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 on
UNESCO s 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.
T
World Heritage Site
odaiji Temple
K
World Heritage Site
ohfukuji Temple
K
World Heritage Site
asuga Taisha Shrine
B us Route Map
S ightseeing spots
Kokujieitai
Nara Park 奈良公園
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 8th
century. In this park, history and nature blend in harmony.
Another charm of this park is deer. Approx. 1200 wild deer roam
around 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
ki
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?
G
T
World Heritage Site
oshodaiji 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 to
see the vermilion colored shrine buildings with
cypress-bark roof stand in harmony with the
natural 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）
Y
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
akushiji Temple
angoji Temple
六条山
Yakushiji
Chushajo
薬師寺駐車場
This garden is full of charms; ponds, stepping stones, tea
houses, a watermill, seasonal flowers… One of the most
impressive scenes is a view of the Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji
Temple and Wakakusayama Hill from the garden. They are
incorporated into the garden as if they were a part of it.
＊The numbers indicated in the box are the
bus numbers (see above for each route).
Kintetsu Koriyama eki
Chuguji
Higashiguchi
12 JR Nara ⇔ Saidaiji
14 JR Nara ⇔ Kokujieitai ⇔
Saidaiji
70 Kasuga Taisha Honden ⇔
Rokujoyama
97 Kasuga Taisha Honden ⇔
Horyuji Temple
Jikoin
慈光院
中宮寺東口
Chuguji
Horyuji mae
中宮寺
(Nara.Nishinokyo.Ikaruga.Excursion Line)
法隆寺前
B us Stops
10
11
13
1
1
JR Nara Sta.
JR Na
ra Sta
.
Kintetsu
Nara Sta.
To Kyoto
Nara (Heijo)
Palace
Suzakumon
Gate
Suzaku Avenue
Toshodaiji
Temple
Yakushiji
Temple
Kasugayama
Primeval
Forest
Todaiji
Temple
Kohfukuji
Temple
Kasuga
Taisha
Gangoji
Shrine
Temple
To Tenri
N
0
To Yamatoyagi To Tennoji
1km
JR Line
Kintetsu Line
JR Koriyama Sta.
Kintetsu
Nara Sta.
Bus Stop
1
8
9
13
2 70 97
70 97
1
JR
Nara Sta.
Bus Stop
12 14
1
7
10
11
2
70 97
12 14
70 97
1
R
＊for indicated bus lines, see the map above.
Pond
Horinji Temple
法輪寺
卍
Chuguji Temple
Hokiji Temple
卍 法起寺
JR YamatoKoizumi Sta.
25
R
toj
iL
ine
卍
法隆寺 i センター
Tsutsui Sta.
∼￥1,000
Amulet of various kinds; Handkerchief printed with the Shoso-in
pattern; Deer antler goods.（key holders, paper-knives, etc.）
∼￥2,000
T-shirts（printed with Sumo wrestlers or the Ukiyoe pictures）;
Japanese folding fans; fancy goods with a kimono pattern
such as coasters, toiletry goods, pouches, etc.
￥2,000∼
Linen goods （table center, curtains etc.）; Yoshino cedar
handicrafts（picture frames etc.）; incense and burners; Nara
fans, Nara dolls; Akahada-yaki earthenware goods.
ay
x
nE
sw
es
pr
Horyuji
i Center
S ouvenirs to suit your budget
koriyama I.C
ma
法隆寺
The old map of Nara City
Kintetsu
Nara Sta.
24
Tomiogawa
River
中宮寺
To Kyoto
This sacred forest extends behind the Kasuga
Taisha Shrine. Since 841 when hunting and
logging in this forest were banned, the forest has
been preserved in the primeval condition. This
has made the forest a sanctuary for various
protected species.
Kintetsu
Koriyama Sta.
Horyuji 卍
Temple
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 of
the capital. Covering approx. 1.3 km from east to
west and approx. 1 km from north to south, this
site has been preserved as a special historic spot
of 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.
2 City circular bus outbound line
N
法起寺前
YamatoSaidaiji Sta.
Kintetsu Kashihara Line
Originally founded in 680, this temple prospered
under the patronage of the imperial court in the
8th century. Since that time, the temple was to
tragically lose all of its buildings to fire, with the
exception 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）
To Osaka
(Osaka-Namba)
1 City circular bus inbound line
近鉄郡山駅
Hokiji mae
9 8
Kujo Sta.
World Heritage Site
asugayama Primeval Forest
B us Line
7
Ya
eijo Palace Site
高畑町
2
Isuien Gaeden（9:30∼16:30）依水園
JR
K
H
春日大社本殿
Takabatakecho
1
Yakushiji
Higashiguchi
Rokujoyama
Nishinokyo Sta.
World Heritage Site
Kasuga Taisha
Honden
破石町
薬師寺東口
This neo-classical building was constructed as the third national
museum in Japan in 1895 in Nara Park. Today this building is
open to the public as Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. In 1973 a
new museum building was constructed, and is used for special
exhibitions.
n
de
su
ut
Wariishicho
薬師寺
Amagatsuji Sta.
This temple was originally founded in the 6th
century as the first Buddhist temple in Japan.
Even today several 6th century-roof-tiles are used
for its Gokurakubo and Zenshitsu halls. These
halls 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）
u
ok 館
aK 物
Kasuga Taisha
Omote Sndo
Yakushiji
N
This 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）
i
a
ig
ae ）
春日大社表参道
Nara National Museum（9:30∼17:00）奈良国立博物館
ak
uh
s
rit
sh
Hirahata Sta.
a
i
sh
JR Horyuji Sta.
Ni
ih
me
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 buildings
in the world. Originally founded in 607, the temple buildings were
reconstructed in the early 8th century after being lost in fire. The
five-story pagoda, the main hall, and some of the buildings have
remained intact since then. In addition, various historical
treasures including Buddhist images are on display at the
temple s museum, Daihozoden.
n
ka
tsu
u
ub
JR奈良駅
唐招提寺
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 this
park are so polite that they bow to you when they ask you for
Shika Senbei!
Originally founded in the 7th century, 2010 marks
the 1300 anniversary of the foundation of this
temple. The five-story pagoda, a symbol of Nara
City, was reconstructed about 500 years ago
（1426）after it had burned down five times. A lot
of national treasures and cultural treasures are
exhibited at the temple s museum, Kokuhokan.
Hours:9:00‒17:00（Last admission at 16:45）
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nj 立博 aib
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i D 殿 in
nt 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
tsu
★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, the
Daibutsuden hall which houses the statue was
burned down twice in fires that broke out as a
result of war. The present structure, which was
rebuilt in 1709, was scaled down to two-thirds of
the 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.）
(N
G
nm
ce
ffi
Daibutsuden
JR Nara
Kasuga Taisha mae
eki
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 clan
in the 8th century, they invited a mighty
god from Kashima Shrine (in present day
Ibaraki Prefecture). The god is said to
have come to Nara riding on a white deer.
Since then, deer have been respected
and protected as divine messengers by
local people.
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Na
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＊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 and
souvenir 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
To KYOTO
Akishinodera Temple
To KYOTO 京都
良線
Yamato-Saidaiji Sta.
大阪難波
大和西大寺駅
1.2km
遺構展示館
2 City circular bus outbound line
N
Nara Y.H.
奈良ユースホステル
Konoike Athletic Stadium
0.9km
1.0km
Futaiji Temple
Toll Gate
料金所
不退寺
(Y.H.)Pref.
Seishonen Kaikan Ikueigakuen
Kairyuoji
Temple
0.8km
Ichijodori St. 一条通り
県青少年会館(ユースホステル) 育英学園
海龍王寺
1.3km
0.5km
369
R
Shoso-in
Treasure Repository
正倉院
Tegaimon
Gate
Nara Ikuei High School
菅原天満宮
1.0km
Kin
tets
u Ka
近鉄 shih
橿原 ara
Line
線
Sugawara
Tenmangu Shrine
東院庭園
二条大路南4丁目
Nara Pref. Gov. Office
奈良県庁
Yoshikien Garden
◎
Kintetsu Kohfukuji Temple
興福寺
NaraSta.
Burial Mound
古墳
0.25km
平城京左京三条二坊宮跡庭園
1.8km
Nara Centennial Hall
369
R
吉城園
Amagatsuji
Sta.
なら100年会館
尼ケ辻駅
JR奈良駅
R
古墳
0.5km
Isagawa Jinja
Shrine
JR Nara Sta.
24
0.8
Narakogei-kan
Craft Center
Denkoji Temple
Daibutsuden
Kasuga Taisha mae
Nara National Museum
奈良国立博物館
大仏殿・春日大社前
春日大社
0.3km
Sarusawa-ike
Pond
0.4km
Deer Enclosure
鹿苑
Naramachi Center
Ukimido Gazebo
ならまちセンター
元興寺
Sagi-ike Pond
Daijoin Temple
Garden Cultural Hall
ne
Naramachi Shiryo-kan Museum
西ノ京駅
Yakushiji
西の京駅
Onjo-Kan Hall
西の京駅
0.8km
1
i Li
JR関
nsa
2
Ka
Daianji
Naramachi Promotion Center
大安寺
1.9km
入江泰吉記念奈良市写真美術館
Kitakyobatecho
Tanakacho
北京終町
田中町
nyo
M
J
R万
市立奈良病院
新薬師寺
0.3km
Byakugoji
Temple
Osaka Immigration Bureau
(Nara Branch Office)
169
大阪入国管理局 奈良出張所
R
0.4km
NIFS
(Nara International Foundation
Commemorating the Silk Road Exposition)
奈良国際研修館
Telephone
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
1.0km
e
JR京終駅
Daianji Temple
To SAKURAI 桜井
Nara City
Tourist
Information
Centers
To YAGYU 柳生
0.4km
JR Kyobate Sta.
To KASHIHARA 橿原
Shin-yakushiji Temple
奈良教育大学
Nara City Hospital
a
葉ま hor
ほろ ob
ば線 a L
in
大安寺
To YAMATOYAGI 大和八木
KASHIHARAJINGU 橿原神宮
ASUKA 飛鳥
To HORYUJI Temple 法隆寺
0.2km
0.5km
ならまち振興館
Ma
薬師寺東口
薬師寺
0.4km
若宮神社
Nara University of Education
Yakushiji Higashiguchi
Yakushiji Temple
福智院
Wakamiya Jinja Shrine
0.5km
Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of
Photography Nara City
Fukuchi-in Temple
ならまち格子の家
0.7km
薬師寺
Nishinokyo eki
今西家書院
Naramachi Koshi-no-ie Lattice House
音声館
JR
JR
1.0km
十輪院
西本
iver
oR
0.5km
Nishinokyo Sta.
0.3km
破石町
Imanishi-ke Shoin
-Ko
き
や
ささ
志賀直哉旧居
Wriishicho
Jurin-in Temple
ino
yak
Sasa
Shiga Naoya’s
Old Residence
名勝大乗院庭園文化館
奈良町資料館
(Y
唐招提寺東口
Sah
がんこ一徹長屋
Nishinokyo eki
線（ am
大和 at
路線 oji
） Li
Toshodaiji Higashiguchi
0.4km
0.8km
浮見堂
Ara-ike Pond
ne
唐招提寺
Ganko-Ittetsu
Nagaya
(Craftmen’s work shop)
佐保
川
Toshodaiji
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
春日大社本殿
Gangoji Temple
0.7km
)
唐招提寺
KasugaTaisha
Honden
五重塔
奈良市立史料保存館
1.3km
Toshodaiji Temple
The Garden of
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
春日大社神苑 萬葉植物園
Five-Story Pagoda
Sugioka Kason Calligraphy Art Museum
杉岡華邨書道美術館
0.9km
Historical Materials
Preservation House
km
奈良県新公会堂
氷室神社・国立博物館
なら工藝館
伝香寺
0.5km
Nara Pref.
New Public Hall
Pond
猿沢池
率川神社
1.2km
Himurojinja
Kokuritsuhakubutsukan
東金堂
三重塔
料金所
氷室神社
県庁前
Tokon-do Hall
Three-Story Pagoda
Toll Gate
Himuro Jinja
Shrine
Kencho mae
Kohfukuji Kokuho-kan
Museum 興福寺国宝館
近鉄奈良駅
Sanjodori St. 三条通り
0.5km
若草山
依水園
奈良市役所
Remains of Heijokyo
Sakyo Sanjo Nibo Palace Garden
0.3km
阪奈菅原
Wakakusayama
Hill (342m)
Isuien Garden
Pref. Cultural Hall
Nijoojiminami 4chome
Hanna Sugawara
春日山原始林
南大門
寧楽美術館
県立美術館
県文化会館
Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine
Kasugayama Primeval Forest
Nandaimon Gate
Neiraku Museum
Pref. Museum of Art
◎
奈良市美術館(Ito Yokado 5F)
Burial Mound
Kagami-ike
Pond
Kin
tets
u
近鉄 Nar
奈良 a Li
ne
線
Nara City Museum of Art
喜光寺
三月堂
手向山八幡宮
NHK
Nara City
Hall
二月堂
Sangatsu-do Hall
大鐘
東大寺
0.8km
奈良女子大学
Nigatsu-do Hall
Great
Bell
大仏殿
Todaiji Temple
Shin Omiya
Sta. 新大宮駅
朱雀門
Pond
Daibutsuden
戒壇院
0.8km
Nara Okuyama
Toll Road
奈良奥山ドライブウェイ
Kaidan-in
Temple Hall
Nara Women’s
University
Suzakumon Gate
Kikoji Temple
To OSAKA 大阪
Toin-teien Garden
平城宮跡
do not walk
Daibutsu-ike
Pond
転害門
奈良育英高校
Heijo Palace Site
1 City circular bus inbound line
To YAGYU 柳生
般若寺
鴻ノ池陸上競技場
航空自衛隊
1.0km
Hokkeji
Temple
Daigoku-den Hall 法華寺
大極殿
Excavation Site
Exhibition Hall
平城宮跡資料館
西大寺
平城宮跡
佐紀町
Heijo Palace
Site Museum
Kokujieitai
Heijo Kyuseki
Sakicho
JR Line
Kintetsu Line
mi
chi
Pat
h
To OSAKA-NAMBA
JR Nara
古墳
Nara Park
City Loop
小
径
Burial Mound
Hospital
Lavatory
Parking
の
To KYOTO 京都
Exchange (Bank)
Rent-a-Cycle
Youth Hostel
School
Hannyaji Temple
0.4km
Line JR奈
秋篠寺
Saidaiji Temple
To KYOTO 京都
京都
Bus Stop
Shrine
Post Office
Hotel
Nara City Tourist Information Center (Next to JR Nara Station)
Hours:9:00-21:00
Hours:9:00-21:00
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)
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 (Sanjodori St.)
(Closed for the year-end and new-year holidays) …TEL.
（0742）22-3900
白毫寺
…………………………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 Tours
in 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