Would you like separate days for exhibitions and shrine worship?
Give the Great Buddha Hall and museum, and a shrine-approach walk, a day each, then take a day trip on day three. Base yourself near JR Nara for Horyuji’s wooden architecture, or near Kintetsu-Nara for Asuka’s tomb. Walk Naramachi on the last day if time remains before departure.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
Two park days and one Horyuji day
Give the hall and museum, shrine, and Horyuji separate days. Stay three nights near JR Nara and walk Naramachi on departure day.
Two park days and one Horyuji day →4 days / 3 nights BTwo days in Nara City and an Asuka day trip
See exhibitions and walk the shrine approach, then visit Asuka’s tomb. Stay three nights near Kintetsu-Nara, giving the hall and museum, and shrine, a day each.
Two days in Nara City and an Asuka day trip →Two park days and one Horyuji day
Give the hall and museum, shrine, and Horyuji separate days. Stay three nights near JR Nara and walk Naramachi on departure day.
Day 1: Great Buddha Hall and museum
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. This reaches the temple; allow extra time to reach hall reception through the grounds and queue.
- Great Buddha Hall reception → Great Buddha Hall and optional museum
Use the adult 1,200-yen hall and museum combined ticket, checking museum hours separately. Museum hours are 09:30–17:30 April–October, with last admission at 17:00, or 09:30–17:00 November–March, with last admission at 16:30. These differ from hall hours; check notices for your visit date.
Todaiji: official visiting informationTodaiji: official visiting information
- Great Buddha Hall and optional museum → JR Nara and your booked hotel
Eat near the park, then take a bus to JR Nara and continue to your hotel. If you arrive late, shorten your visits to fit the facilities’ hours. Check city-bus times and fares for your date using official information.
Check hall and museum hours separately. Shorten your visits if the bus journey from JR Nara leaves too little time for both.
Day 2: Kasuga Taisha worship
- JR Nara Station → Kasuga Taisha access
Look up a bus from JR Nara to Kasuga-Taisha-Honden and alight at the terminus. Follow signs through the grounds to the ordinary worship point. The botanical garden’s three-minute access estimate does not cover walking to or queuing at the worship point after the bus.
English accessKasuga Taisha: worship and access by station exit
- Kasuga Taisha ordinary worship point → Kasuga worship area
Visit the free ordinary worship point, open 06:30–17:30 March–October or 07:00–17:00 November–February. For special worship, check the additional 700-yen fee, 09:00–16:00 hours and ritual suspensions. Choose nearby food afterwards.
- Kasuga worship area → Return to the same station and hotel
Take a JR Nara-bound bus, then return to the same hotel. Choose ordinary worship only if special worship is suspended. The National Treasure Hall and botanical garden are outside basic costs. Check return buses and both departure stands for your date using official information.
Match outward buses from JR Nara to Kasuga-Taisha-Honden with return services first. Distinguish free ordinary worship from separately paid special worship and its ritual suspensions.
Day 3: Horyuji
- JR Nara Station → Horyuji South Gate
From JR Nara, take a Yamatoji Line service stopping at Horyuji. Walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the South Gate. Use JR’s official search to choose return trains for your date.
Tourist information: access by station exitJR official searchStation platform information
- Horyuji South Gate → Horyuji viewing 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; some buildings may be unavailable if you arrive late. Allow extra time beyond the South Gate for walking and visiting.
Nara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursHoryuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time
- Horyuji viewing areas → Return to the same station and hotel
Exit towards the South Gate, then return to JR Horyuji station. Check Nara-bound trains and fares for your actual date and return to the same hotel near JR Nara. If using buses from the south exit, check the timetable and fare for your date separately.
Tourist information: access by station exitJR official searchStation platform information
The 20-minute estimate covers the one-way walk from the station to the South Gate. Allow extra time for the temple visit, meals and return walk before choosing your JR train.
Day 4: Naramachi, 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: Hall/museum combined ticket: 1,200 yen; Horyuji: 2,000 yen; ordinary Kasuga worship: 0 yen.
Extra costs: JR, city buses, Kasuga special worship, National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, Gangoji admission, hotels, food and final onward travel.
Adult admission totals 3,200 yen, or 3,900 yen with additional 700-yen special Kasuga worship. JR, city buses, hotels, food, National Treasure Hall, botanical garden and final onward transport are excluded. Check train and bus times and fares for your date separately.
Todaiji: official visiting informationNara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hoursJapanese hours and suspension datesHoryuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time
Two days in Nara City and an Asuka day trip
See exhibitions and walk the shrine approach, then visit Asuka’s tomb. Stay three nights near Kintetsu-Nara, giving the hall and museum, and shrine, a day each.
Day 1: park and Todaiji exhibitions
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. Allow separate grounds access and queues to hall reception.
- Great Buddha Hall reception → Great Buddha Hall and optional museum
Choose the 1,200-yen hall and museum combined ticket. Museum hours are 09:30–17:30 April–October, last admission 17:00, or 09:30–17:00 November–March, last admission 16:30. They differ from hall hours; check your date’s notices.
Todaiji: official visiting informationTodaiji: official visiting information
- Great Buddha Hall and optional museum → Booked hotel near Kintetsu-Nara
Eat near the park or station, then return to your booked hotel near Kintetsu-Nara. Check museum and seasonal hall hours separately; shorten your visits if you arrive late.
Check the hours for both the hall and museum. Choose one if you arrive too late to have time for both.
Day 2: shrine and rest
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Kasuga Taisha access
Walk about 25 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara to Kasuga Taisha. This reaches the shrine; follow grounds signs to ordinary worship, allowing extra time to walk through the grounds and queue.
- Kasuga Taisha ordinary worship point → Kasuga worship area
Visit the free ordinary worship point. Special worship costs 700 yen and opens 09:00–16:00, subject to ritual suspension. Check your date’s notices and reception arrangements before adding it.
- Kasuga worship area → Return to the same station and hotel
After a meal or rest nearby, return the same way to your hotel. If taking buses instead, check services and fares for your date separately.
Today uses shrine walks from Kintetsu-Nara. Add special worship only when reception and ritual conditions permit; search bus alternatives separately.
Day 3: Asuka tomb day trip
- Kintetsu-Nara Station → Kashiharajingu-mae Station
Travel from Kintetsu-Nara via Yamato-Saidaiji to Kashiharajingu-mae. Check your date’s train connections separately.
- 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. View the tomb, then eat lunch.
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
Return to the stop for a Kashiharajingu-mae-bound bus, then take Kintetsu back to your hotel in Nara. If wind or rain affects your plans, swap this day with city sightseeing and recheck bus timetables and services for the new date.
Nara Kotsu: current informationVillage: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027National park: current informationAsuka Tourism Association: current Ishibutai fees and hoursNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking access
Use the separate weekend and public-holiday Asuka timetable when applicable. Match Nara trains and buses from Kashiharajingu-mae east exit to your actual date.
Day 4: street 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 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: Hall/museum combined ticket: 1,200 yen; Ishibutai: 500 yen; Kashiharajingu-mae east–Ishibutai buses: 440 yen × 2 = 880 yen, or eligible day pass 750 yen; ordinary Kasuga worship: 0 yen.
Extra costs: Kintetsu rail, city buses, Kasuga special worship, National Treasure Hall, botanical garden, Gangoji admission, hotels, food and final onward travel.
Adult admission and Asuka buses total 2,580 yen, or 2,450 yen with the eligible bus day pass. Special worship adds 700 yen; Kintetsu, hotels, food, city buses and final departure are excluded. The tomb opens at 09:00, with last admission at 16:45, and is about three minutes from Ishibutai stop. Coordinate travel-date trains separately.
Todaiji: official visiting informationNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking accessNara Kotsu: current informationJapanese hours and suspension dates
Frequently asked questions
Does the hall and museum combined ticket include Hokkedo or Kaidando?
The 1,200-yen individual ticket for junior high school students and older covers only the Great Buddha Hall and museum. Other halls, including Hokkedo and Kaidando, charge separately. The two included facilities also have different seasonal hours and last admission times, so check before deciding your visiting order.
Does the Asuka bus day pass cover Kintetsu trains from Nara?
No. The Asuka sightseeing loop-bus day pass covers buses; Kintetsu trains and tomb admission are separate. The adult return bus fare between Kashiharajingu-mae east side and Ishibutai is 880 yen, compared with 750 yen for the applicable day pass. Arrive by train from Nara, change to the bus, and use a bus followed by a Nara-bound train on your return.
Official sources and check dates
- Todaiji access ·
- Todaiji: official visiting information ·
- Japanese hours and suspension dates ·
- English access ·
- 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 ·
- Todaiji: official visiting information ·
- Tourist information: access by station exit ·
- Kasuga Taisha: worship and access by station exit ·
- Asuka sightseeing loop bus: fares and day pass ·
- Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time ·