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One night in Nara: choose the park and shrine, or Horyuji

Stay one night near Kintetsu-Nara to give the Great Buddha and shrine approach a day each. For historic wooden architecture and Buddhist statues, base yourself near JR Nara and visit Horyuji on day one. Add Gangoji and Naramachi on day two only if time remains before departure.

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Choose a 2 days / 1 night itinerary

2 days / 1 night A

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 place a day. Shorten the shrine visit if you depart early on day two.

Great Buddha Hall and shrine in Nara Park →2 days / 1 night B

Focus on Horyuji

Give day one to Horyuji’s wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara for the return trip; add Gangoji and Naramachi on day two if time before departure permits.

Focus on Horyuji →
2 days / 1 night A

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 place a day. Shorten the shrine visit if you depart early on day two.

Day 1: Kintetsu-Nara to Great Buddha Hall

This course starts at Kintetsu-Nara. Travel to the starting station and return airport transfers are excluded.

  1. Kintetsu-Nara Station → Todaiji access

    Walk east along Noborioji-cho to Todaiji. The official 20-minute estimate reaches the temple; it does not give a confirmed time to the Great Buddha Hall ticket office.

    Todaiji access

  2. Todaiji access → Great Buddha Hall reception

    Follow signs through the grounds to reception. Allow extra time for walking through the grounds and queuing after reaching the temple from the station or bus stop.

    Todaiji accessTodaiji: official visiting information

  3. Great Buddha Hall reception → Great Buddha Hall visit

    Pay the adult 800-yen fee in cash at reception. Hall hours are 07:30–17:30 April–October and 08:00–17:00 November–March. Check notices for your visit date for changes due to events or emergencies.

    Todaiji: official visiting information

  4. After Great Buddha Hall → Kintetsu-Nara Station

    Return to Kintetsu-Nara along the same approach. The official 20-minute estimate covers the walk from station to temple, so allow separately for the return from the hall exit. If taking a bus instead, check the stand, fare and return service for your visit date.

    Todaiji access

If you arrive late, shorten your visit to allow for closing time and reception queues. Have a meal or rest afterwards near the park or station.

Day 2: Kasuga Taisha worship

Walk the lantern-lined approach to Kasuga Taisha. If time before departure is short, omit special worship or the shrine visit.

  1. Kintetsu-Nara Station → Kasuga Taisha access

    Walk to Kasuga Taisha. The official 25-minute estimate reaches the shrine; it does not give a confirmed time to the ordinary worship point or special worship reception.

    Japanese hours and suspension dates

  2. Kasuga Taisha access → Ordinary worship point

    Follow signs through the grounds to the ordinary worship point, allowing extra time for walking and queuing. Ordinary worship is free, available 06:30–17:30 March–October or 07:00–17:00 November–February.

    Japanese hours and suspension dates

  3. After ordinary worship → Optional main-shrine special worship

    For special worship, check suspension notices for your visit date and ask at reception. It costs 700 yen and is available 09:00–16:00, subject to ritual suspensions. Skip it on suspended dates or if time before departure is short.

    Japanese hours and suspension dates

  4. After Kasuga Taisha worship → Kintetsu-Nara Station

    Return along the same approach to Kintetsu-Nara. The official 25-minute estimate covers access to the shrine; it does not cover the return from the worship point or the whole round trip.

    Japanese hours and suspension dates

Special worship adds 700 yen. Allow time for a meal or rest on your walk back to the station after worship.

Checked costs and conditions: One adult: 800-yen admission total

Included: Great Buddha Hall: 800 yen; ordinary Kasuga worship: 0 yen.

Extra costs: Kasuga special worship, National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, all transport, hotels, food and final onward travel.

Adult Great Buddha Hall admission costs 800 yen, payable in cash. Ordinary Kasuga worship is free, giving a basic admission total of 800 yen. If special worship is available on your date, adding it costs 700 yen, bringing the total to 1,500 yen. Omit it when suspended. The National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, all transport, accommodation, meals and final onward travel are extra.

Todaiji: official visiting informationJapanese hours and suspension dates

2 days / 1 night B

Focus on Horyuji

Give day one to Horyuji’s wooden architecture and Buddhist art. Stay one night near JR Nara for the return trip; add Gangoji and Naramachi on day two if time before departure permits.

Day 1: a return JR trip to Horyuji

This course starts at JR Nara. Travel to the starting station and return airport transfers are excluded.

  1. JR Nara Station → JR Horyuji Station

    Take a Tennoji-bound Yamatoji Line service stopping at Horyuji. Use JR’s official search to check outward and return trains, arrival times and fares for your travel date.

    JR official searchTourist information: access by station exit

  2. JR Horyuji north exit → Horyuji South Gate

    Walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the South Gate. Allow extra time to reach reception for the paid areas and queue after reaching the gate.

    Tourist information: access by station exit

  3. Horyuji South Gate → Reception for the paid areas

    The combined ticket for Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan costs 2,000 yen per adult, payable in cash. Hours are 08:00–17:00 February 22–November 3, or 08:00–16:30 November 4–February 21. Reception closes 30 minutes before closing; some buildings may be unavailable if you arrive late. Allow extra time to walk through the grounds and explore.

    Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time

  4. After reception → Horyuji visit

    Visit Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan with your combined ticket. Allow time to walk between them; some buildings may be unavailable shortly before closing.

    Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time

  5. After Horyuji → JR Horyuji Station

    Exit towards the South Gate and return along the same route to JR Horyuji station. The official 20-minute estimate covers north-exit-to-gate access; allow separately for the return from the visiting areas.

    Tourist information: access by station exit

  6. JR Horyuji Station → JR Nara Station

    Take a Nara-bound train to JR Nara. Official station guidance lists platform 2 for Nara, Kizu and Kamo; follow the boards and signs on the day if these differ. Use JR’s search to check your actual return departure, arrival and fare.

    Station platform informationJR official search

Plan return trains, platform access, the north-exit-to-gate walk and your temple visit together. Have lunch or a rest before or after visiting. Reception closes 30 minutes before closing; arriving late may limit access to some buildings.

Day 2: Gangoji and Naramachi

Choose a paid Gangoji visit or a Naramachi street walk. Shorten sightseeing if you depart early.

  1. JR Nara Station → Gangoji access

    Walk to Gangoji at its official address, 11 Chuincho. The 20-minute estimate from JR Nara reaches the temple; allow extra time to reach reception. Distinguish it from the same-named temple and tower site in Shibashinyacho.

    Temple: official access informationGangoji: distinguishing the two temples

  2. Gangoji access → Visitor reception

    Follow signs to reception. Ordinary adult admission is 700 yen. During the October 24–November 15, 2026 autumn exhibition, an inclusive 800-yen fee replaces it; do not add 800 yen to the normal 700 yen.

    Nara City Tourism Association: hours and feesNara Prefecture: Gangoji autumn 2026 special exhibition

  3. After Gangoji reception → Gangoji visit

    After reception, explore Gangoji’s grounds containing Gokurakudo. Hours are 09:00–17:00, with reception until 16:30, including during this exhibition. Omit paid admission if you depart early.

    Nara City Tourism Association: hours and feesNara Prefecture: Gangoji autumn 2026 special exhibition

  4. After Gangoji or your chosen walk → Return towards JR Nara

    Return towards JR Nara after visiting the temple or walking the streets. The official 20-minute estimate covers station-to-temple access; check the route from your chosen walk endpoint to the station or hotel separately.

    Temple: official access information

Walking Naramachi’s streets alone does not require Gangoji admission. Meals and other paid facilities are extra. Shorten sightseeing if you depart early.

Checked costs and conditions: One adult: 2,700-yen admission total; 2,800 yen during Gangoji’s 2026 autumn exhibition

Included: Horyuji: 2,000 yen; Gangoji: 700 yen ordinarily, replaced by 800 yen on 24 October–15 November 2026.

Extra costs: JR Nara–Horyuji return and other transport, hotels, food and final onward travel.

Horyuji admission of 2,000 yen plus ordinary Gangoji admission of 700 yen totals 2,700 yen. The inclusive 800-yen fee during Gangoji’s October 24–November 15, 2026 autumn exhibition replaces ordinary admission, giving a 2,800-yen total. JR return travel between Nara and Horyuji, other transport, accommodation, meals and final departure are excluded; check JR times and fares for your date. If you omit paid Gangoji admission and walk the streets instead, the confirmed admission total is 2,000 yen for Horyuji. Other paid facilities are extra. Pay Horyuji admission in cash before reception closes, 30 minutes before seasonal closing.

Nara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursNara City Tourism Association: hours and feesNara Prefecture: Gangoji autumn 2026 special exhibitionHoryuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time

Frequently asked questions

Is special worship at Kasuga Taisha included in the basic cost?

No. Course A’s one-night park and shrine itinerary totals 800 yen for Great Buddha Hall admission and the free ordinary worship point. Special main sanctuary worship costs another 700 yen; check its 09:00–16:00 hours and ritual suspension dates. The National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, transport, accommodation and meals are also separate.

Kasuga Taisha: worship and access by station exitTodaiji: official visiting information

Official sources and check dates