Hi everyone! This is my first post for Day Trip Series, which will be a more concise article, almost like a photo diary, about how to spend one day in a certain city. Right outside of your main destination, you can explore and experience something new, something different…

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Getting to Nara Park from Kyoto

JR Line: JR Kyoto Station ⇒ JR Nara Station

If you have the JR Pass, this route will be included within your pass so it’s recommended to take this line. The express line will take 45 minutes, but you should check the time table for when it should run since it is not as frequent as the local line which takes 70 minutes.

Kintetsu Line: Kintetsu Kyoto Station ⇒ Kintetsu Nara Station

This line is the quickest, taking only 35 minutes to arrive in Nara, but it will be extra $ to buy tickets.

Outside of both Nara stations will have taxi stations to quickly drive you to Nara Park.

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IMMEDIATELY Surrounded by Deer

…if you buy crackers for them for 150 yen 😱 There are stands everywhere selling these packs of crackers throughout Nara Park so you will have plenty of opportunities!

They might get friendly…

They might let you pet them for the photo ops…

Or they might straight up chase you down…

Yes, they will be everywhere wherever you go…EVERYWHERE

Why are there so many deer freely roaming around?

A long long time ago, Nara was the capital of Japan. According to an ancient legend, a god Takemikazuchi was said to have ridden to Nara on a white deer to protect this new capital. Since then, deer has been viewed as sacred animals and helpers of God, so they have been carefully protected. In order to preserve these deer in their rightful home, there are many laws that prohibit any type of endangering–of course no hunting, no feeding them human food, etc.

Fun Fact: These deer have been taught that if they bow and show respect to you, they might get deer crackers! So if you bow to them first, they may bow back to you 😲

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Decide Where You Wanna Go

You can see most of Nara’s popular landmarks just walking around the enormous Nara Park (so easy and convenient when everything is nearby bless). We entered through the Great South Gate (middle left of the map) and walked our way through to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine (bottom left of the map), so I’ll show you what we saw below just on this path…

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Walking Around Nara Park

Great South Gate

which directly leads into…

Todai-ji

This is probably the main temple and landmark of Nara, which also houses the biggest bronze statues of Buddah.

Right nearby, there will also be other temples and shrines to visit.

Kagame-ike Pond

Or otherly named as the “Mirror Pond” right outside of the Buddhist hall, the water beautiful reflects a different image as the season changes…

Walk Across the Park (and see more deer)

It will be about 20-30 minute stroll towards Kasuga Taisha so just keep on walking, enjoying the view, and continue deer-watching.

Mizutani Chaya

If you want a good stop on the way to Kasuga Taisha for some good snacks and drinks (especially under hot weather), this is the perfect little hut in the middle of the forest for that. You’re almost there though 🙂

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Why is this shrine so special? This sign should explain better than I can.

Additionally, this shrine beautifully holds hundreds and hundreds of bronze lanterns all around. Right when you take the stairs up to the entrance…

  

These lanterns are only lit twice every year in a Mantoro Festival, one in early February and another in mid August. I would love to come to one next time.

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End with an Amazing Meal

Every day trip needs to include an amazing meal–one of the best in the city. And, we definitely found it.
At Terakawa, We had a delicious traditional Japanese omakase (tapas-style), with several courses that filled our stomachs to the max. It offers a menu of set courses, with each set enough to feed two people. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 😍