Nara is a must-do day trip if you are in the Kansai area in Japan. I spent way too long watching every TikTok, Instagram reel, and reading every blog post about the perfect Nara itinerary to create this ultimate Nara daytrip plan, complete with Google Maps links.
The first tip for your trip to Nara, and almost any place in Japan, is the earlier the better. Although most shops don’t open until 10 am, it’s still a good idea to arrive as early as possible, as many spots get busier and busier throughout the day. Even taking the train at around 10 am will give you a head start compared to other visitors.
Higashimuki Shopping Street
When you arrive at the Kintetsu-Nara railway station, you’ll most likely come up next to the great touristy shopping district of Nara. Purchase your souvenirs before the crowds, or grab your morning coffee at one of the cafes nearby. Personally, I fell in love with all the deer merch from the many souvenir stores, so check those out if you love cute things!
Nakatanidō mochi pounding
Nakatanido mochi pounding is one of the most famous spots in Nara as seen on TikTok. The mochi pounding shows happen according to demand, so if you want to see it and it’s currently not happening, you can ask the employees when they would recommend for you to come back to watch the show!
Oh, and don’t forget to taste the mochi too! For matcha lovers, this is THE spot for handmade mochi, so don’t miss out.
Nara Park
The highlight and main attraction of Nara is, of course, the deer! You don’t have to worry about not running into any deer at Nara – as you walk towards the park, you’ll start to see deer strolling around, lying next to roads, and even chasing people!
Speaking of which, be mindful when feeding the deer. Many vendors sell cookies in and around the park, but when the deer see you have them, it’s game over. They might chase you and entirely rob you of the cookies, so just hide your other cookies, and you’ll be much better off. Don’t forget to feed the old ones too, and be nice to the deer (or else)!
Manyo Botanical Garden
Right next to Nara Park, there is a small but beautiful botanical garden, full of flowers (depending on the season, of course). You can even feed the koi fish in the pond!
A top tip is to check out images of the garden at the time of year you’re visiting. Spring and summer seem to be the prime time to see all the different wisteria, flowers, and beautiful trees. It’s definitely worth visiting in these seasons!
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Kasuga Taisha Shrine is definitely an underrated shrine featuring hundreds of lanterns, which I haven’t seen anywhere else (even after visiting shrine after shrine in different cities). These lanterns have been donated by shrine worshippers, and are lit up twice a year (once in August and once in February).
The shrine was created over 1200 years ago, and it has incredible architecture and sacred deer statues you can admire. Plus, it’s right next to the Manyo Botanical Gardens!
Tōdai-ji Temple
Tōdai-ji Temple is the most legendary temple in Nara, dating back to the city’s founding in the 8th century when Nara was the capital of Japan. The Tōdai-ji Temple is HUGE (so huge that they’ve had to renovate it to prevent it from falling in on itself) and fittingly houses the world’s biggest Buddha statue, Vairocana. This is an absolute must-see in Nara.
Isuien Garden
Isuien Garden is a traditional Japanese garden preserved from the Meiji era, and according to Google Reviews, it is ‘absolutely not to be missed’.
The garden has multiple small teahouses scattered throughout. After the busy Tōdai-ji Temple, this is a good place to sit down and rest before heading to the last temple of your Nara trip.
Kōfuku-ji Temple
Located close to the Kintetsu-Nara railway station, Kōfuku-ji Temple is one of the oldest temples in all of Japan, dating back to 669 AD. The temple is home to Japan’s second-largest pagoda (wooden temple tower) at five layers and 50 meters!
The entrance to the grounds of the temple is free, and I would definitely recommend going to take a look at this legendary temple.
For enthusiastic historians, there are three areas you can enter to see statues and national treasures in the area, which require a small entrance fee (The Central Golden Hall, the Eastern Golden Hall, and Kofukuji’s National Treasure Museum). But personally, I was happy to just check it out from the outside after seeing the other temples and shrines on this route.
Tonkatsu Ganko Nara
After visiting all those parks and temples, it is finally dinnertime! As a certified food lover, this is a place that stole my heart and stomach.
For the best curry I’ve tasted in Japan, head to Tonkatsu Ganko Nara. The Katsu Curry Rice dish was incredible and big enough to satisfy my hunger after the whole day of walking around and exploring.
The restaurant is located in the Higashimuki Shopping Street, bringing us full circle and allowing you to grab extra deer merch.
FAQs: Nara day trip itinerary from Hirakata
It only takes around an hour and a half to reach Nara Station from Hirakata. Take the Keihan Main Line to Kyobashi Station, then transfer to the Osaka Loop Line/Yamatoji Line for Nara Station.
To make the most of your trip to Nara, consider leaving as early as possible before crowds start to arrive.
After you’ve bought some crackers, try to walk a little further into Nara Park as the deer are likely to be a bit calmer!
Nara is a beautiful place to visit in any season, but spring is an especially lovely time as wisteria and other flowers are in bloom.
Higashimuki Shopping Street has many spots where you can buy adorable deer-themed merchandise. You’re sure to find something there!
