Would you like separate exhibit and worship days?
Separate hall/art and shrine approach days, then visit nearby areas on day 3. Base near JR Nara for Horyuji architecture or Kintetsu Nara for Asuka tombs. Walk Naramachi on the last day if time remains.
Choose a 4 days, 3 nights itinerary
Two Nara Park days and one Horyuji day
Give hall/art, shrine and Horyuji separate days. Stay three nights near JR Nara and walk Naramachi on departure day.
Two Nara Park days and one Horyuji day →4 days, 3 nights BTwo Nara city days and an Asuka return
See exhibits and shrine approaches, then visit Asuka's tomb. Stay three nights near Kintetsu Nara, giving hall/art and shrine a day each.
Two Nara city days and an Asuka return →Two Nara Park days and one Horyuji day
Give hall/art, shrine and Horyuji separate days. Stay three nights near JR Nara and walk Naramachi on departure day.
Day 1: Great Buddha Hall and art museum
Start at JR Nara. Travel to this station and airport returns are excluded.
- JR Nara Station → Todai-ji approach
Take a JR Nara bus stopping at Todaiji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae, then walk approximately five minutes to Todai-ji. This estimates temple access only; allow grounds walking to hall reception and waits separately.
- Great Buddha Hall reception → Hall and chosen art museum
Use the ¥1,200 adult hall/art museum combined ticket, checking museum operation separately. Museum hours: 09:30–17:30 April–October, last admission 17:00; 09:30–17:00 November–March, last admission 16:30. These differ from hall hours; check visit-date notices.
Official Todai-ji visitor informationOfficial Todai-ji visitor information
- Hall and chosen art museum → JR Nara and booked accommodation
Eat near the park, take a JR Nara-bound bus and go to booked accommodation. For late arrivals, reduce the scope to opening hours rather than adding both facilities. Check actual-date bus times/fares officially.
Check hall and museum operation separately. Reduce visit scope if city-bus travel and both facilities do not fit.
Day 2: visit Kasugataisha Shrine
- JR Nara Station → Kasugataisha Shrine approach
Search a JR Nara bus towards Kasuga Taisha Honden and get off at the terminus. Follow signs to ordinary worship. Do not count grounds walks/waits after the Honden stop as the botanical garden's three-minute access estimate.
English access guidanceOfficial Kasuga worship and access by exit
- Kasuga ordinary worship area → Kasuga worship areas
Use free ordinary worship: 06:30–17:30 March–October, 07:00–17:00 November–February. For ¥700 special worship, check 09:00–16:00 access and ceremony suspensions. Choose meals nearby afterwards.
- Kasuga worship areas → Departure station and same accommodation
Return by JR Nara bus to the same accommodation. If special worship is suspended, use ordinary worship only. National Treasure Hall/botanical garden are excluded from basic costs. Check visit-date return times and individual bays officially.
Match JR Nara Honden buses with returns first. Distinguish ordinary worship from separately priced special worship and ceremony suspensions.
Day 3: Horyuji
- JR Nara Station → Horyuji Nandaimon Gate
Take a Yamatoji train stopping at Horyuji from JR Nara. Walk approximately twenty minutes from the north exit to Nandaimon. Choose actual-date return trains officially.
Tourist information access by exitOfficial JR searchPlatform guidance
- Horyuji Nandaimon Gate → Horyuji visiting areas
Adult combined admission to Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan costs ¥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 arrivals may miss some facilities. Allow grounds walking/visits after Nandaimon separately.
Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursOfficial Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff
- Horyuji visiting areas → Departure station and same accommodation
Exit towards Nandaimon and return to JR Horyuji. Check actual-date Nara-bound returns/fares officially and return to the same JR Nara accommodation. South-exit buses require separate date-specific times/fares.
Tourist information access by exitOfficial JR searchPlatform guidance
The twenty-minute Nandaimon estimate is one-way walking from the station. Add temple visits, meals and return walking before choosing JR returns.
Day 4: Naramachi and departure
Take a short street walk if time permits. For early departures, omit it and go directly to the station.
- JR Nara area accommodation → Naramachi streets
Walk Naramachi around Gangoji (Gokurakubo) at 11 Nakanoin-cho. Official walks of approximately twenty minutes from JR Nara/fifteen from Kintetsu Nara describe Gangoji access, not the whole street walk. Interior temple admission is excluded from basic costs.
Official temple accessNara tourism association hours and fees
- Naramachi streets → Return towards the departure station
Go from your walk endpoint to the departure station. Finish walking with time to reach the station and board.
Allow endpoint-to-departure-station travel time.
Included: Hall/art museum combined ticket ¥1,200 + Horyuji ¥2,000 + ordinary Kasuga worship ¥0
Extra costs: JR, city buses, Kasuga special worship/National Treasure Hall/botanical garden, Gangoji interior, accommodation, meals and final departures
Adult admission total ¥3,200; special Kasuga worship adds ¥700 for ¥3,900. JR, city buses, accommodation, meals, National Treasure Hall, botanical garden and final transport excluded. Check actual-date train/bus times/fares separately.
Official Todai-ji visitor informationOfficial prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursJapanese operating/suspension datesOfficial Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff
Two Nara city days and an Asuka return
See exhibits and shrine approaches, then visit Asuka's tomb. Stay three nights near Kintetsu Nara, giving hall/art and shrine a day each.
Day 1: park and Todai-ji exhibits
Start at Kintetsu Nara Station. Travel to this station and airport returns are excluded.
- Kintetsu Nara Station → Todai-ji approach
Walk approximately twenty minutes from Kintetsu Nara towards Noborioji. This estimates Todai-ji access; allow internal walks to hall reception and waits separately.
- Great Buddha Hall reception → Hall and chosen art museum
Choose the ¥1,200 hall/art museum combined ticket. Museum hours: 09:30–17:30 April–October, last admission 17:00; 09:30–17:00 November–March, last admission 16:30. These differ from hall hours; check visit-date notices.
Official Todai-ji visitor informationOfficial Todai-ji visitor information
- Hall and chosen art museum → Booked accommodation near Kintetsu Nara
Eat near the park/station and go to booked Kintetsu Nara accommodation. Check museum and seasonal hall hours separately; reduce visit scope for late arrival.
Check both hall/museum hours. Choose one if late arrival prevents seeing both.
Day 2: shrine and rest
- Kintetsu Nara Station → Kasugataisha Shrine approach
Walk approximately twenty-five minutes from Kintetsu Nara to Kasugataisha Shrine. This estimates shrine access only. Follow grounds signs to ordinary worship, allowing internal walks/waits separately.
- Kasuga ordinary worship area → Kasuga worship areas
Use free ordinary worship. Main-sanctuary special worship costs ¥700 and runs 09:00–16:00, but may be suspended for ceremonies. Add it only after checking visit-date suspensions/reception hours.
- Kasuga worship areas → Departure station and same accommodation
Eat/rest nearby, then retrace your route to accommodation. Switching walks to buses requires separate date-specific operation/fares.
A walking return shrine day from Kintetsu Nara. Add special worship only if hours/ceremonies allow; search bus alternatives separately.
Day 3: Asuka tomb return trip
- Kintetsu Nara Station → Kashiharajingumae Station
Travel via Yamato-Saidaiji from Kintetsu Nara to Kashiharajingumae. Check actual-date train connections separately.
- Kashiharajingumae east-exit bay 2 → Ishibutai bus stop
Take an Asuka Station-bound bus stopping at Ishibutai from east-exit bay 2. Check outward/return services in the weekday or weekend/public-holiday timetable for your date. From Nara city, also allow train-arrival-to-bus-bay time.
Official village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31Current Nara Kotsu guidance
- Ishibutai bus stop → Ishibutai Tumulus
Walk approximately three minutes from Ishibutai stop to the tomb. Hours 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:45. Visit and have lunch.
National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidanceAsuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hours
- Ishibutai Tumulus → Departure station and same accommodation
Return to the stop for Kashiharajingumae, then take Kintetsu back to Nara accommodation. Wind/rain may justify swapping with a city day, but recheck bus weekday/operation conditions for the new date.
Current Nara Kotsu guidanceOfficial village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31Current national park guidanceAsuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hoursNational park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance
Do not use Asuka weekday schedules on weekends/public holidays. Match actual-date Nara return trains with east-exit bus-bay connections.
Day 4: street walks and departure
Take a short street walk if time permits. For early departures, omit it and go directly to the station.
- Kintetsu Nara area accommodation → Naramachi streets
Walk Naramachi around Gangoji (Gokurakubo) at 11 Nakanoin-cho. Official walks of approximately twenty minutes from JR Nara/fifteen from Kintetsu Nara describe Gangoji access, not the whole street walk. Interior temple admission is excluded from basic costs.
- Naramachi streets → Return towards the departure station
Go from your walk endpoint to the departure station. Finish walking with time to reach the station and board.
Allow endpoint-to-departure-station travel time.
Included: Hall/art combined ticket ¥1,200 + Ishibutai ¥500 + Kashiharajingumae east–Ishibutai buses ¥440 each way/¥880 return (replaced by ¥750 for the relevant day pass) + ordinary Kasuga worship ¥0
Extra costs: Kintetsu rail, city buses, Kasuga special worship/National Treasure Hall/botanical garden, Gangoji interior, accommodation, meals and final departures
Adult facilities/Asuka return buses ¥2,580, or ¥2,450 with the relevant bus day pass. Special worship adds ¥700. Kintetsu, accommodation, meals, city buses and final departure excluded. Tomb opens 09:00, last admission 16:45; approximately three minutes from the stop. Match rail connections separately for your date.
Official Todai-ji visitor informationNational park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidanceCurrent Nara Kotsu guidanceJapanese operating/suspension dates
Frequently asked questions
Does a hall/art combined ticket include Hokkedo or Kaidando?
The ¥1,200 ticket is individual junior-high-and-older admission for hall/art only. Hokkedo, Kaidando and other halls charge separately. Both included facilities also have differing seasonal hours/last entry; check before choosing visit order.
Does the Asuka bus day pass include Kintetsu from Nara?
No. It covers buses; Kintetsu and tomb admission are extra. Adult east-exit–Ishibutai return ¥880; relevant day pass ¥750. Transfer from Nara trains to buses, then use separate bus/train returns.
Official sources and check dates
- Todai-ji approach ·
- Official Todai-ji visitor information ·
- Japanese operating/suspension dates ·
- English access guidance ·
- Tourist information access by exit ·
- Official temple access ·
- Nara tourism association hours and fees ·
- Current national park guidance ·
- Official JR search ·
- Platform guidance ·
- Current Nara Kotsu guidance ·
- Official village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31 ·
- Kintetsu ·
- Asuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hours ·
- National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance ·
- Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Kintetsu lines and transfer stations ·
- Official Todai-ji visitor information ·
- 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 ·