Best Things to Do in Japan's Ultra-famous Deer Park City
Just 30 minutes from Osaka is the oasis of calm known as Nara. Once Japan’s capital city back in 710 AD, it's now jam-packed with epic hiking trails, mouthwatering cuisine, and a super-cute deer population.
We'll tell you how to get there, what to do, and the best things to eat in Nara!
How to Get to Nara Deer Park
You can get to Nara from Osaka in a flash easily by train. The Kintetsu Nara Limited Express train takes around 30 minutes from Osaka-Namba Station to Kintetsu Nara Station, which is just steps from the park.
Alternatively, the JR Yamatoji Rapid trains will get you from the JR Osaka Station to the JR Nara Station in 45 minutes, and from there, it's a 20-minute walk to the park.
To plan your journey, check out our helpful guide on how to get from Osaka to Nara!
What to Do in Nara
1. Meet Nara’s most famous residents – the deer!
The 1,000+ deer that roam Nara Park are no ordinary animals – legend has it they’re messengers of the gods. Communicating with deities must be hungry work, because these deer love the special crackers for sale in the park. Some even know how to bow when asking for food! Just remember not to tease them, no matter how tempted you are to get that deer selfie – they're still semi-wild animals, no matter how cute.
2. Snap a shot with the Big Buddha at Todaiji Temple
Nara is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a big favorite is Todaiji – one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. It’s right next to Nara Park, and it's so big that the immense grounds cover a chunk of the northern part of the park. The main hall only recently lost the title of the world's largest wooden building – and the original structure was twice the current one's size. It’s also home to one of Japan’s biggest bronze Buddha statues!
3. Visit Horyuji Temple, the oldest in Japan
While we can't guarantee actual time travel, wandering the corridors and grounds of Horyuji Temple feels pretty just like stepping back in time. Founded in 607 AD, the temple is not only one of the oldest in Japan – it’s also the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world. Top photo-op spots include a towering 5-storey pagoda. Be sure to check out the Daikodo (Great Lecture Hall) and Gallery of Temple Treasures to learn how Buddha statues have evolved over time.
4. Don a kimono for a unique photoshoot
Wearing your own kimono is the perfect way to get a sense of Japanese culture and look great while doing it. The Nara Kimono Shop offers photography services to help you capture the experience – and get some next-level snaps for social media. You’ll feel like a million dollars as experts dress you in a brightly patterned outfit, then escort you outside to model among the deer in your own personal photoshoot.
5. Eat your way through the starry dining scene
Foodies, you are in luck! Nara’s multiple Michelin-starred restaurants offer top-notch dining without a matching price list.
Exhibit one: Wa Yamamura, a restaurant with three whole Michelin stars, offers traditional kaiseki multi-course meals with a French twist at a surprisingly affordable price.
For simple perfection, try Michelin-starred Gen. Perched on traditional tatami mats, you'll slurp up speciality soba (buckwheat) noodles that are made fresh to order every day.
If we've whet your appetite, get more culinary inspiration with Klook’s guide to nearby Osaka’s best food.
6. Stop in at Aya for a casual izakaya lunch
There are plenty of relaxed dining options in Nara, too. Aya is a typical izakaya-style outlet found across Japan – think Irish pub meets tapas bar. Rustic decor combined with top-notch sashimi and sake make this a refreshing pit stop. It’s really close to Kintetsu Nara Station, too, so you can easily grab a bite before catching your train back to Osaka.
CAFÉ & KITCHEN nanairo is another chilled-out eatery, this time near the JR Nara Station. The menu blends local and Western cuisine styles and puts on a tasty afternoon tea. Free Wi-Fi and charging stations make this a popular pre-train spot.
7. Hike to the top of Mt. Wakakusa
Stretch your legs and shake off any cobwebs with an invigorating hike around Nara’s bountiful natural scenery. For incredible views over the city, the clearly signposted trail from Nara Park to the summit of Mt. Wakakusa is an easily accessible option. It takes around two hours in total, passing through the heart of a rare ecosystem in Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest. The forest has been protected since 841 AD, so it's a chance to see some unique trees, wildlife, rare birds and insects.
8. Stop and smell the blossoms at Isuien Garden
If you're after loads of scenery but less hiking, Isuien Garden is for you. Watched over by magnificent Mt. Wakakusayama, these spacious gardens have it all – tea houses, ponds, a small museum and, of course, thousands of trees and flowering plants. Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple are both close by, so you can get in a visit to all three if you're tight on time.
For even more ideas on how to plan your perfect trip in this serene area, have a look at Klook’s Osaka-Kyoto-Nara itinerary.
9. Head out of town to Murou Art Forest
The hidden gem of Murou Art Forest is the reward for heading slightly farther out from Nara. At this outdoor sculpture park, gigantic metal, wood and concrete installations make a striking sight against the quiet, rural landscape. To make the experience even more mystical, you can get there via a 2-hour hike through mossy forests and along a meandering river. The starting point of the hike is Muroguchi-Ono Station, around 1.5 hours from Nara.
