Where should you stay and what should you see in Nara?
Look near Kintetsu Nara for park/shrine walks, or JR Nara for Horyuji returns. Match Asuka buses/returns first and give it a separate day.
Great Buddha Hall, shrine, temple or tomb?
Start in Nara Park for the Great Buddha and lantern-lined shrine approaches. Horyuji wooden architecture and Ishibutai's huge stone chamber lie outside Nara city, requiring separate rail/bus trips.
Itineraries by duration
Departure stations/bases differ for walking hall/shrine visits versus a Horyuji/Asuka day. Select routes below for daily visits, returns and included costs. Airport travel and final departures cost extra.
2 days, 1 night
Stay near Kintetsu Nara for separate park/shrine walking days, or JR Nara for day 1 Horyuji. Reduce day 2 sightseeing to fit departure.
3 days, 2 nights
See Nara Park on day 1 and choose Horyuji/Asuka on day 2. A short Naramachi walk can fit the last day.
4 days, 3 nights
Give hall/art and shrine a day each. Day 3 visits Horyuji/Asuka and returns to the same Nara accommodation.
5 days, 4 nights
Compare four Nara nights with separate Horyuji/Asuka returns against two Nara/two Kashihara nights. A stays four Nara nights; B splits two/two. Moving to Kashihara removes a Nara city return after Asuka.
Accommodation bases
Around Kintetsu Nara Station
Nara City · 奈良市 (Nara Prefecture · 奈良県)
Stay here for walks to Nara Park and Kasugataisha Shrine. JR Nara is a separate station; allow additional travel there for a Horyuji day.
Around JR Nara Station
Consider this area for Horyuji by JR or JR travel to other cities. Todai-ji requires city buses or a separate walking route.
Todai-ji approachTourist information access by exitOfficial temple access
Around Kashiharajingumae Station
Compare moving accommodation here to reduce train travel back to Nara city after Asuka. First confirm your new accommodation’s storage/check-in and station access.
Before travelling or booking
Which station should I use for Horyuji?
Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara are separate. Travel from JR Nara to Horyuji, then walk approximately twenty minutes from the north exit to Nandaimon. This excludes temple visits, meals and station return walks; check return trains first.
Check Asuka buses and trains separately
Take an Ishibutai service from Kashiharajingumae east bay 2 and return there. Adult buses ¥440 each way/¥880 return; relevant loop-bus day pass ¥750 excludes Kintetsu trains. Weekday-example timetable applies 2026-09-01–2027-03-31; weekends/public holidays use another table. Check actual train/bus connections from Nara for your date.
Current Nara Kotsu guidanceOfficial village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31
Departure-day walks in Kashihara
Kashihara Jingu is approximately ten minutes from Kashiharajingumae central exit, distinct from Asuka buses' east exit. This proposes an approach return walk only. Grounds, special worship and Treasure Hall are neither included nor counted free; confirm extra costs and same-day scope with the shrine.
Separate city walks from visits outside Nara
Focus on Nara Park/Naramachi for hall, shrine and old streets. Add Horyuji in Ikaruga for wooden architecture or Ishibutai in Asuka for huge-stone tombs. Both lie outside Nara city and need travel time separate from city walks.
Nara Park: Great Buddha Hall and shrine worship
See the Great Buddha and walk lantern-lined shrine approaches. From Kintetsu Nara, Todai-ji is approximately twenty minutes towards Noborioji; Kasugataisha Shrine approximately twenty-five. Grounds walks/reception queues are extra. For a day each plus art, see three-night routes.
Todai-ji approachOfficial Kasuga worship and access by exitOfficial Kasuga lantern/red shrine building guidance
Naramachi · ならまち
Walk south of Kintetsu Nara for old merchant houses, small shops and cafés. For streets and Gangoji (Gokurakubo), use the temple at 11 Nakanoin-cho as your destination. Street walks and paid temple admission are separate; allow station returns on departure day.
Official prefectural Naramachi neighbourhood and walking accessOfficial temple access
Horyuji: Ikaruga return by JR
Visit for the five-storey pagoda, Kondo and Buddhist art. Take a Yamatoji train stopping at Horyuji from JR Nara, then walk approximately twenty minutes from the north exit to Nandaimon. Allow all three visiting areas and station returns.
Tourist information access by exitOfficial Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoffOfficial prefectural Horyuji Kondo, five-storey pagoda and Buddhist art
Asuka: tomb visit and Kashihara return
Visit Ishibutai for an exposed huge stone chamber. Take Kintetsu to Kashiharajingumae, then an east-exit bus. Nara-based routes connect return buses with Nara trains; moved-accommodation routes return to the same Kashihara property.
Kintetsu lines and transfer stationsOfficial Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day passNational park Ishibutai exposed stone chamber
Official prefectural Naramachi neighbourhood and walking accessTourist information access by exitNational park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidanceOfficial Kasuga lantern/red shrine building guidanceOfficial prefectural Horyuji Kondo, five-storey pagoda and Buddhist artNational park Ishibutai exposed stone chamber
Check your departure station
| Section | Main travel sequence | Official access and visit-date search |
|---|---|---|
| Kintetsu Nara to Todai-ji | Twenty-minute Noborioji walk, grounds access, then hall reception | Todai-ji approach and stop guidance |
| JR Nara to Horyuji | Yamatoji to Horyuji, north exit, then twenty-minute Nandaimon walk | Horyuji Station access by exit |
| Nara station areas to Gangoji (Gokurakubo) | 11 Nakanoin-cho: approximately fifteen minutes from Kintetsu Nara/twenty from JR Nara | Official temple access |
| Kashiharajingumae to Ishibutai | East-exit bus, Ishibutai stop, tomb visit, then return to the same station | Asuka bus fares and operation |
Todai-ji approachTourist information access by exitOfficial temple accessOfficial Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day pass
Continue exploring
Horyuji: JR
Search actual-date JR Nara–Horyuji returns, distinct from Kintetsu Nara departures.
Asuka: Kintetsu and buses
Use Kintetsu from Nara to Kashiharajingumae, then Nara Kotsu east-exit buses to Ishibutai. Check railway/bus fares and returns separately.
Where to eat in Nara city
Find meal candidates for park/Naramachi days. On Horyuji/Asuka days, eat within that day's area and check returns.
Official prefectural Naramachi neighbourhood and walking access
What should you eat in Nara?
Kakinoha-zushi wrapped in persimmon leaves
Kakinoha-zushi · 柿の葉寿司 wraps salted mackerel and sushi rice in persimmon leaves and presses them. It is a traditional Nara dish from Gojo and Yoshino, also sold as gifts. Compare fish varieties, sets and prices by shop.
Agriculture ministry: Nara kakinoha sushi ingredients and traditional areas
Chagayu rice porridge with hojicha
Chagayu · 茶粥 cooks rice in roasted hojicha tea. Nara's version is watery and thin. For a meal different from sushi, check menus and each restaurant's availability/accompaniments.
Agriculture ministry: Nara chagayu ingredients and eating methods
Agriculture ministry: Nara kakinoha sushi ingredients and traditional areasAgriculture ministry: Nara chagayu ingredients and eating methods
Separate admission from rail/bus costs
Below are adult costs for chosen facilities/sections, not a total including accommodation, meals and airport travel. Do not add every facility to the same route.
Ordinary tickets work without a pass
Horyuji uses JR, outside Kintetsu coverage. Asuka bus day passes and Kintetsu rail tickets are separate products. Compare the five-day pass's actual rail sections, valid dates and eligibility with ordinary tickets; distinguish the five-day Plus version including Asuka buses.
Official Kintetsu five-day pass prices/rail coverage/limited express exclusionsOfficial Kintetsu pass eligibility, passports and digital ticketsOfficial Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day pass
| Choice | Confirmed cost | Included/excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Hall only or hall/art museum | ¥800 or combined ¥1,200 | Other halls, transport, accommodation and meals extra |
| Horyuji combined ticket | Adults ¥2,000 in cash | Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan. JR return extra |
| Kashiharajingumae east–Ishibutai buses | ¥440 one way/¥880 return, or relevant day pass ¥750 | The relevant return costs ¥130 less with the day pass. Rail/tomb admission extra |
| Kintetsu five-day pass | Adults ¥4,900 for five consecutive days | Kintetsu/Iga Railway coverage. JR, Asuka buses with the standard pass, limited express, facilities and accommodation extra |
Official Todai-ji visitor informationOfficial Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoffOfficial Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day passOfficial Kintetsu five-day pass prices/rail coverage/limited express exclusionsOfficial Kintetsu pass eligibility, passports and digital tickets
Check Nara camera filming locations first
The prefectural camera list covers other cities/towns as well as city temples. Check filming location/source update time and choose a view near your visit. This list alone does not establish interior views at the five attractions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I treat JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara as the same departure station?
They are separate. Horyuji uses JR Nara–Horyuji trains; park walks start at Kintetsu Nara. Choose accommodation with your railway and actual departure station in mind.
Can I walk from Nara Park to Horyuji and Asuka?
Use rail/buses. Horyuji requires JR Nara–Horyuji followed by walking; Ishibutai requires Kintetsu to Kashiharajingumae and a bus. For both, see four Nara nights with separate return days, route A.
Tourist information access by exitOfficial Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day pass
Official sources and check dates
- Todai-ji approach ·
- Ishibutai access ·
- Official Todai-ji visitor information ·
- English access guidance ·
- Tourist information access by exit ·
- Official temple access ·
- Official JR search ·
- Current Nara Kotsu guidance ·
- Official village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31 ·
- Shrine exit and hour guidance ·
- Kintetsu ·
- Nara Kotsu ·
- National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance ·
- Kintetsu lines and transfer stations ·
- Todai-ji approach ·
- Tourist information access by exit ·
- Official Kasuga worship and access by exit ·
- Official Asuka sightseeing bus section fares and day pass ·
- Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff ·
- Official prefectural Naramachi neighbourhood and walking access ·
- Agriculture ministry: Nara kakinoha sushi ingredients and traditional areas ·
- Agriculture ministry: Nara chagayu ingredients and eating methods ·
- Official Kasuga lantern/red shrine building guidance ·
- Official prefectural Horyuji Kondo, five-storey pagoda and Buddhist art ·
- National park Ishibutai exposed stone chamber ·