Which Nara attractions should you choose?
Start in Nara Park to see the Great Buddha up close or walk a lantern-lined shrine approach. Horyuji’s ancient wooden buildings and Ishibutai Tomb’s massive stone chamber are outside Nara city and require separate train or bus journeys.
Attraction admission, hours and access
Todaiji
Todai-ji東大寺
Choose the Great Buddha Hall to see Nara’s Great Buddha up close. If you also want to see the museum exhibitions, compare the joint ticket. Other temple halls charge separately.
- AdmissionGreat Buddha Hall admission is JPY 800 for junior high school pupils and older, and JPY 400 for primary school children. The hall–museum joint ticket costs JPY 1,200 and JPY 600 respectively, payable in cash. Other halls are not included.
- Opening hoursThe Great Buddha Hall opens from 07:30 to 17:30 in April–October and from 08:00 to 17:00 in November–March.
- Getting thereWalk about 20 minutes towards Todaiji along Noborioji from Kintetsu-Nara. Alternatively, take a loop bus from JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara to Todaiji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae and walk about 5 minutes. These estimates cover the temple approach; allow extra time to reach and queue at the Great Buddha Hall admission desk.
- Conditions for additional visitsThe museum opens from 09:30 to 17:30 in April–October (last entry 17:00), and 09:30 to 17:00 in November–March (last entry 16:30). Its hours differ from the Great Buddha Hall’s. Check notices for your visit date as well.
Todaiji official visitor informationTodaiji approachTodaiji official visitor information
Kasuga Taisha
Kasugataisha Shrine春日大社
Visit Kasuga Taisha for lantern-lined approaches and red shrine buildings. The ordinary worship area is free. Special worship at the main sanctuary lets you visit the corridors with hanging lanterns for JPY 700, but rituals suspend access on some dates and at some times.
- AdmissionOrdinary worship is free; special worship at the main sanctuary costs JPY 700. The Treasure Hall and botanical garden charge separately.
- Opening hoursOrdinary worship is available from 06:30 to 17:30 in March–October and from 07:00 to 17:00 in November–February. Special worship is available from 09:00 to 16:00, subject to ritual suspensions.
- Getting thereWalk about 25 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara to the shrine. From JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara, a Kasuga Taisha Honden-bound bus stops at Kasuga Taisha Honden. The official 3-minute walk after alighting refers to the botanical garden’s main gate and Kasuga Ninai, rather than the main sanctuary. Allow extra time to reach the ordinary worship area within the grounds and queue.
- Conditions for additional visitsRituals can suspend special worship on specified dates and at specified times. The ordinary worship area has its own hours after special worship admission ends.
Operations and suspension dates in JapaneseAccess information in EnglishKasuga Taisha official worship and access by exit
Horyuji
Horyuji Temple法隆寺
Visit Horyuji in Ikaruga · 斑鳩 for ancient wooden architecture and Buddhist statues. See the five-storey pagoda and Kondo hall, then Buddhist artworks in the Great Treasure Gallery. The adult joint ticket costs JPY 2,000 and is payable in cash. Allow time within the grounds as well as the walk from Horyuji Station to the South Gate; give the visit its own time rather than a short gap on arrival day.
- AdmissionThe joint ticket for the Western Precinct, Great Treasure Gallery and Eastern Precinct costs JPY 2,000 for adults, university students and senior high school pupils, JPY 1,700 for junior high school pupils and JPY 1,000 for primary school children. Payment is cash only. Separate rates apply to groups of 30 or more.
- Opening hoursHoryuji opens from 08:00 to 17:00 from 22 February to 3 November and from 08:00 to 16:30 from 4 November to 21 February. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. Some facilities may be inaccessible if you arrive close to closing time.
- Getting thereTake the JR Yamatoji Line from Nara to Horyuji Station. Walk about 20 minutes from the north exit to the South Gate. The tourist information centre lists this separately from the south-exit bus route. If you take a bus, check services and fares for your travel date.
- Conditions for additional visitsThe official visitor information lists the fee revision date as 1 March 2025. Walking between and visiting the Western Precinct, Great Treasure Gallery and Eastern Precinct takes additional time beyond the station-to-South Gate walk.
Horyuji official joint ticket, cash payment and admission deadlineTourist information centre access routes by exitNara Prefecture’s official Horyuji fees and seasonal hours
Gangoji (Gokurakubo)
Gangoji Temple元興寺（極楽坊）
Stop at Gangoji (Gokurakubo) if you would like to see temple buildings while walking around Naramachi. Paid admission covers the grounds with Gokurakudo hall. The World Heritage Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Chuincho; the Gangoji Pagoda Site in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple.
- AdmissionOrdinary adult admission is JPY 700, replaced by JPY 800 during the autumn special exhibition from 24 October to 15 November 2026. This is separate from walking the surrounding streets without entering the temple.
- Opening hoursGangoji opens from 09:00 to 17:00, with admission until 16:30. Check operations again during special events and exhibitions.
- Getting thereGangoji (Gokurakubo) at 11 Chuincho is about 20 minutes on foot from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara. These estimates cover the temple approach; allow separate time for reaching the admission desk and walking around the streets.
- Conditions for additional visitsGangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Chuincho, separate from the Gangoji Pagoda Site in Shibashinyacho. During the autumn special exhibition, check the exhibition-period fee that replaces ordinary admission.
Temple’s official access informationNara City Tourism Association hours and feesNara Prefecture’s official Gangoji 2026 autumn exhibition information
Ishibutai Tomb
Ishibutai Tumulus石舞台古墳
Visit Ishibutai Tomb in Asuka · 明日香 to see an ancient tomb built from massive stones. Its covering earth mound has disappeared, exposing the stone chamber and the way the stones fit together. Admission for adults and university students is JPY 500. You can reach it by bus from Kashiharajingu-mae; check the return bus as well.
- AdmissionIndividual rates were revised on 1 April 2026. Admission costs JPY 500 for adults or JPY 200 for primary, junior high and senior high school pupils. Preschool children enter free. Separate rates apply to groups of 30 or more.
- Opening hoursIshibutai Tomb opens from 09:00 to 17:00 year-round, with last entry at 16:45.
- Getting thereTake a bus that stops at Ishibutai from stand 2 at the east exit of Kashiharajingu-mae. The national park lists about a 3-minute walk from the stop to the tomb. Match your return bus and rail connection to your travel date. The bus between the station’s east side and Ishibutai costs JPY 440 per adult each way, JPY 880 return. The village weekday timetable used in the example applies from 2026-09-01 to 2027-03-31; weekends and public holidays have a separate timetable.
- Conditions for additional visitsThe park car park is for bicycles and motorcycles only from 19 September to 15 November 2026. If you drive, check other parking locations and charges.
Asuka Tourism Association’s current Ishibutai fees and hoursNational park’s revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking accessVillage’s official 2026-09-01–2027-03-31 timetableNara Kotsu current informationIshibutai accessNational park’s current information
Frequently asked questions
Do the Great Buddha Hall and museum have the same hours?
No. The hall opens from 07:30 to 17:30 in April–October and 08:00 to 17:00 in November–March. The museum opens from 09:30 to 17:30 in April–October (last entry 17:00), and 09:30 to 17:00 in November–March (last entry 16:30). Also check notices for your visit date.
Gangoji searches show two places. Which should I visit?
Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is the temple at 11 Chuincho, Nara city. The Gangoji Pagoda Site in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple, so check the address as well as the name on your map.
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Todaiji approach ·
- Ishibutai access ·
- Todaiji official visitor information ·
- Operations and suspension dates in Japanese ·
- Access information in English ·
- Tourist information centre access routes by exit ·
- Temple’s official access information ·
- Nara City Tourism Association hours and fees ·
- National park’s current information ·
- Nara Kotsu current information ·
- Village’s official 2026-09-01–2027-03-31 timetable ·
- Asuka Tourism Association’s current Ishibutai fees and hours ·
- National park’s revised 2026 Ishibutai fees and walking access ·
- Nara Prefecture’s official Horyuji fees and seasonal hours ·
- Nara Prefecture’s official Gangoji 2026 autumn exhibition information ·
- Todaiji official visitor information ·
- Gangoji’s official distinction between the two temples ·
- Kasuga Taisha official worship and access by exit ·
- Horyuji official joint ticket, cash payment and admission deadline ·