Which Nara attractions should you choose?

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.

Attraction prices, hours and access

Attractions

Todai-ji

東大寺

Choose the Great Buddha Hall to see Nara's Great Buddha closely. For art exhibits, compare the two-facility combined ticket. Other halls charge separately.

AdmissionHall: junior high and older ¥800; elementary students ¥400. Hall/art combined ticket: junior high and older ¥1,200; elementary ¥600, payable in cash. Other halls excluded.
HoursApril–October 07:30–17:30; November–March 08:00–17:00. These are Great Buddha Hall hours.
Getting thereWalk approximately twenty minutes from Kintetsu Nara towards Noborioji, or take a loop bus from JR/Kintetsu Nara to Todaiji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae for a five-minute walk. These describe Todai-ji access; hall reception walks/waits are extra.
Additional visit conditionsArt 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 information2026-10-08Todai-ji approach2026-10-08Official Todai-ji visitor information2026-10-09

Visit Todai-ji →Official visitor information Access 1 night, 2 days A: see the park's hall and shrine route 2 nights, 3 days A: see Nara Park and Horyuji 2 nights, 3 days B: see Nara Park and Asuka tombs 3 nights, 4 days A: see two park days and one Horyuji day 3 nights, 4 days B: see two city days and an Asuka return 4 nights, 5 days A: see separate park, Horyuji and Asuka days 4 nights, 5 days B: see park/exhibits and an accommodation move towards Asuka

Attractions

Kasugataisha Shrine

春日大社

Visit for lantern-lined approaches and red shrine buildings. Ordinary worship is free. Special main-sanctuary worship, ¥700, includes viewing hanging corridor lanterns, but may suspend at particular dates/times for ceremonies.

AdmissionOrdinary worship free; main-sanctuary special worship ¥700. National Treasure Hall/botanical garden charge separately.
HoursOrdinary worship 06:30–17:30 March–October, 07:00–17:00 November–February. Special worship 09:00–16:00 with ceremony suspension dates/times.
Getting thereApproximately twenty-five minutes from Kintetsu Nara to the shrine. From JR or Kintetsu Nara, a Kasuga Taisha Honden bus uses its namesake stop. Official three-minute guidance after alighting is for the botanical garden main gate/Kasuga Ninai-jaya, distinct from main-sanctuary access. Allow ordinary-worship grounds walks/waits separately.
Additional visit conditionsSpecial worship may suspend for ceremonies. Ordinary worship has separate hours even after special reception ends.

Japanese operating/suspension dates2026-10-08English access guidance2026-10-08Official Kasuga worship and access by exit2026-10-09

Visit Kasugataisha Shrine →Official Kasuga lantern/red shrine building guidance Japanese operating/suspension dates English access guidance 1 night, 2 days A: see the park's hall and shrine route 3 nights, 4 days A: see two park days and one Horyuji day 3 nights, 4 days B: see two city days and an Asuka return 4 nights, 5 days A: see separate park, Horyuji and Asuka days 4 nights, 5 days B: see park/exhibits and an accommodation move towards Asuka

Attractions

Horyuji Temple

法隆寺

Visit Horyuji in Ikaruga · 斑鳩 for old wooden architecture and Buddhist statues. See the five-storey pagoda/Kondo and Buddhist art in Daihozoin. Adult combined admission ¥2,000 in cash. Station-to-Nandaimon walks need additional grounds visit time; give this a separate visit rather than a short arrival-day gap.

AdmissionSaiin Garan/Daihozoin/Toin Garan combined ticket: adults/university/high school students ¥2,000; junior high ¥1,700; elementary ¥1,000. Cash only; distinct from group rates for thirty or more.
Hours22 February–3 November 08:00–17:00; 4 November–21 February 08:00–16:30. Reception ends thirty minutes before closing; some facilities may be inaccessible near gate closing.
Getting thereTake the Yamatoji Line from JR Nara to Horyuji, then walk approximately twenty minutes from the north exit to Nandaimon. Distinguish tourist-information guidance for south-exit buses. Bus use requires separate visit-date operation/fares.
Additional visit conditionsOfficial visitor guidance dates the price revision to 1 March 2025. Walking between the combined ticket's three areas and visiting them are separate from station-to-gate walks.

Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff2026-10-09Tourist information access by exit2026-10-08Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hours2026-10-08

Visit Horyuji Temple →Official Horyuji visitor information Tourist information access by exit Official prefectural fees and hours 1 night, 2 days B: focus on Horyuji 2 nights, 3 days A: see Nara Park and Horyuji 3 nights, 4 days A: see two park days and one Horyuji day 4 nights, 5 days A: see separate park, Horyuji and Asuka days

Attractions

Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Gangoji Temple元興寺（極楽坊）

Visit Gangoji during Naramachi walks for temple buildings. Paid admission includes grounds containing Gokurakudo. World Heritage Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakanoin-cho; the Gangoji pagoda site in Shibashinya-cho is a separate temple.

AdmissionRegular adult admission ¥700; ¥800 during the 24 October–15 November 2026 autumn exhibition. Distinguish this from surrounding street walks without entering.
Hours09:00–17:00, reception until 16:30. Recheck operation for special events/exhibitions.
Getting thereGangoji (Gokurakubo), 11 Nakanoin-cho, is approximately twenty minutes from JR Nara/fifteen from Kintetsu Nara. These are temple approach estimates; reception access and street walks are extra.
Additional visit conditionsGangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakanoin-cho, separate from the Shibashinya-cho pagoda site. During the autumn exhibition, use that period's admission instead of regular fees.

Official temple access2026-10-08Nara tourism association hours and fees2026-10-08Official prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition2026-10-08

Visit Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo) →Official temple access Nara tourism association hours and fees 1 night, 2 days B: focus on Horyuji

Attractions

Ishibutai Tumulus

石舞台古墳

Visit Ishibutai Tumulus in Asuka · 明日香 for a close look at an old tomb made from huge stones. Its earth covering has disappeared, exposing the stone chamber and interlocking large stones. Adult/university admission ¥500. Public transport uses buses from Kashiharajingumae; check returns together.

AdmissionIndividual prices revised 1 April 2026: adults ¥500; elementary/junior/senior high students ¥200; preschool children free. Distinct from group rates for thirty or more.
Hours09:00–17:00, last admission 16:45. Operates year-round.
Getting thereTake an Ishibutai-stopping bus from Kashiharajingumae east-exit bay 2. National park guidance gives approximately three minutes from stop to tomb. Match return buses/rail separately for your date. Adult fare ¥440 each way/¥880 return. The village weekday-example timetable applies 2026-09-01–2027-03-31; weekends/public holidays use another table.
Additional visit conditionsPark parking is bicycle/motorcycle-only on 19 September–15 November 2026. Drivers should check other car parks and fees.

Asuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hours2026-10-08National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance2026-10-08Official village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-312026-10-08Current Nara Kotsu guidance2026-10-08Ishibutai access2026-10-08Current national park guidance2026-10-08

Visit Ishibutai Tumulus →National park Ishibutai exposed stone chamber Asuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hours National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance 2 nights, 3 days B: see Nara Park and Asuka tombs 3 nights, 4 days B: see two city days and an Asuka return 4 nights, 5 days A: see separate park, Horyuji and Asuka days 4 nights, 5 days B: see park/exhibits and an accommodation move towards Asuka

Frequently asked questions

Do the Great Buddha Hall and art museum share hours?

No. Hall 07:30–17:30 April–October, 08:00–17:00 November–March. Art museum 09:30–17:30 April–October, last admission 17:00; 09:30–17:00 November–March, last admission 16:30. Check visit-date notices.

Official Todai-ji visitor information2026-10-09

Which of two Gangoji search results should I use?

Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakanoin-cho, Nara city. The Shibashinya-cho pagoda site is a separate temple; check address as well as map name.

Official Gangoji distinction between two temples2026-10-09

Official sources and check dates

Todai-ji approach · 2026-10-08
Ishibutai access · 2026-10-08
Official Todai-ji visitor information · 2026-10-08
Japanese operating/suspension dates · 2026-10-08
English access guidance · 2026-10-08
Tourist information access by exit · 2026-10-08
Official temple access · 2026-10-08
Nara tourism association hours and fees · 2026-10-08
Current national park guidance · 2026-10-08
Current Nara Kotsu guidance · 2026-10-08
Official village timetable for 2026-09-01–2027-03-31 · 2026-10-08
Asuka tourism association current Ishibutai fees/hours · 2026-10-08
National park 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking guidance · 2026-10-08
Official prefectural Horyuji fees and seasonal hours · 2026-10-08
Official prefectural Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition · 2026-10-08
Official Todai-ji visitor information · 2026-10-09
Official Gangoji distinction between two temples · 2026-10-09
Official Kasuga worship and access by exit · 2026-10-09
Official Horyuji combined tickets, cash and reception cutoff · 2026-10-09