Deer roaming freely near Nara temples and deer park

Nara Day Trip: Giant Buddha & Sacred Deer

Kyoto, Japan

SpiritualHistoryNature Outdoors

Would you do this?

Duration7 hrs

EffortModerate

BudgetBudget

PriceUSD 4

StyleSelf-Guided

OpenEvery day

Best monthsMar, Apr, Oct, Nov

About This Activity

Nara, 45 minutes from Kyoto by express train, was Japan's first permanent capital (710-794 CE) and remains one of the country's most accessible day trips. Feed the park's 1,200 free-roaming shika deer (considered messengers of the gods), then enter Todai-ji — the world's largest wooden structure — to stand before the 15-meter Great Buddha (Daibutsu). Add Kasuga Grand Shrine for its thousands of lanterns and Isuien Garden for a composed Japanese landscape. Entry to Todai-ji ¥600.

Seasonal note: Best spring and autumn; deer antler cutting Oct

See This in an Itinerary

This activity appears in 18 of our curated itineraries.

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