai-ji halls and museum ¥800 for adults
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Plum blossomFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Plum blossom
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Blossom startsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom starts
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Cherry blossomAprilRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 160 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cherry blossom
- MayRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Green, Golden WeekMayRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 208 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, Golden Week
- JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 264 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 264 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°HottestAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 197 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 208 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Clear, mildOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Autumn colorNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cold, clearDecemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
Average daily high and low in Nara, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nara
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Nara
06:14 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today20°11°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°11°34%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Thu21°15°83%Thursday: Rain. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Fri21°11°46%Friday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Sat14°7°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun16°6°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 03:00 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MayAoi MatsuriKyoto, a day trip
- JulTenjin MatsuriOsaka, a day trip
- AugPL Art of FireworksOsaka, a day trip
- SepKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriOsaka, a day trip
- OctJidai MatsuriKyoto, a day trip
- DecKobe LuminarieKōbe, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Nara to Kyoto45–50 min by JR Miyakoji RapidContinue to Fushimi Inari or the temples of Higashiyama.Read the guide
- Nara to OsakaAbout 40 min by KintetsuBack to Namba for dinner in Dōtonbori.Read the guide
- Nara to Hōryū-jiAbout 10–15 min by JRAmong the oldest wooden temple buildings in the world.
- Nara to KobeAbout 1 hr 20 min by KintetsuThrough trains run to Kobe-Sannomiya for harbor and Kitano.Read the guide
Before you go to Nara
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Rules for Nara, checked
- Tōdai-ji: Great Buddha Hall, Hokke-dō, Kaidan-dō and museum ¥800 for adults; hall open 8:00–17:00 from November to MarchChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Nara
Why single tickets usually win for Nara.
Read the guideDay trips from OsakaNara plus Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji by train.
Read the guideJR Pass or notPrice your route before you buy anything.
Read the guideBest time to visitBlossom, autumn color and the weeks to avoid.
Read the guideeSIM for JapanData plans for trains and temples.
Read the guideNara FAQ
Is Nara worth visiting?
Yes, for a half day. Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha Hall and the deer of Nara Park are unlike anything in Kyoto or Osaka. Skip it if you have only one or two days in Kansai and want temples and food in a single city.
Can you visit Nara as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka?
Yes. It is about 40 minutes from Osaka Namba by Kintetsu and 45–50 minutes from Kyoto by JR Miyakoji Rapid. Start by 9am and you can see the park, Tōdai-ji and Naramachi and be back for dinner.
How many hours do you need in Nara?
Four to six hours covers Tōdai-ji, the deer park and a lunch stop. Add Kasuga Taisha and Naramachi and it becomes a full day.
Are the deer in Nara dangerous?
They are wild animals and can bite or butt, especially if you hold food. Feed them only park crackers, keep bags closed, and stay back from bucks in autumn and from fawns.
Is it worth staying overnight in Nara?
Only if you want Nara Park at dawn or a quiet evening. Dinner options thin out by 8pm, and Osaka or Kyoto give you far more choice at night.
Do I need a rail pass for Nara?
No. A round trip from Osaka or Kyoto costs less than any pass, and an IC card works on Kintetsu and JR. A pass pays only if you fill two or more days with long rides.