Two days in Nara: choose the park and shrine or Horyuji
For the Great Buddha and shrine approach, stay one night near Kintetsu-Nara and give each a day. For old wooden buildings and Buddhist statues, choose a JR Nara base for Horyuji on day one. Add Gangoji and Naramachi on day two only if time allows before departure.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara Park
See the Great Buddha up close and walk the shrine approach. Stay one night near Kintetsu-Nara Station, giving each attraction a day. Shorten the day-two shrine visit if departure is early.
Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara Park →2 days / 1 night BFocus on Horyuji
Spend day one exploring Horyuji's wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara Station for the return trip. On day two, visit Gangoji and Naramachi only if there is time before departure.
Focus on Horyuji →Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara Park
See the Great Buddha up close and walk the shrine approach. Stay one night near Kintetsu-Nara Station, giving each attraction a day. Shorten the day-two shrine visit if departure is early.
Day 1: Kintetsu-Nara to the Great Buddha Hall
Start at Kintetsu-Nara Station. Travel to this local station and airport return journeys are excluded.
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Approach to Todai-ji
Walk east through Noboriojicho towards Todai-ji. The official roughly 20-minute walk is station-to-temple guidance, not a guaranteed time to the Great Buddha Hall ticket desk.
- Approach to Todai-ji → Great Buddha Hall ticket desk
Follow signs through the grounds to the Great Buddha Hall ticket desk. Add time for walking within the temple and admission queues to the approach from the station or bus stop.
- Great Buddha Hall ticket desk → Great Buddha Hall visit
Pay the JPY 800 adult fee in cash at the desk and visit the Great Buddha Hall. Hours are 7:30 am–5:30 pm from April to October and 8 am–5 pm from November to March. Events or emergencies may change access; check notices for your date.
- After the Great Buddha Hall → Kintetsu-Nara Station
Return to Kintetsu-Nara Station along your outward walking route. The official roughly 20-minute figure describes the station-to-temple approach; it is not the return time from the hall exit. To use a bus instead, check stands, fare and return services for your date separately.
For a late day-one arrival, shorten your visit around the hall's closing time and ticket queues. Choose meals and breaks near the park or station after sightseeing.
Day 2: Kasugataisha Shrine
Walk the lantern-lined approach to Kasugataisha. If departure leaves too little time, skip the special visit or omit the shrine.
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Approach to Kasugataisha
Walk to Kasugataisha. The official roughly 25-minute figure is station-to-shrine access guidance, not a guaranteed time to the general worship area or special-visit desk.
- Approach to Kasugataisha → General worship area
Follow signs to the general worship area, allowing extra time within the grounds and for queues. General worship is free. Hours are 6:30 am–5:30 pm from March to October and 7 am–5 pm from November to February.
- After general worship → Optional special visit to the main sanctuary
For a special visit, check suspension notices and on-site admission for your date. Main-sanctuary special visits cost JPY 700 and run 9 am–4 pm, subject to suspension for rituals. Skip this step on suspension dates or if time before departure is short.
- After the shrine visit → Kintetsu-Nara Station
Return to Kintetsu-Nara Station along your outward walking route. The official roughly 25-minute figure describes the shrine approach, not the return time from the worship area or the full round trip.
Adding the special visit costs JPY 700. You can have a meal or a break on the return towards the station.
Included: Great Buddha Hall JPY 800 + Kasugataisha general worship JPY 0
Additional costs: The following costs are excluded: Kasugataisha special visit, treasure museum and botanical garden; all transport, accommodation, meals and final departure.
The Great Buddha Hall costs JPY 800 adult, paid in cash, and Kasugataisha's general worship is free, so basic admission totals JPY 800. An available main-sanctuary special visit adds JPY 700, for JPY 1,500. Do not include it on suspension dates. The treasure museum, botanical garden, all transport, accommodation, meals and final departure are extra.
Official Todai-ji visitor guidanceJapanese opening and suspension guidance
Focus on Horyuji
Spend day one exploring Horyuji's wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara Station for the return trip. On day two, visit Gangoji and Naramachi only if there is time before departure.
Day 1: JR return trip to Horyuji
Start at JR Nara Station. Travel to this local station and airport return journeys are excluded.
- JR Nara Station → JR Horyuji Station
Take a Tennoji-bound Yamatoji Line train stopping at Horyuji. Check departure and arrival times, fares and return services for your date in the official JR journey search.
Official JR journey searchTourist office's exit-specific access
- JR Horyuji Station north exit → Horyuji south gate
Leave through the north exit and walk about 20 minutes to Horyuji's south gate. Allow extra time from the gate to the paid-admission desk and for queues.
- Horyuji south gate → Paid-admission desk
An individual adult combined ticket for the western precinct, Daihozoin treasure gallery and eastern precinct is JPY 2,000, payable in cash. Hours are 8 am–5 pm from 22 February to 3 November and 8 am–4:30 pm from 4 November to 21 February. Admission closes 30 minutes earlier; late arrival may prevent access to some facilities. Allow separate time to move through the grounds and explore.
Official Horyuji combined ticket, cash payment and admission cutoff
- After buying admission → Horyuji visit
Explore the western precinct, Daihozoin and eastern precinct included in the combined ticket. Allow time between areas, and remember some facilities may stop accepting visitors near closing time.
Official Horyuji combined ticket, cash payment and admission cutoff
- After Horyuji → JR Horyuji Station
Exit towards the south gate and retrace your route to JR Horyuji Station. The official roughly 20-minute figure covers north exit to south gate; it is not the full return time from the viewing areas.
- JR Horyuji Station → JR Nara Station
Take a Nara-bound train back to JR Nara Station. Official guidance lists platform 2 for Nara, Kizu and Kamo, but follow current displays and announcements. Check the actual return departure, arrival and fare for your date in JR journey search.
Allow for both train journeys, platform access, the walks between the north exit and south gate and temple visits. Choose lunch and breaks before or after sightseeing. Horyuji admission ends 30 minutes before closing; late arrival may limit access to some facilities.
Day 2: Gangoji and Naramachi
Choose paid admission for Gangoji or a Naramachi walk for the streets. Reduce sightseeing before an early departure.
- JR Nara Station → Approach to Gangoji
Walk to Gangoji at its official address, 11 Nakaincho. The roughly 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station describes temple access, not a guaranteed time to its admission desk. This is different from the temple and pagoda site of the same name in Shibashinyacho.
Official temple accessOfficial Gangoji guidance distinguishing two temples
- Approach to Gangoji → Admission desk
Follow on-site signs to the desk. Regular adult admission is JPY 700. During the autumn special exhibition, 24 October–15 November 2026, JPY 800 includes admission and replaces the JPY 700 fee; it is not an extra charge.
Nara City tourism association hours and feesOfficial Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition
- After Gangoji admission → Gangoji visit
Explore the Gangoji grounds containing Gokurakudo Hall. Hours are 9 am–5 pm, with admission until 4:30 pm; the listed special exhibition uses the same hours. Omit the paid visit before an early departure.
Nara City tourism association hours and feesOfficial Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition
- After Gangoji or your chosen walk → Return towards JR Nara Station
After the temple or street walk, return towards JR Nara Station. The official roughly 20-minute figure describes station-to-Gangoji access. Check the journey from your actual walk endpoint to the station or accommodation separately.
Walking Naramachi's streets alone does not incur Gangoji admission. Meals and other paid facilities are extra. Shorten sightseeing before an early departure.
Included: Horyuji JPY 2,000 + Gangoji regular admission JPY 700 (replaced by JPY 800 on 24 October–15 November 2026)
Additional costs: The following costs are excluded: Return JR Nara–Horyuji travel, other transport, accommodation, meals and final departure.
Adult admission totals JPY 2,700: Horyuji JPY 2,000 + Gangoji regular admission JPY 700. During Gangoji's 24 October–15 November 2026 autumn exhibition, JPY 800 replaces regular admission, bringing the total to JPY 2,800. Return JR Nara–Horyuji travel, other transport, accommodation, meals and final departure are excluded; check JR times and fares for your date. If walking the streets without entering Gangoji, confirmed admission is Horyuji's JPY 2,000; other paid facilities are extra. Horyuji's combined ticket is cash-only, with admission ending 30 minutes before seasonal closing time.
Official Nara Prefecture Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursNara City tourism association hours and feesOfficial Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibitionOfficial Horyuji combined ticket, cash payment and admission cutoff
Frequently asked questions
Is Kasugataisha's special visit included in basic costs?
No. The two-day itinerary for the park, hall and shrine A totals JPY 800 for the Great Buddha Hall and free general worship. Main-sanctuary special visits cost JPY 700 extra; check 9 am–4 pm access and ritual suspensions. The treasure museum, botanical garden, transport, accommodation and meals are also extra.
Official Kasugataisha worship and exit-specific accessOfficial Todai-ji visitor guidance
Official sources and check dates
- Approach to Todai-ji ·
- Official Todai-ji visitor guidance ·
- Japanese opening and suspension guidance ·
- Official JR journey search ·
- Station platform guidance ·
- Tourist office's exit-specific access ·
- Official Nara Prefecture Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Official temple access ·
- Nara City tourism association hours and fees ·
- Official Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition ·
- Official Gangoji guidance distinguishing two temples ·
- Official Kasugataisha worship and exit-specific access ·
- Official Horyuji combined ticket, cash payment and admission cutoff ·