Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Deer, Temples & Getting There

Fast Facts

Getting There

Option 1: Kintetsu Limited Express (Recommended)

Depart from Kintetsu Kyoto Station (adjacent to JR Kyoto Station, slightly underground) on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line Limited Express to Kintetsu-Nara Station. Journey time: 35 minutes. Cost: ¥760 + ¥520 limited express surcharge = approximately ¥1,280.

Kintetsu-Nara Station is in the center of Nara city, within walking distance of Nara Park and the main sights. This is the most convenient option.

Option 2: JR Nara Line

From JR Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line to JR Nara Station. Local trains take 75 minutes (¥720); rapid trains take 45 minutes on limited schedules. JR Nara Station is slightly further from Nara Park than Kintetsu-Nara Station — about 15 minutes on foot or a bus/taxi ride.

JR Pass holders: The JR option is free with a JR Pass and is the logical choice if you have one.

What to See

Nara Park and the Deer

Nara Park (Nara Koen) is a large public park covering 660 hectares that surrounds the main temples and shrines. Approximately 1,300 sika deer (shika) live here semi-wild — they are considered sacred messengers of Kasuga Shrine’s kami (deity) and have roamed freely since the 8th century.

Deer crackers (shika senbei, ¥200 per bundle) are sold by vendors throughout the park. The deer have learned to bow for crackers and will follow anyone carrying food. They are wild and occasionally pushy but generally gentle. Keep food hidden when not actively feeding to avoid aggressive crowding.

Todai-ji Temple

The Great East Temple (Todai-ji) houses the Daibutsu — the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, at 15 meters tall. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) housing it is itself the largest wooden structure in the world (its current form, rebuilt in 1709, is actually only two-thirds the size of the original).

Entry ¥1,000. The hall is genuinely awe-inspiring in scale. Look for the pillar with a hole in its base — passing through it is said to bring good luck, and its dimensions supposedly match one of the Buddha’s nostrils.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

A 20-minute walk through the deer park from Todai-ji, Kasuga Shrine is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 768 CE. The approach through ancient cedar forest is lined with hundreds of stone lanterns; the thousands of bronze hanging lanterns inside the inner shrine are lit twice yearly (Setsubun in February and Obon in August).

Entry to the outer grounds: free. Inner sanctuary: ¥500.

Naramachi

The preserved merchant district south of the park, with machiya townhouses converted into cafes, craft shops, and small restaurants. 30–45 minutes to browse. A welcome change from the tourist-facing facilities near the main temples.

Recommended Half-Day Route

1. 9:30am — Arrive Kintetsu-Nara Station, walk toward the park
2. 10:00am — Todai-ji (1 hour)
3. 11:15am — Wander the deer park toward Kasuga Shrine
4. 12:00pm — Kasuga Taisha (30–45 min)
5. 1:00pm — Lunch in Naramachi
6. 2:30pm — Return to Kyoto, arrive 3:10pm

This leaves afternoon for Kyoto. For a full day, extend with Horyu-ji (world’s oldest wooden buildings, 20 min by bus from JR Nara).

More day trips: Osaka from Kyoto and Uji from Kyoto. For trip planning, see the 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary.

Evening in Gion: Our Gion Sake Walk runs nightly — a Nara morning pairs perfectly with a Gion evening.