Nara day trip (Nara Park & Todai-ji)

東大寺 大仏殿

Bowing deer and a giant bronze Buddha

⚠ Deer swarm if you hold crackers

Hours

Nara Park always open. Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall 7:30am–5:30pm (Apr–Oct; shorter in winter, check)

Tickets

Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall about ¥800 for adults (check on site); deer crackers about ¥200 a bundle; Nara Park free

Address

406-1 Zoshi-cho, Nara (Todai-ji)

Head out of Kintetsu-Nara station towards the park and before long there's a deer standing in the middle of the path. Buy shika senbei crackers from the stands around the park and the deer bow to you, then three or four close in and tug at your clothes. Deeper in the park, Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and inside a bronze Buddha nearly 15 metres tall towers over you. With time to spare, walk the lantern-lined paths of Kasuga Taisha or up towards Wakakusa hill.