NaraCity

Sightseeing Guide

From 710 to 784 the capital of Japan, Heijokyo, was located in present day Nara City.
As is shown by the number of extant historical Buddhist images and buildings around
Nara City, Japanese culture flourished here under the reign of successive emperors
and empresses during that era. Several historical sites have been registered onUNESCOʼs World Heritage List as “Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara”.
Undoubtedly Nara is a treasure house of ancient history and culture set in a beautiful
natural environment.

TWorld Heritage Siteodaiji Temple

KWorld Heritage Siteohfukuji Temple

KWorld Heritage Siteasuga Taisha Shrine

B us Route Map

S ightseeing spots

Nara Park 奈良公園

Kokujieitai

Located in the central part of Nara City, this vast green area,
popularly known as Nara Park, encompasses four world heritage
sites of UNESCO. Their origins date back to at least the 8thcentury. In this park, history and nature blend in harmony.
Another charm of this park is deer. Approx. 1200 wild deer roamaround freely and they are so tame that you can make friends
with them!

(The Air Self- Defense Force Base)

Saidaiji eki

航空自衛隊

西大寺駅

Heijo Kyuseki(Heijo Palace Site) Hokkeji mae
平城宮跡

法華寺前

Toshodaiji
Higashiguchi★Why are there so many deer in the park?

GWorld Heritage Site

TWorld Heritage Siteoshodaiji Temple

Both paths to this shrine are lined with approx.
2000 stone lanterns, and the eaves of the shrine
itself are decorated with around a thousand
hanging bronze lanterns. It is also impressive tosee the vermilion colored shrine buildings withcypress-bark roof stand in harmony with thenatural environment. For information regarding
the origin of this shrine, please read “Why are
there so many deer in the park?” in this leaﬂet.
Hours:9:00‒16:00（Homotsuden Hall and The
Garden of Kasuga Taisha Shrine）

YWorld Heritage Site

akushiji Temple

angoji Temple

薬師寺駐車場

Isuien Gaeden（9:30〜16:30）依水園

This garden is full of charms; ponds, stepping stones, tea
houses, a watermill, seasonal ﬂowers… One of the mostimpressive scenes is a view of the Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji
Temple and Wakakusayama Hill from the garden. They areincorporated into the garden as if they were a part of it.

＊The numbers indicated in the box are thebus numbers (see above for each route).

1 City circular bus inbound line
2 City circular bus outbound line

N

法起寺前

12 JR Nara ⇔ Saidaiji
14 JR Nara ⇔ Kokujieitai ⇔Saidaiji
70 Kasuga Taisha Honden ⇔Rokujoyama
97 Kasuga Taisha Honden ⇔Horyuji Temple

Jikoin慈光院

Chuguji
Horyuji mae 中宮寺(Nara.Nishinokyo.Ikaruga.Excursion Line)

法隆寺前

B us Stops
1013

YamatoSaidaiji Sta.

To Kyoto

JR Nara Sta.

1111Suzaku Avenue

ToshodaijiTemple
YakushijiTemple

TodaijiTemple
Kohfukuji
TempleKasugaTaishaGangoji
ShrineTemple

To Tenri

0To Yamatoyagi To Tennoji

N1km

JR LineKintetsu Line

RKintetsu
Nara Sta.
Bus Stop

1 2 70 97
8 70 979 1
13 12 14

JR
Nara Sta.
Bus Stop

1 2 70 97
7 12 1410 70 97
11 1

＊for indicated bus lines, see the map above.

Kintetsu Kashihara Line

PondHorinji Temple
法輪寺

Chuguji Temple

卍

Hokiji Temple

卍 法起寺

JR YamatoKoizumi Sta.
25R卍

iLine

中宮寺

法隆寺

KasugayamaPrimeval
Forest

JR Koriyama Sta.

Kintetsu
Nara Sta.

JR Na
ra Sta.

Kintetsu
Nara Sta.

24

TomiogawaRiverHoryuji 卍Temple

To Kyoto

Nara (Heijo)
PalaceKintetsu
Koriyama Sta.

toj

Originally founded in 680, this temple prospered
under the patronage of the imperial court in the8th century. Since that time, the temple was totragically lose all of its buildings to ﬁre, with theexception of its east pagoda. Restoration work has
continued since1967, and today, visitors can see
many buildings reconstructed by using traditional
methods and techniques.
Hours:8:30‒17:00（Last admission at 16:30）

Suzakumon
GateThis sacred forest extends behind the Kasuga
Taisha Shrine. Since 841 when hunting andlogging in this forest were banned, the forest hasbeen preserved in the primeval condition. Thishas made the forest a sanctuary for various
protected species.

B us Line7

The old map of Nara City

For about 70 years from 710, the capital of Japan
was Heijokyo located in present day Nara City.
Heijo Palace was situated at the northern end ofthe capital. Covering approx. 1.3 km from east towest and approx. 1 km from north to south, thissite has been preserved as a special historic spotof Japan. Both of the Suzakumon Gate（1998）
and Daigokuden Hall（2010）were restored.
Hours:9:00‒16:30（Last admission 16:00）
It is closed on Mondays.

高畑町

2

近鉄郡山駅

Hokiji mae

9 8Kujo Sta.

To Osaka(Osaka-Namba)

Kintetsu Koriyama eki

中宮寺東口

春日大社本殿

Takabatakecho

1

薬師寺東口

Yakushiji
Chushajo

Chuguji
Higashiguchi

ndesuut

Kasuga Taisha
HondenKasuga Taisha
Omote Sndo

Yakushiji
Higashiguchi

六条山ma

asugayama Primeval Forestaig

破石町

Rokujoyama

This neo-classical building was constructed as the third nationalmuseum in Japan in 1895 in Nara Park. Today this building isopen to the public as Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. In 1973 a
new museum building was constructed, and is used for specialexhibitions.

Yaeijo Palace Siteuok 館
aK 物

akuhs
rit

Horyujii Center

法隆寺 i センター

aysw

es

prxnE

S ouvenirs to suit your budget
Tsutsui Sta.

koriyama I.C

JR Horyuji Sta.

ishNi〜￥1,000

Amulet of various kinds; Handkerchief printed with the Shoso-inpattern; Deer antler goods.（key holders, paper-knives, etc.）〜￥2,000T-shirts（printed with Sumo wrestlers or the Ukiyoe pictures）;
Japanese folding fans; fancy goods with a kimono patternsuch as coasters, toiletry goods, pouches, etc.

￥2,000〜Linen goods （table center, curtains etc.）; Yoshino cedar
handicrafts（picture frames etc.）; incense and burners; Narafans, Nara dolls; Akahada-yaki earthenware goods.

Hirahata Sta.

aihme

JR法隆寺駅

Horyuji Temple（8:00〜17:00（Feb.22 to Nov.3）／8:00〜16:30（Nov.4 to Feb.21））
法隆寺
This temple is famous for including the oldest wooden buildingsin the world. Originally founded in 607, the temple buildings werereconstructed in the early 8th century after being lost in ﬁre. The
ﬁve-story pagoda, the main hall, and some of the buildings haveremained intact since then. In addition, various historicaltreasures including Buddhist images are on display at thetempleʼs museum, Daihozoden.

nkatsuuub

Wariishicho

薬師寺

Nara National Museum（9:30〜17:00）奈良国立博物館

JRK

World Heritage Site

HJR奈良駅

Yakushiji

Nishinokyo Sta.

World Heritage Siteishe

春日大社表参道

Amagatsuji Sta.

This temple was originally founded in the 6thcentury as the ﬁrst Buddhist temple in Japan.
Even today several 6th century-roof-tiles are used
for its Gokurakubo and Zenshitsu halls. Thesehalls are said to be the architectural remains of
the 8th century dormitory for Buddhist monks.
Hours:9:00‒17:00（Last admission at 16:30）

G

nmo
idkam 寺 oH
nj 立博 aiboi
jko
福ro ・国ei D 殿 inch 興chnt 奈良 n 前（ en 庁東 imu室神社 daij 寺大仏 n Sh 公会堂
K 県
Ki 近鉄 Ke 県庁
H 氷To 東大 Ke 県新(Nae ）tsu 駅唐招提寺

NThis temple was founded by Chinese Buddhist
priest Jianzhen, Ganjin in Japanese, in 759 as an
institute dedicated to the learning of Buddhist
commandments. Several buildings in this temple
date back to the 8th century. Among them, the main
hall is the structure of the 8th century remaining,
and the lecture hall is a building used at Heijo Palace.
Hours:8:30‒17:00（Last admission at 16:30）

f.
reaP
arer
ovce
ffi

Daibutsuden
JR NaraKasuga Taisha maeeki
大仏殿春日大社前

唐招提寺東口Toshodaiji

According to legend, when Kasuga Taisha
Shrine was founded as a family shrine for
the Fujiwaras, a dominant aristocrat clanin the 8th century, they invited a mighty
god from Kashima Shrine (in present dayIbaraki Prefecture). The god is said tohave come to Nara riding on a white deer.
Since then, deer have been respected
and protected as divine messengers bylocal people.

The deer in Nara Park eat grass, bamboo leaves and buds. But
Shika Senbei (deer crackers) is their favorite food. You can buy
these crackers at several spots in the park. The deer in thispark are so polite that they bow to you when they ask you forShika Senbei!

Originally founded in the 7th century, 2010 marks
the 1300 anniversary of the foundation of thistemple. The ﬁve-story pagoda, a symbol of Nara
City, was reconstructed about 500 years ago（1426）after it had burned down ﬁve times. A lotof national treasures and cultural treasures are
exhibited at the templeʼs museum, Kokuhokan.
Hours:9:00‒17:00（Last admission at 16:45）

kieraNa★Feed the deer Shika Senbei (deer crackers)!

This temple is famous for the massive Vairocana
statue, which is popularly known as Daibutsu（Great Buddha）. Founded in the 8th century, theDaibutsuden hall which houses the statue wasburned down twice in ﬁres that broke out as aresult of war. The present structure, which wasrebuilt in 1709, was scaled down to two-thirds ofthe original size. Nevertheless it is the largest
wooden structures in the world.
Hours:8:00‒16:30（Nov. to Feb.）8:00‒17:00（Mar.）
7:30‒17:30（Apr. to Sept.）7:30‒17:00（Oct.）)

Ont＊The above-mentioned souvenirs can all be purchased at the shops introduced below.

Souvenirs & Gifts

Along the Sanjo, Higashimuki and Mochiidono streets are souvenir shops,
secondhand Kimono shops, antique shops, Nara specialty shops, and others. You
can enjoy shopping to your taste and on your budget.
The Nara National Museum has a museum shop on its basement ﬂoor. Visitors
may drop in whether they have an admission ticket or not. Various items including
books, picture cards, and fabrics with traditional patterns are available.
At Kite-Mite Nara Shop near the Kintetsu Nara Station, a wide variety of local
specialties of Nara Prefecture are available.
＊Beside these two shops, there are many other shops, such as the ￥100 stores, recycled stores andsouvenir shops located in Sanjo-dori street, Higashimuki, and Mochiidono shopping streets.

Nara Sightseeing MAP

Legend◎Nara Prefectural Gov.Office◎ Nara City Hall

Police Station
Koban (Plice Box)

http://narashikanko.jp/en/index.html

To KYOTO 京都

Akishinodera Temple

To KYOTO

Burial Mound

Yamato-Saidaiji Sta. Sakicho
大和西大寺駅

Heijo Palace
Site Museum

Saidaiji Temple

平城宮跡遺構展示館

Heijo Palace Site

菅原天満宮

1.0km

Kin
tetsu Ka
近鉄 shih
橿原 araLine線

Sugawara
Tenmangu Shrine

二条大路南4丁目

0.3km

Amagatsuji
Sta.
尼ケ辻駅

Burial Mound

Toll Gate
料金所

0.8km
Ichijodori St. 一条通り

24
RR

Nara Ikuei High School

Nara Okuyama
Toll Road

Daibutsu-ike
Pond

転害門

奈良奥山ドライブウェイ

Kaidan-inTemple Hall

Pond

Daibutsuden

Great
Bell

大仏殿

戒壇院

0.8km

do not walkTodaiji Temple
東大寺

0.8km

Nara Women’s
University
奈良女子大学

県立美術館

Pref. Cultural Hall
県文化会館

(Walking Tour)

奈良市役所

二月堂

Sangatsu-do Hall
三月堂

Kagami-ike
Pond

NHKPref. Museum of Art◎

大鐘

Nigatsu-do Hall

Kintetsu Kohfukuji Temple
興福寺
NaraSta.

Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine
手向山八幡宮Kasugayama Primeval Forest
春日山原始林Nandaimon Gate

Neiraku Museum

Wakakusayama
Hill (342m)

南大門

寧楽美術館

Isuien Garden

若草山

依水園

Nara Pref. Gov. Office
奈良県庁
Yoshikien Garden◎369
RKencho mae

吉城園Toll Gate

Himuro Jinja
Shrine

料金所

氷室神社(Meeting Venue)

県庁前の小径

michi
Pat
h

古墳

369

Shoso-inTreasure Repository
正倉院
TegaimonGate

Nara Pref.
Yume-Kaze Plaza
Himurojinja
Washington
New Public Hall
近鉄奈良駅
Kohfukuji Kokuho-kan Kokuritsuhakubutsukan
Remains of Heijokyo
PondBurialMound
奈良県新公会堂
氷室神社・国立博物館
Museum 興福寺国宝館(Lunch)Hotel Plaza 古墳
Sakyo Sanjo Nibo Palace Garden
km
0.25
TheGardenofDaibutsuden
平城京左京三条二坊宮跡庭園
KasugaTaisha
Hotel
Nara National Museum
Kasuga Taisha mae Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Tokon-do Hall
Hondenkm
1.8
Three-Story
Pagoda
大仏殿・春日大社前
奈良国立博物館
東金堂
Nikko
春日大社神苑 萬葉植物園
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
春日大社本殿
三重塔
Five-Story Pagoda
Nara Centennial Hall
春日大社
五重塔
(Banquet)
三条通り
SanjodoriSt.
HotelFujita
なら100年会館
0.5km
0.5km Sarusawa-ike
0.3km
0.4km
Deer Enclosure
JR Nara Sta.
Pond
Isagawa
Jinja
鹿苑
Comfort猿沢池
JR奈良駅
Shrine0.8km
Narakogei-kan Naramachi Center
Hotel率川神社
Ukimido Gazebo
ならまちセンター
Craft Center
浮見堂
Ara-ike Pond
1.2km
Denkoji Temple
なら工藝館
Wakamiya Jinja Shrine
テ伝香寺
若宮神社
Gangoji Temple
0.5km
-Koon
元興寺
i
Sagi-ike Pond
Hotel
Shiga Naoya’s
yakSugioka Kason Calligraphy Art Museum
きDaijoin Temple
Sasaや杉岡華邨書道美術館
Old Residence
ささSunroute
0.9km
Garden CulturalHall
志賀直哉旧居Historical Materials
名勝大乗院庭園文化館
Preservation House
Wriishicho
奈良市立史料保存館
破石町
0.3km
0.5km
Jurin-in Temple
Imanishi-ke
Shoin
0.7km
Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of
Naramachi Shiryo-kan Museum
0.2km
十輪院
今西家書院
Photography Nara City
奈良町資料館
Fukuchi-in Temple
To YAGYU 柳生
入江泰吉記念奈良市写真美術館
Shin-yakushiji Temple
Onjo-Kan Hall
Naramachi Koshi-no-ie Lattice House 福智院
km
0.4
音声館
ならまち格子の家
新薬師寺
0.7km
Naramachi Promotion Center
0.8km
ならまち振興館
0.5km
11.0kmNara University of Education

Nijoojiminami 4chome

阪奈菅原

1.3km

Nara CityHall

奈良市美術館(Ito Yokado 5F)

Hanna Sugawara

Futaiji Temple

Kintetsu
近鉄 Nar奈良 a Line線

Nara City Museum of Art

喜光寺

1.0km

Shin Omiya
Sta. 新大宮駅

朱雀門

N

奈良育英高校東院庭園

2 City circular bus outbound line

0.9km

鴻ノ池陸上競技場

0.5km

Toin-teien Garden

Suzakumon Gate

Kikoji Temple

To OSAKA 大阪

平城宮跡

Konoike Athletic Stadium

県青少年会館(ユースホステル) 育英学園

海龍王寺

JR LineKintetsu Line

Nara Y.H.

奈良ユースホステル(Y.H.)Pref.
Seishonen Kaikan Ikueigakuen

KairyuojiTemple

Nara Park
City Loop

1 City circular bus inbound line

To YAGYU 柳生

不退寺

航空自衛隊

1.0kmHokkejiTemple

Daigoku-den Hall 法華寺
大極殿
Excavation Site
Exhibition Hall

平城宮跡資料館

西大寺

Kokujieitai

Heijo Kyuseki

佐紀町

1.2km

JR Nara古墳

Hospital
Lavatory
Parking

般若寺

0.4km

Line JR奈

To KYOTO 京都

大阪難波

To KYOTO 京都

Exchange (Bank)
Rent-a-Cycle
Youth Hostel
SchoolHannyaji Temple

良線

秋篠寺

To OSAKA-NAMBA

To KYOTO 京都

京都

Bus Stop
ShrinePost Office
Hotel

0.8km

Toshodaiji Temple

1.3km

唐招提寺

Ganko-Ittetsu
Nagaya(Craftmen’s work shop)

Toshodaiji Higashiguchi
唐招提寺東口

西の京駅

西ノ京駅
YakushijinsaJRKa

Sah0.5kmNishinokyo Sta.
1.0km

2ioR

iver0.4km

がんこ一徹長屋

Nishinokyo eki

佐保川

Toshodaiji

JR関 Lin西本 e ( Y線（ am大和 at路線 oji） Line)

唐招提寺

Daianji
大安寺

1.9km

薬師寺

Nishinokyo eki
西の京駅

Yakushiji Higashiguchi

JR

Kitakyobatecho
北京終町

Tanakacho

市立奈良病院

Manyo
M
J
R万0.4kme

Osaka Immigration Bureau(Nara Branch Office)

JR Kyobate Sta.
JR京終駅

Daianji Temple

薬師寺

0.3km

a

葉ま hor
ほろ ob
ば線 a Lin

薬師寺東口

Yakushiji Temple

奈良教育大学

Nara City Hospital

田中町

169

大阪入国管理局 奈良出張所

R

大安寺

0.4km
NIFS(Nara International Foundation
Commemorating the Silk Road Exposition)
奈良国際研修館

To YAMATOYAGI 大和八木KASHIHARAJINGU 橿原神宮
ASUKA 飛鳥To HORYUJI Temple 法隆寺Telephone

To KASHIHARA 橿原

To HORYUJI 法隆寺

NARA CITY HALL ……………………………………TEL.（0742）34-1111
NARA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE …TEL.（0742）22-1101
NARA POLICE STATION ……………………………TEL.（0742）33-0110
NARA PREFECTURAL HOSPITAL ………………TEL.（0742）46-6001
NARA CITY HOSPITAL………………………………TEL.（0742）24-1251

To SAKURAI 桜井

Nara City
TouristInformationCenters

Nara City Tourist Information Center (Sanjodori St.)
Hours:9:00-21:00(Closed for the year-end and new-year holidays) …TEL.
（0742）22-3900

JR Nara Station Hours:9:00-17:00
Kintetsu-Nara Station Hours:9:00-17:00
Sarusawa Information Hours:9:00-17:00 (Closed for the year-end and new-year holidays)

Byakugoji
Temple
白毫寺

To NARA OKUYAMA Toll Road
奈良奥山ドライブウェイ

To TENRI 天理

Nara City Tourist Information Center (Next to JR Nara Station)
Hours:9:00-21:00…………………………TEL.
（0742）27-2223

Left Luggage office ●available time:9a.m.−7p.m.
●open every day of a year ●cost:400 yen/1baggage
Nara Prefecture Tourist Information Center Hours:10:00-17:00

Free Toursin English

Nara S.G.G.Club ………TEL..(0742)22-5595 FAX.(0742)22-5595
Nara Student Guide …TEL.(0742)26-4753 FAX.(0742)26-1991
Nara YMCA Goodwill Guides…………………………TEL.(0742)45-5920