Best of Nara

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Nara
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Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara
Map of Ancient Capitals of Japan Self-Guided Walking Tour: Asuka and Nara - 5 Days
Ancient Capitals of Japan Self-Guided Walking Tour: Asuka and Nara - 5 Days

Explore the ancient capitals of Japan by foot on this walking tour along the country's oldest known road. Visit Tanzan Shrine, one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples, and wander the streets of Nara's Edo-period merchant district. Walk through forests dotted with statues of the Buddha, and deepen your understanding of Japanese culture with an overnight stay in a ryokan (traditional inn) or minshuku (family-run guesthouse)—or spend a night or two getting to know a local family with a Japanese homestay.

Japan's Nakasendo Trail
Map of Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days
Nakasendo Trail: Tokyo to Kyoto - 12 Days

Perfect for active walkers, this trip combines a four-day walk on Japan's Nakasendo Trail, which connected Tokyo and Kyoto during the days of shoguns and samurai, with a visit to three historic Japanese capitals, Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto. You'll begin your trip in Tokyo, then take to the trail and stay in post towns once used as feudal-era stopover points. You'll visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nara, Yoshino, and Mount Koya, then spend two nights in Kyoto, where geisha still entertain well-heeled guests, and Buddhist temples beckon.

Paper lanterns in a Shinto shrine in Japan
Map of Japan's Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka - 8 Days
Japan's Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara & Osaka - 8 Days

Hit the highlights of Japan on this eight-day adventure that takes you west from Tokyo to Osaka. After getting to know the massive metropolis of Tokyo, head to Kyoto to witness the contrast between traditional versus modern culture in its markets, temples, and palaces. Spend some downtime among the peaceful shrines and friendly deer of Nara, then finish your trip in vibrant Osaka, sampling regional specialties on a food tour and bar-hopping through neon-lit neighborhoods to your heart's content.

Other popular travel destinations in Japan
Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Hakone · Hiroshima · Kanazawa · Takayama · Okinawa · Hokaido · Western Honshu · Hokkaido/Northern Honshu