What is so special about Nara?


What is so special about Nara? Boasting the most UNESCO World Heritage sites of any city in Japan, Nara offers a unique experience of Japanese history and culture in a relatively compact city. Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan from AD 710 to 794 and has an impressive list of splendid temples, shrines and traditional gardens to see.


Can you touch the deer in Nara?

Do not carelessly touch or approach the deer! Do not let your child approach the deer alone! The deer in Nara Park are wild animals. Their behavior is unpredictable.


Is Nara worth spending the night?

Nara National Museum is also located in the park. Staying overnight gives you extra time to see Nara by night, and explore some of the dinner options available. You can try some of Nara's specialities, such as somen noodles (a string-thin flour noodle), or bitter persimmon leaf sushi, kaki no ha zushi.


Why do people like Nara?

A celebration of the seasons. If it's springtime Nara is a top spot for cherry blossom. The city itself was stunning enough but Nara is also the name of a prefecture that includes Yoshino, one of the top cherry blossom viewing sites in all of Japan.


How long do I need in Nara?

While six or eight hours is ideal for a daytrip, you might find yourself with a mere half day to spend in Nara. If that is the case, don't despair: A half-day (four hours) is enough to see a lot of Nara's major sights.


What is Nara most known for?

Nara Prefecture is located in the Kansai Region of Japan, and is known as the home of many early emperor palaces, large Shinto shrines, and abundance of wild deer that roam freely through the region.


Where do the Nara deer go at night?

The deer are active at all hours of the day, looking for their next handout, but with few people around at night, most of them just rest on the ground.


What animal is specifically sacred in Nara Japan?

Because of this legend, deer were thought of as sacred animals--the helpers of gods--and have been carefully protected for many years. Even today, Nara's deer are carefully protected as natural monuments.