Which Nara attractions should I choose?
Start at Nara Park for a close look at the Great Buddha or a lantern-lined shrine approach. Horyuji’s old wooden buildings and Ishibutai’s enormous stone chamber lie outside Nara City, requiring separate rail or bus trips.
Attraction fees, hours and access
Todaiji
Todai-ji東大寺
Choose the Great Buddha Hall for a close view of Nara’s Great Buddha. Compare the combined hall and museum ticket for exhibitions too. Other halls cost extra.
- FeesHall admission is 800 yen for junior high school students and older, or 400 yen for elementary school children. The hall and museum combined ticket costs 1,200 yen and 600 yen respectively, payable in cash. Other halls are excluded.
- HoursHall hours are 07:30–17:30 April–October and 08:00–17:00 November–March.
- AccessWalk about 20 minutes towards Noborioji from Kintetsu-Nara. From JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara, take a loop bus to Todaiji-Daibutsuden/Kasuga-Taisha-mae, then walk about five minutes. These estimates reach Todaiji; allow extra time to walk to hall reception and queue.
- Additional viewing conditionsMuseum 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 date-specific notices.
Todaiji: official visiting informationTodaiji accessTodaiji: official visiting information
Kasuga Taisha
Kasugataisha Shrine春日大社
Visit Kasuga Taisha for its lantern-lined approach and red shrine buildings. Ordinary worship is free. Special main sanctuary worship costs 700 yen for access to hanging lanterns in the corridors, subject to ritual suspension dates and times.
- FeesOrdinary worship is free; special main sanctuary worship costs 700 yen. The National Treasure Hall and botanical garden charge separately.
- HoursOrdinary worship opens 06:30–17:30 March–October or 07:00–17:00 November–February. Special worship opens 09:00–16:00, subject to ritual suspensions.
- AccessWalk about 25 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara to the shrine. From JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara, take a bus to Kasuga-Taisha-Honden. The official three-minute walk after alighting reaches the botanical garden’s main gate and Kasuga Ninai Jaya, rather than the main sanctuary. Allow extra time to walk through the grounds and queue at the ordinary worship point.
- Additional viewing conditionsRituals may suspend special worship at certain dates and times. Ordinary worship hours remain separate after special reception ends.
Japanese hours and suspension datesEnglish accessKasuga Taisha: worship and access by station exit
Horyuji
Horyuji Temple法隆寺
Visit Horyuji in Ikaruga · 斑鳩 for historic wooden architecture and Buddhist statues. See the five-storey pagoda and Main Hall, and Buddhist art in Daihozoin. Adult combined admission is 2,000 yen, payable in cash. Allow time to explore the grounds beyond the station-to-South-Gate walk; give the temple a proper visit rather than a short gap on arrival day.
- FeesCombined admission to Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan costs 2,000 yen for adults, university and high school students; 1,700 yen for junior high school students; and 1,000 yen for elementary school children. Payment is cash only; groups of 30 or more have separate rates.
- HoursHours are 08:00–17:00 from 22 February–3 November, or 08:00–16:30 from 4 November–21 February. Reception ends 30 minutes before closing; some facilities may be unavailable near closing.
- AccessTake the Yamatoji Line from JR Nara to Horyuji, then walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the South Gate. This differs from the south-exit bus route in tourist information. If taking the bus, check services and fares for your date separately.
- Additional viewing conditionsOfficial fare revision is dated 1 March 2025. Grounds walks and viewing in the three combined-ticket areas are extra to the station–South Gate walk.
Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing timeTourist information: access by station exitNara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hours
Gangoji (Gokurakubo)
Gangoji Temple元興寺（極楽坊）
Visit Gangoji (Gokurakubo) if you want to explore temple buildings during a Naramachi walk. Paid admission gives access to the grounds containing Gokurakudo. The World Heritage temple is at 11 Chuincho; the Gangoji tower site in Shibashinyacho belongs to a separate temple.
- FeesOrdinary adult admission is 700 yen, replaced by an 800-yen fee during the autumn special exhibition, October 24–November 15, 2026. Walking the surrounding streets without entering the grounds is a separate visit.
- HoursOpen 09:00–17:00; reception closes at 16:30. Check arrangements for special events and exhibitions.
- AccessGangoji (Gokurakubo), at 11 Chuincho, is about 20 minutes on foot from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara. These estimates cover access to the temple; allow extra time to reach reception and explore the streets.
- Additional viewing conditionsGangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Chuincho. Distinguish it from the Gangoji tower site in Shibashinyacho. During the autumn special exhibition, check the applicable fee, which replaces ordinary admission.
Temple: official access informationNara City Tourism Association: hours and feesNara Prefecture: Gangoji autumn 2026 special exhibition
Ishibutai Tomb
Ishibutai Tumulus石舞台古墳
Visit Ishibutai Tumulus in Asuka · 明日香 to see an ancient tomb built from enormous stones. The earth covering has disappeared, exposing the stone chamber and the way its large stones fit together. Admission for general visitors and university students is 500 yen. For public transport access, take a bus from Kashiharajingu-mae and check your return bus too.
- FeesIndividual admission, revised April 1, 2026: adults 500 yen; elementary, junior high and high school students 200 yen; preschool children free. Groups of 30 or more have separate rates.
- HoursOpen 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:45, year-round.
- AccessAt Kashiharajingu-mae east exit, take a bus stopping at Ishibutai from stand 2. The national park lists a three-minute walk from the stop to the tomb. Match the return bus and rail connection to your visit date. Adult bus fares between the station’s east side and Ishibutai are 440 yen each way, or 880 yen return. The village timetable used for the weekday example applies September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays use a separate timetable.
- Additional viewing conditionsThe park car park is restricted to bicycles and motorcycles September 19–November 15, 2026. Drivers should check alternative parking and fees.
Asuka Tourism Association: current Ishibutai fees and hoursNational park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking accessVillage: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027Nara Kotsu: current informationIshibutai accessNational park: current information
Frequently asked questions
Do the Great Buddha Hall and museum have the same hours?
No. The hall opens 07:30–17:30 April–October and 08:00–17:00 November–March. The museum opens 09:30–17:30 April–October, with last admission at 17:00, and 09:30–17:00 November–March, with last admission at 16:30. Check facility notices for your visit date too.
Why does a search for Gangoji show two places?
Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Chuincho in Nara City. The Gangoji tower site in Shibashinyacho belongs to a separate temple, so check the address as well as the name on your map.
Official sources and check dates
- Todaiji access ·
- Ishibutai 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 ·
- Nara Kotsu: current information ·
- Village: official timetable for September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027 ·
- Asuka Tourism Association: current Ishibutai fees and hours ·
- National park: revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking access ·
- Nara Prefecture: Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Nara Prefecture: Gangoji autumn 2026 special exhibition ·
- Todaiji: official visiting information ·
- Gangoji: distinguishing the two temples ·
- Kasuga Taisha: worship and access by station exit ·
- Horyuji: combined ticket, cash payment and reception closing time ·