Mt Wakakusa

若草山

A bare grassy hill with the whole city below

⚠ Closed mid-Dec to mid-Mar

Hours

During the open season (3rd Sat of March to 2nd Sun of December) 9am–5pm

Tickets

¥150 (free on Yamayaki day)

Address

Zoshi-cho, Nara (north and south gates)

It's a rounded hill with no trees, just grass, so its green bulk shows from all over Nara Park. Pay at the gate, zigzag up the turf, and by the first hump the Daibutsuden roof and the city are already spread at your feet. Deer graze near the top too, so you can frame deer and sunset together. On the fourth Saturday of January the whole slope is set alight for Yamayaki: fireworks first, then the hill glowing red, and the crowds come for it.