Two nights in Nara: where should I go on day two?
See the Great Buddha in Nara Park on day one, then choose Horyuji’s wooden architecture or Ishibutai’s enormous stone chamber for day two. Reach Horyuji by JR Yamatoji Line from JR Nara, or Ishibutai by Kintetsu and local bus. Add a Naramachi walk on the last day if your departure time allows.
Choose a 3 days / 2 nights itinerary
Nara Park and Horyuji
Give Nara’s Great Buddha and Horyuji’s historic wooden buildings a day each. Stay two nights near JR Nara; walk Naramachi on departure day if time permits.
Nara Park and Horyuji →3 days / 2 nights BNara Park and Asuka tomb
See the Great Buddha, then Asuka’s large stone chamber the next day. Stay two nights near Kintetsu-Nara: walk on day one and take Kintetsu and a bus on day two.
Nara Park and Asuka tomb →Nara Park and Horyuji
Give Nara’s Great Buddha and Horyuji’s historic wooden buildings a day each. Stay two nights near JR Nara; walk Naramachi on departure day if time permits.
Day 1: Great Buddha Hall, then return to your hotel near JR Nara
This course starts at JR Nara. Travel to the starting station and return airport transfers are excluded.
- JR Nara Station → Todaiji access
Take a bus from JR Nara stopping at Todaiji-Daibutsuden/Kasuga-Taisha-mae, then walk about five minutes to Todaiji. Adult hall admission is 800 yen, payable in cash. Follow signs through the grounds to reception, allowing extra time to walk and queue. Pay there before entering.
- Great Buddha Hall → JR Nara and your booked hotel
Eat near the park, then take a JR Nara-bound bus and continue to your hotel. Check the stand, fare and return services for your date. If you arrive late, shorten your visit before seasonal closing. The museum and Kasuga Taisha are outside today’s basic itinerary.
First check the bus stand, return services and fares for your JR Nara journey. Allow extra time for walking through Todaiji and reaching your hotel.
Day 2: a day at Horyuji
- JR Nara Station → JR Horyuji Station
From JR Nara, take a Tennoji-bound Yamatoji Line service stopping at Horyuji. Use the official search to check outward and return trains, arrival times and fares for your date.
Tourist information: access by station exitJR official searchStation platform information
- JR Horyuji north exit → Horyuji viewing areas
Walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the South Gate, then continue to reception for the paid areas. The adult combined ticket for Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan costs 2,000 yen, 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; arriving late may limit access to some buildings. Allow extra time beyond the gate for walking and visiting.
Tourist information: access by station exitJR official searchStation platform informationNara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursHoryuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time
- Horyuji viewing areas → Return to the same station and hotel
Have lunch nearby and return to the same north exit. Choose your return train first, then plan your visit and station arrival with time for the grounds, gate-to-station walk and ticket gates. Official guidance lists platform 2 for Nara-bound trains; follow signs for changes on the day. Return to the same hotel near JR Nara.
Tourist information: access by station exitJR official searchStation platform informationNara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hours
Check Horyuji’s platform 2 guidance and changes on the day. Look up return trains and fares for your actual date, allowing time for the grounds, station walk and ticket gates.
Day 3: Naramachi walks, then depart
Take a short street walk if departure time permits; omit it and go straight to the station for an early departure.
- Hotel near JR Nara → Naramachi streets
Use Gangoji (Gokurakubo) at 11 Chuincho as a reference for nearby Naramachi streets. Official walking estimates of 20 minutes from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara reach the temple; they do not cover a full street walk. Admission to the temple is outside basic costs.
Temple: official access informationNara City Tourism Association: hours and fees
- Naramachi streets → Return towards your departure station
Leave your walk endpoint for the departure station, allowing walking and boarding time.
Allow time from your walk endpoint to the departure station.
Included: Great Buddha Hall: 800 yen; Horyuji: 2,000 yen.
Extra costs: JR return travel, city buses, paid reserved seats, Gangoji admission, hotels, food and final onward travel.
Adult Great Buddha Hall admission of 800 yen plus Horyuji admission of 2,000 yen totals 2,800 yen. JR return travel, city buses, accommodation, meals, Gangoji admission, paid reserved seats and final departure are excluded. Check JR times and fares for your date using the official search.
Todaiji: official visiting informationNara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursHoryuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time
Nara Park and Asuka tomb
See the Great Buddha, then Asuka’s large stone chamber the next day. Stay two nights near Kintetsu-Nara: walk on day one and take Kintetsu and a bus on day two.
Day 1: walk to Great Buddha Hall
This course starts at Kintetsu-Nara. Travel to the starting station and return airport transfers are excluded.
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Todaiji access
Walk about 20 minutes towards Noborioji from Kintetsu-Nara to Todaiji. This reaches the temple; allow extra time to reach the hall reception through the grounds and queue.
- Todaiji access, then Great Buddha Hall reception → Great Buddha Hall visit
Pay 800 yen cash for the hall, then eat in Nara Park or on the station-return route.
- Great Buddha Hall → Booked hotel near Kintetsu-Nara
Walk to your booked hotel. Kasuga Taisha needs extra walking/worship time and is outside today’s basic course.
Today includes an 800-yen hall visit and time for meals in Nara Park. Extra walks to Kasuga Taisha are outside the basic itinerary.
Day 2: trains and bus to Asuka
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Kashiharajingu-mae Station
Travel from Kintetsu-Nara via a Yamato-Saidaiji transfer to Kashiharajingu-mae.
- Kashiharajingu-mae east exit stand 2 → Ishibutai stop
Take an Asuka Station-bound service stopping at Ishibutai from stand 2 at the east exit. Choose return buses from the weekday or weekend and public-holiday timetable for your date. If arriving from Nara City, allow time between your train arrival and the bus stand.
Village: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027Nara Kotsu: current information
- Ishibutai stop → Ishibutai Tomb
Walk about three minutes from Ishibutai stop. Hours are 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:45; adult admission is 500 yen. Eat nearby afterwards and return to the Kashiharajingu-mae-bound stop.
National park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking accessAsuka Tourism Association: current Ishibutai fees and hours
- Ishibutai Tomb → Return to the same station and hotel
After the bus, return by Kintetsu via Yamato-Saidaiji to your Nara hotel. Match travel-date bus arrival and Nara-bound train times.
Nara Kotsu: current informationVillage: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027National park: current informationKintetsu: lines and transfer stations
Choose your return buses first and allow time between your train arrival from Nara and the east-exit bus stand. Check the onward Nara-bound train connection after your return bus too.
Day 3: prepare to depart in Naramachi
Take a short street walk if departure time permits; omit it and go straight to the station for an early departure.
- Hotel near Kintetsu-Nara → Naramachi streets
Use Gangoji (Gokurakubo) at 11 Chuincho as a reference for nearby Naramachi streets. Official walking estimates of 20 minutes from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara reach the temple; they do not cover a full street walk. Admission to the temple is outside basic costs.
- Naramachi streets → Return towards your departure station
Leave your walk endpoint for the departure station, allowing walking and boarding time.
Allow time from your walk endpoint to the departure station.
Included: Great Buddha Hall: 800 yen; Ishibutai: 500 yen; Kashiharajingu-mae east–Ishibutai buses: 440 yen × 2 = 880 yen, or eligible day pass 750 yen instead.
Extra costs: Kintetsu rail, city buses, Gangoji admission, Kasuga special worship, hotels, food and final onward travel.
Adult admission and Asuka return buses total 2,180 yen, or 2,050 yen with the applicable 750-yen bus day pass. Kintetsu, accommodation, meals, final onward travel and special worship are extra. Use the separate weekend and public-holiday bus timetable when applicable.
Todaiji: official visiting informationNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking accessNara Kotsu: current information
Frequently asked questions
Is the Asuka day pass worth comparing for just a return bus trip?
The adult bus fare between Kashiharajingu-mae east side and Ishibutai is 440 yen each way, or 880 yen return. The applicable sightseeing loop-bus day pass costs 750 yen, saving 130 yen on this section. It excludes Kintetsu rail and tomb admission. Check outward and return buses and rail connections for your visit date.
Official sources and check dates
- Todaiji access ·
- Todaiji: official visiting information ·
- Tourist information: access by station exit ·
- Temple: official access information ·
- Nara City Tourism Association: hours and fees ·
- National park: current information ·
- JR official search ·
- Station platform information ·
- Nara Kotsu: current information ·
- Village: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027 ·
- Kintetsu ·
- Asuka Tourism Association: current Ishibutai fees and hours ·
- National park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking access ·
- Nara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Kintetsu: lines and transfer stations ·
- Asuka sightseeing loop bus: fares and day pass ·
- Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time ·