Two days in Nara: choose park/shrine or Horyuji
Stay one Kintetsu Nara night for Great Buddha and shrine approach visits on separate days. For wooden architecture/statues, use JR Nara as a base for day 1 Horyuji. Add day 2 Gangoji/Naramachi only if departure leaves time.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
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 and give each a day. Shorten second-day worship for an early departure.
Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara Park →2 days, 1 night BFocus on Horyuji
Give day 1 to Horyuji's wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara and return from Horyuji. If departure leaves time on day 2, visit Gangoji/Naramachi.
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 and give each a day. Shorten second-day worship for an early departure.
Day 1: Kintetsu Nara to the Great Buddha Hall
Start at Kintetsu Nara Station. Travel to this station and airport returns are excluded.
- Kintetsu Nara Station → Todai-ji approach
Walk east along Noborioji-cho towards Todai-ji. The official approximately twenty-minute estimate describes station-to-temple access, not a confirmed time to the Great Buddha Hall ticket office.
- Todai-ji approach → Great Buddha Hall reception
Follow grounds signs to reception, adding internal walking and queues to station/bus-stop access time.
- Great Buddha Hall reception → Great Buddha Hall visit
Pay adult admission ¥800 in cash at reception and visit. Hours 07:30–17:30 April–October; 08:00–17:00 November–March. Events/emergencies may change access; check visit-date notices.
- After the hall → Kintetsu Nara Station
Retrace the approach to Kintetsu Nara. The official twenty-minute estimate describes station-to-Todai-ji access; do not reuse it as a hall-exit-to-station return time. If switching to buses, check actual-date boarding points, fares and return services separately.
For late day 1 arrivals, shorten the visit for hall closing and reception queues. Choose meals/rest around the park or station afterwards.
Day 2: visit Kasugataisha Shrine
Follow the lantern-lined approach to Kasugataisha Shrine. If departure time is short, omit special worship or the shrine visit.
- Kintetsu Nara Station → Kasugataisha Shrine approach
Walk to the shrine. Official approximately twenty-five-minute guidance describes station-to-shrine access, not a confirmed time to the ordinary worship area or special admission reception.
- Kasugataisha Shrine approach → Worship at the ordinary worship area
Follow grounds signs to the worship area, allowing separate internal walking/waits. Ordinary worship is free; hours 06:30–17:30 March–October and 07:00–17:00 November–February.
- After ordinary worship → Optional main-sanctuary special worship
For special worship, check visit-date suspension notices and on-site reception. Main-sanctuary special admission ¥700, 09:00–16:00, may suspend for ceremonies. Skip if suspended or departure time is short.
- After Kasugataisha Shrine → Kintetsu Nara Station
Retrace the approach to Kintetsu Nara. Official twenty-five-minute guidance describes shrine access; do not reuse it as worship-area-to-station return or whole return-trip time.
Special worship adds ¥700. Fit meals/rest on the return towards the station after worship.
Included: Great Buddha Hall ¥800 + ordinary Kasuga worship ¥0
Extra costs: Kasuga special worship/National Treasure Hall/botanical garden, all transport, accommodation, meals and final departures
Adult cash Great Buddha Hall admission ¥800 and free ordinary Kasuga worship total ¥800. Operating-day special worship adds ¥700 for ¥1,500. Omit this option on suspension dates. National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, all transport, accommodation, meals and final departures are extra.
Official Todai-ji visitor informationJapanese operating/suspension dates
Focus on Horyuji
Give day 1 to Horyuji's wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara and return from Horyuji. If departure leaves time on day 2, visit Gangoji/Naramachi.
Day 1: Horyuji return by JR
Start at JR Nara. Travel to this station and airport returns are excluded.
- JR Nara Station → JR Horyuji Station
Take a Yamatoji Line train towards Tennoji stopping at Horyuji. Check visit-date outward/arrival times, fares and return in the official JR search.
- JR Horyuji north exit → Horyuji Nandaimon Gate
Leave the north exit and walk approximately twenty minutes to Nandaimon. Travel from the gate to paid reception and queues are extra.
- Horyuji Nandaimon Gate → Paid admission reception
Individual adult combined admission for Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan is ¥2,000, payable in cash. Hours 08:00–17:00 on 22 February–3 November; 08:00–16:30 on 4 November–21 February. Reception ends thirty minutes before closing; late visits may miss some facilities. Allow separate grounds walking and visits.
Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff
- After admission reception → Horyuji visit
Visit Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan included in the combined ticket. Allow internal walking; some facilities may be inaccessible shortly before closing.
Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff
- After Horyuji → JR Horyuji Station
Exit towards Nandaimon and retrace the walk to JR Horyuji. Official twenty-minute guidance is north-exit-to-gate access; do not apply it directly to returns from visiting areas.
- JR Horyuji Station → JR Nara Station
Take a Nara-bound train to JR Nara. Official station guidance gives platform 2 for Nara/Kizu/Kamo, but follow that day's displays/signs. Check actual-date return departure/arrival and fare in the official JR search.
Allow return trains, platforms, north-exit–Nandaimon walks and grounds visits together. Fit lunch/rest before or after visiting. Horyuji reception ends thirty minutes before closing; late arrivals may miss some facilities.
Day 2: Gangoji and Naramachi
Choose paid Gangoji admission or Naramachi street walks. Reduce visit scope for early departure.
- JR Nara Station → Gangoji approach
Walk to the temple's official address, 11 Nakanoin-cho. JR Nara's approximately twenty-minute walk is temple access guidance, not confirmed reception time. Distinguish the same-name temple/pagoda site in Shibashinya-cho.
Official temple accessOfficial Gangoji distinction between two temples
- Gangoji approach → Admission reception
Follow on-site signs to reception. Regular adult admission is ¥700. During the 24 October–15 November 2026 autumn special exhibition, ¥800 includes admission and replaces ¥700 rather than adding to it.
Nara tourism association hours and feesOfficial prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition
- After Gangoji reception → Gangoji visit
Visit the grounds containing Gokurakudo after reception. Hours 09:00–17:00, reception until 16:30; the stated special exhibition uses the same hours. Omit paid visits for early departures.
Nara tourism association hours and feesOfficial prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition
- After Gangoji or your chosen walk endpoint → Return towards JR Nara
Return towards JR Nara after exhibits or street walks. Official twenty-minute guidance describes station-to-temple access. Check time from your chosen walk endpoint to station/accommodation separately.
Naramachi street-only walks require no Gangoji admission. Meals/other paid facilities are extra. Reduce exhibits or walks for early departures.
Included: Horyuji ¥2,000 + regular Gangoji ¥700 (replaced by ¥800 on 24 October–15 November 2026)
Extra costs: JR Nara–Horyuji return and other transport, accommodation, meals and final departures
Horyuji adult admission ¥2,000 + regular Gangoji ¥700 total ¥2,700. The 24 October–15 November 2026 special exhibition replaces Gangoji's fee with admission-inclusive ¥800, making the total ¥2,800. JR Nara–Horyuji returns and all other transport, accommodation, meals and final departures are excluded; check visit-date JR times/fares officially. Street-only walks without paid Gangoji leave confirmed facility costs at Horyuji ¥2,000; other paid additions cost extra. Horyuji combined tickets require cash and reception ends thirty minutes before seasonal closing.
Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursNara tourism association hours and feesOfficial prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibitionOfficial Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff
Frequently asked questions
Is Kasuga special worship included in basic costs?
No. One-night, two-day route A's ¥800 admission total covers the hall and free ordinary worship. Special main-sanctuary worship costs another ¥700; check 09:00–16:00 access and ceremony suspensions. National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, transport, accommodation and meals extra.
Official Kasuga worship and access by exitOfficial Todai-ji visitor information
Official sources and check dates
- Todai-ji approach ·
- Official Todai-ji visitor information ·
- Japanese operating/suspension dates ·
- Official JR search ·
- Platform guidance ·
- Tourist information access by exit ·
- Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Official temple access ·
- Nara tourism association hours and fees ·
- Official prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition ·
- Official Gangoji distinction between two temples ·
- Official Kasuga worship and access by exit ·
- Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff ·