Is Nara Worth Visiting? My Honest Review 2026

Nara is easily one of the most popular day trips you can take from Kyoto or Osaka. It’s famous for its UNESCO World Heritage sites, incredible temples, and, of course, the thousands of deer roaming around freely throughout the whole city.

I spent a full day in Nara myself, from early morning until late afternoon, as a day trip from Kyoto. Honestly? It was one of my favorite things I did in Japan.

I spent hours feeding the deer and trying to get them to pose for a picture with me, spoiler alert: they didn’t! But I also absolutely loved the temples, especially the Big Buddha Hall.

In this little guide, I want to walk you through my experience and give you my honest take on whether is Nara worth visiting. I’ll break down why I think it’s a “must,” share some tips on what there is to actually do there, and help you plan your own trip!

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Is Nara Worth Visiting? My Honest Review 2026

Is Nara Worth Visiting – My Experience

I actually debated for a bit on whether I should book an overnight stay in Nara or just do a day trip from Kyoto. I ended up just doing the day trip because I was there in November, which is generally a bit quieter anyway. From what I gathered, the main perk of staying the night is being able to explore at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds, but for me, a day trip was perfect.

I did the whole thing solo and just headed there by taking the JR Nara Line. Pro tip: there’s an “Express” and a “Local” train. The Express is a bit more expensive, but it’s faster and you don’t have to worry about changing trains. Since public transport in Japan is basically a dream, it was incredibly easy to navigate.

I was a little “unlucky” on my Nara day because it rained literally all day long. In almost all my pictures, you’ll see me huddled under an umbrella, but honestly, I didn’t mind it at all.

There was something really quaint and cozy about wandering around Nara in the gloomy weather, plus, the rain kept the crowds away, which is always a massive win in my book.

I pretty much explored all of Nara on foot starting from the station. When I say “all of Nara,” I really mean the massive park in the city center where all the temples and deer are. I had such a great time, the deer were super cute but very cheeky, especially when I tried to feed them! The absolute highlight for me, though, was the Big Buddha Hall. It’s just massive.

I will say, though, that I probably missed out on some of the deeper history by not booking a guide this time. If you’re really into the history and meaning behind the temples, I’d highly recommend booking a guided tour from Kyoto or Osaka rather than just winging it like I did!

What I Loved About Nara

The Nature

I absolutely loved finally feeling like I’d escaped the concrete jungle for a minute. My Japan itinerary was very city-heavy, especially at the beginning, so it felt so refreshing to actually be around some greenery. Nara Park is just beautiful, it’s full of trees, cute little walkways, hidden temples, and, of course, deer everywhere you look.

The Deer

Let’s be real: this is the main reason we’re all coming here, right? I’d seen all the cute deer on Instagram, which is exactly why I planned this trip in the first place, and it didn’t disappoint. The deer are literally roaming everywhere in the city, sometimes they even hold up traffic, which is honestly hilarious to watch.

The Temples

The temples in Nara are stunning, and I really enjoyed wandering through them. My absolute favorite was the Big Buddha Hall (Todai-ji). To be honest, I didn’t even know it existed before I arrived, but I am so glad I went inside. The Buddha is absolutely massive!

The Affordability

I felt like this was an amazingly cheap day trip. Since a lot of my day was just spent wandering around Nara Park and people-watching (or deer-watching), I didn’t have to spend much at all. Aside from the train ticket, some deer crackers, a few temple fees, and lunch, there weren’t many costs. It’s definitely great value for money as far as Japan day trips go.

Book Here: Nara Tour From Kyoto OR Osaka

What I Didn’t Like About Nara

The Weather

I know, I know, it’s not Nara’s fault (or anyone’s fault, really), but it rained literally all day while I was there.

It didn’t ruin the day for me because I’d brought an umbrella, so I was fine, but I definitely would’ve preferred some sunshine. Pretty much everything in Nara is outdoors, so when it’s pouring, there really isn’t much to do besides hiding in the temples, but even then, you’re eventually going to have to make a run for it.

Tourist Crowds in Nara

I guess the rain was actually a bit of a blessing in disguise here. Because it was pouring, there weren’t many people around, which was actually kind of nice now that I think about it.

However, I’ve heard absolute horror stories about visiting during peak season (like spring) on a sunny day. Apparently, it gets completely overrun and just packed with people, so that’s definitely something to be aware of if you’re planning a trip.

The Way People Treat the Deer

This isn’t necessarily a “Nara problem,” but more of a “people problem.” I noticed that some tourists were weirdly disrespectful toward the deer and seemed to have no concept of how to actually interact with animals, which was honestly disturbing to see.

Some people were literally pushing the deer into their photos or harassing them just to get “the shot.” I really wish there was more awareness or maybe more rangers walking around to protect the deer from unhinged tourists.

Things to Do in Nara Japan

Get the Deer to Bow

This is easily the most popular thing to do in Nara. The deer have actually learned to bow to tourists in exchange for crackers (Shika Senbei). I’m not entirely sure if they were specifically conditioned to do this or if they just realized that bowing gets them the goods, but if you bow to them, they’ll often bow back and then expect a treat immediately.

I tried my best to get them to do it, and it worked okay for me, but I saw some other people who were clearly “deer whisperers” getting full-on multiple bows.

Again, I want to emphasize: please be respectful. Don’t tease them by holding the crackers out of reach or harass them if they aren’t in the mood. If they don’t want to bow or pose for your picture, just let them be and move on to the next one.

Visit the Big Buddha Hall (Todai-ji)

One of my absolute favorite things I did in Nara was visiting the Big Buddha Hall, or Todai-ji. As you can probably guess from the name, it is a massive wooden hall with a truly giant Buddha statue inside. It is stunning and honestly super impressive.

I felt like going to the temples was really “needed” for my day trip, otherwise, I would have just been a girl wandering through a park chasing deer all day. That sounds a bit weird, but you know what I mean! You need that cultural balance. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and genuinely one of the most stunning things I’ve seen in Japan.

Kofuku-ji Temple

This temple is famous for its massive five-story pagoda, which is basically the symbol of Nara. Unfortunately, when I was there, it was under construction and covered in scaffolding (which was a total bummer!), but I’ve seen pictures of it without the “blanket” and it looks beautiful.

Construction is a pretty common thing with these ancient wooden buildings in Japan, as they need constant upkeep to last another thousand years. Even if the pagoda is covered, most of the other temples in this area are still worth checking out anyway!

Book Here: Nara Tour From Kyoto OR Osaka

Best Places to Stay in Nara Overnight

As I mentioned before, I didn’t actually stay in Nara myself. Since I visited in November, I didn’t feel like I needed to.

The crowds weren’t crazy enough that I felt the urge to beat them at 6:00 AM. But I can totally see the advantage! Staying overnight means you can be the very first person in the park before the trains from Kyoto and Osaka even arrive.

What I did notice while I was wandering around is that there are some amazing hotels right next to Nara Park and Nara Station. These looked beautiful and, in my opinion, would make the perfect base for exploring without having to rush back to the train station.

Here are some of the best hotels to stay in Nara:

Book Here: Hotel New Wakasa

Book Here: Hotel Neirako

FAQs About Is Nara Worth It?

Nara Japan, is it worth it?

Absolutely! My day trip to Nara was definitely one of my favorite things I did in Japan. I loved being able to leave the city behind for a little bit, wander through nature, and meet the deer. I also think it would be a super fun activity for families traveling with kids.

How to get to Nara from Kyoto?

I personally took the JR Nara Line, but there are multiple lines that go there. If you don’t want the hassle of figuring it out yourself, you can also book a guided bus tour, which is a very common and easy way to see the highlights.

How to get to Nara from Osaka?

From Osaka, it’s just as easy as coming from Kyoto. There is the JR Yamatoji Rapid Service that goes straight to Nara Station. Alternatively, you can book a guided bus tour, which many people choose for the convenience.

What is there to do in Nara?

My favorite thing was obviously feeding the deer and getting them to bow! Other than that, the temples in Nara are incredible, Todai-ji (the Big Buddha Hall) is definitely a must-see.

Should I stay in Nara overnight?

I was personally more than happy with just a day trip. However, if you have the time, I can totally see how an overnight stay would be fun, especially if you want to be the first one in the park to beat the crowds in the morning.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Nara Japan

All in all, I think Nara was one of the best day trips I took in Japan. I did it from Kyoto, and it took me less than an hour to get there, which was so easy. It was amazing to get out of the city and see somewhere more “naturey,” and of course, I loved feeding the deer, even if they were a little cheeky!

I definitely think Nara is worth it, and it’s something you should absolutely put on your list for your next Japan visit.