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Which Nara attractions will you choose?

Start in Nara Park for a close view of the Great Buddha or a lantern-lined shrine approach. Horyuji's old wooden buildings and Ishibutai's huge stone chamber lie outside Nara City, requiring separate rail or bus journeys.

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Attraction fees, hours and access

Attraction

Todai-ji

東大寺

Choose the Great Buddha Hall to see Nara's Great Buddha up close. For museum exhibitions, compare the two-facility combined ticket. Other halls have separate admission fees.

  • AdmissionGreat Buddha Hall admission costs JPY 800 for visitors of junior secondary school age and above and JPY 400 for primary-school students. A combined ticket for the hall and museum costs JPY 1,200 for visitors of junior secondary school age and above and JPY 600 for primary-school students. Payment is in cash. Other halls are excluded.
  • HoursThe Great Buddha Hall opens from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm from April to October and from 8 am to 5 pm from November to March.
  • Getting thereWalk towards Noborioji from Kintetsu-Nara Station for about 20 minutes. Alternatively, take a loop bus from JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara to Todaiji Daibutsuden–Kasugataisha-mae, then walk about five minutes. These are Todai-ji approach times; movement and queues to the hall desk are extra.
  • Conditions for extra visitsThe museum opens from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm from April to October (last entry at 5 pm), and from 9:30 am to 5 pm from November to March (last entry at 4:30 pm). These differ from the Great Buddha Hall's hours; check notices for your date.

Official Todai-ji visitor guidanceApproach to Todai-jiOfficial Todai-ji visitor guidance

Read more about Todai-ji →Official visitor guidanceAccessTwo days, one night A: Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara ParkThree days, two nights A: Nara Park and HoryujiThree days, two nights B: Nara Park and Asuka's tombFour days, three nights A: two park days and one at HoryujiFour days, three nights B: two Nara City days and Asuka return tripFive days, four nights A: separate park, Horyuji and Asuka daysFive days, four nights B: park and exhibitions, then move towards Asuka
Attraction

Kasugataisha Shrine

春日大社

Visit Kasugataisha for lantern-lined approaches and red shrine buildings. General worship is free. A JPY 700 main-sanctuary special visit lets you explore hanging lanterns in the corridors, subject to suspension dates and times for rituals.

  • AdmissionGeneral worship is free; a main-sanctuary special visit costs JPY 700. Treasure museum and botanical garden fees are also separate.
  • HoursGeneral worship is available from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm from March to October and from 7 am to 5 pm from November to February. Special visits run 9 am–4 pm, subject to ritual suspension dates and times.
  • Getting thereThe shrine is about 25 minutes' walk from Kintetsu-Nara. From JR or Kintetsu-Nara, a Kasugataisha Honden-bound bus arrives at Kasugataisha Honden stop. The official three-minute walk from that stop is to the botanical garden's main gate and Kasuga Ninai Jaya, not the main sanctuary. Allow separate time through the grounds and for queues at general worship.
  • Conditions for extra visitsRituals can suspend special visits on particular dates and at particular times. General worship has separate hours even after special-visit admission ends.

Japanese opening and suspension guidanceEnglish access guidanceOfficial Kasugataisha worship and exit-specific access

Read more about Kasugataisha Shrine →Official Kasugataisha lanterns and red shrine buildingsJapanese opening and suspension guidanceEnglish access guidanceTwo days, one night A: Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara ParkFour days, three nights A: two park days and one at HoryujiFour days, three nights B: two Nara City days and Asuka return tripFive days, four nights A: separate park, Horyuji and Asuka daysFive days, four nights B: park and exhibitions, then move towards Asuka
Attraction

Horyuji Temple

法隆寺

Visit Horyuji in Ikaruga (斑鳩) for old wooden architecture and Buddhist statues. See the five-storey pagoda and main hall, then Buddhist art in Daihozoin. The adult combined ticket is JPY 2,000, paid in cash. Add time in the grounds to the station-to-south-gate walk; give it a proper visit rather than a brief gap on arrival day.

  • AdmissionThe western precinct, Daihozoin and eastern precinct combined ticket is JPY 2,000 for adults, university and senior secondary students, JPY 1,700 for junior secondary students and JPY 1,000 for primary-school students. Admission is cash-only. Group rates require 30 or more people.
  • HoursHoryuji opens from 8 am to 5 pm from 22 February to 3 November and from 8 am to 4:30 pm from 4 November to 21 February. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing; some facilities may be inaccessible close to closing time.
  • Getting thereTake the Yamatoji Line from JR Nara to Horyuji, then walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the south gate. In the tourist office's exit-specific guidance, distinguish this walk from the south-exit bus route. Check bus operation and fares for your date separately if using it.
  • Conditions for extra visitsOfficial admission fees were revised on 1 March 2025. Movement between the western precinct, Daihozoin and eastern precinct, and visits to each area, are extra to the station-to-south-gate walk.

Official Horyuji combined ticket, cash payment and admission cutoffTourist office's exit-specific accessOfficial Nara Prefecture Horyuji fees and seasonal hours

Read more about Horyuji Temple →Official Horyuji visitor guidanceTourist office's exit-specific accessOfficial Nara Prefecture fees and hoursTwo days, one night B: focus on HoryujiThree days, two nights A: Nara Park and HoryujiFour days, three nights A: two park days and one at HoryujiFive days, four nights A: separate park, Horyuji and Asuka days
Attraction

Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Gangoji Temple元興寺（極楽坊）

Add Gangoji (Gokurakubo) to a Naramachi lane walk for a temple visit. Paid admission gives access to the grounds containing Gokurakudo Hall. This World Heritage Gangoji is at 11 Nakaincho; the Gangoji pagoda site in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple.

  • AdmissionRegular adult admission costs JPY 700. The autumn special exhibition on 24 October–15 November 2026 costs JPY 800. This differs from walking nearby streets without entering the grounds.
  • HoursGangoji opens from 9 am to 5 pm, with admission until 4:30 pm. Recheck operation for special events or exhibitions.
  • Getting thereGangoji (Gokurakubo), 11 Nakaincho, is about 20 minutes' walk from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara. These describe temple access; the walk to the admission desk and time exploring the streets are extra.
  • Conditions for extra visitsGangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakaincho, separate from the Gangoji pagoda site in Shibashinyacho. During the autumn exhibition, check its replacement fee rather than regular admission.

Official temple accessNara City tourism association hours and feesOfficial Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition

Read more about Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo) →Official temple accessNara City tourism association hours and feesTwo days, one night B: focus on Horyuji
Attraction

Ishibutai Tumulus

石舞台古墳

Visit Ishibutai Tumulus in Asuka (明日香) for a close view of an ancient tomb built from huge stones. Its earth covering has disappeared, exposing the stone chamber and how the blocks fit together. Admission costs JPY 500 at the general and university student rate. For public transport, take a bus from Kashiharajingu-mae and check the return service.

  • AdmissionIndividual rates revised on 1 April 2026 are JPY 500 for adults and JPY 200 for primary and secondary students. Preschool children enter free. Group rates require 30 or more people.
  • HoursIshibutai opens year-round from 9 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4:45 pm.
  • Getting thereAt Kashiharajingu-mae east-exit stand 2, take a bus stopping at Ishibutai. National park guidance gives about three minutes' walk from the stop to the tomb. Match return buses and rail connections for your date separately. Adult east-exit–Ishibutai fares are JPY 440 one way or JPY 880 return. The village timetable used for weekday examples is valid 1 September 2026–31 March 2027; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays use a separate table.
  • Conditions for extra visitsThe park car park is restricted to bicycles and motorbikes on 19 September–15 November 2026. If arriving by car, check other parking and fees.

Asuka tourism association: current Ishibutai fees and hoursNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walkOfficial village timetable, 1 September 2026–31 March 2027Current Nara Kotsu guidanceIshibutai accessCurrent national park guidance

Read more about Ishibutai Tumulus →National park: Ishibutai's exposed stone chamberAsuka tourism association: current Ishibutai fees and hoursNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walkThree days, two nights B: Nara Park and Asuka's tombFour days, three nights B: two Nara City days and Asuka return tripFive days, four nights A: separate park, Horyuji and Asuka daysFive days, four nights B: park and exhibitions, then move towards Asuka

Frequently asked questions

Do the Great Buddha Hall and museum have the same hours?

No. Hall hours are 7:30 am–5:30 pm from April to October and 8 am–5 pm from November to March. Museum hours are 9:30 am–5:30 pm from April to October (last entry 5 pm), and 9:30 am–5 pm from November to March (last entry 4:30 pm). Check date-specific facility notices.

Official Todai-ji visitor guidance

Two Gangoji locations appear in search: which one?

Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakaincho, Nara City. The Gangoji pagoda site in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple; check the map address as well as the name.

Official Gangoji guidance distinguishing two temples

Official sources and check dates