Nara Day Trip Guide: Cycling, Deer & Temples in Japan, Nara, Japan
Unfortunately, too many people try to rush through here, but we discovered that it’s worth slowing things down to truly appreciate what Japan’s ancient capital city has to offer.
We decided to explore Nara independently by bicycle. After days of walking around Japan, it felt like a welcome change; a rest for our weary feet, and a way to travel faster yet slower-something a little more relaxed, yet a little more fun.
In this article, Feet Do Travel shares our day trip cycling around Nara, including the sacred deer and historic temples we visited along the way.
We hope to show why Nara deserves a place on your Japan itinerary, but also why it is a destination best enjoyed slowly, with time to wander beyond the obvious sights.
Our route (The “Forest First” Loop): Nara Station → Nara Park → Kasuga Taisha → Lunch at Kasuga Ninai-jaya → Todai-Ji (Great Buddha) → Nara Station
The Traditional Loop: JR/Kintetsu Nara Station → Kofuku-ji Pagoda → Kasuga Taisha → Nara Park → Lunch at Kasuga Ninai-jaya → Todai-Ji (Great Buddha) → Nara Station
Bike Parking Awareness: You cannot just park your bike anywhere in Japan. Use the designated Churinjo “Bicycle Parking” areas near temple entrances to avoid fines. When stopping for food, check that the restaurant has a small area at the front. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
We decided to explore Nara independently by bicycle. After days of walking around Japan, it felt like a welcome change; a rest for our weary feet, and a way to travel faster yet slower-something a little more relaxed, yet a little more fun.
In this article, Feet Do Travel shares our day trip cycling around Nara, including the sacred deer and historic temples we visited along the way.
We hope to show why Nara deserves a place on your Japan itinerary, but also why it is a destination best enjoyed slowly, with time to wander beyond the obvious sights.
Our route (The “Forest First” Loop): Nara Station → Nara Park → Kasuga Taisha → Lunch at Kasuga Ninai-jaya → Todai-Ji (Great Buddha) → Nara Station
The Traditional Loop: JR/Kintetsu Nara Station → Kofuku-ji Pagoda → Kasuga Taisha → Nara Park → Lunch at Kasuga Ninai-jaya → Todai-Ji (Great Buddha) → Nara Station
Bike Parking Awareness: You cannot just park your bike anywhere in Japan. Use the designated Churinjo “Bicycle Parking” areas near temple entrances to avoid fines. When stopping for food, check that the restaurant has a small area at the front. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
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Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Nara Day Trip Guide: Cycling, Deer & Temples in Japan
Guide Location: Japan » Nara
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Angie Briggs
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.feetdotravel.com/the-blog/nara-day-trip-guide-cycling-deer-temples-in-japan
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Japan » Nara
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Angie Briggs
Read it on Author's Website: https://www.feetdotravel.com/the-blog/nara-day-trip-guide-cycling-deer-temples-in-japan
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Nara Park
- Kasuga Taisha
- Kasuga Ninai-jaya
- Todai-Ji (Great Buddha)
Insider Tips for Nara, Japan
Explore Nara: A Day Trip from Osaka
Nara, Japan, is a place of peculiar occurrences. And it is a place of ancient beauty and sorrowful history. If you’re not bored yet, read on for a complete Nara travel guide.
Early Morning at Nara Park
It is still a bit dark and quite chilly at 630AM as I gently close the door of Hiloki Hostel and take the two-minute walk to the bus terminal at Nara Station where I will board a bus to Nara Park.
Todaiji, Yoshiki-en and Kofukuji in Nara Park
With every person I brush past, my expectation of Todaiji goes down a notch. In my head, the number of tourists is inversely proportional to the site's ability to make me go "wow". But, Todaiji, you prove me wrong.
Temples and Cherry Blossoms in Yoshino (Nara)
Although we were a week late for the peak cherry blossoms, my father and I hopped on the train in Osaka-Abenobashi Station to go to Yoshino Station (90 minutes, 1170 JPY per way) in the hopes of seeing some cherry blossom trees in Mount Yoshino. Mount Yoshino is a popular place in Nara for cherry blossom viewing, because it is said to be covered in about 30,000 cherry blossom trees!
See Nara in a Day from Osaka
In a world of Buddhist culture, shrines, and ancient gardens only an hour from Osaka, intriguing Nara’s popularity sees many local and foreign visitors.
Heijo-kyo, the imperial capital of Japan between 710 to 784, was located where Nara city is located today. Several historical sites are registered with UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara”, cementing... view more
Heijo-kyo, the imperial capital of Japan between 710 to 784, was located where Nara city is located today. Several historical sites are registered with UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara”, cementing... view more
Nara: Sleep, Eat, and Explore Nara City
The next stop on my itinerary: Nara! But first, some essentials such as where to sleep, where to eat, and how to go around (or rather, where I slept, where I ate, and how I found my way around).