Best Things to Do in Nara Prefecture, Japan
Nara Prefecture extends beyond Nara city to include some of Japan's most important ancient and religious sites: Horyu-ji (the world's oldest surviving wooden structure), the Yoshino mountain cherry blossom landscape (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails that wind through the Kii Peninsula's sacred mountains.
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The unmissable in Nara Prefecture
These are the staple sights — don't leave Nara Prefecture without seeing them.
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Beyond Nara city, the prefecture contains some of Japan’s oldest and most sacred places. Horyu-ji Temple (11 km southwest of Nara), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world’s oldest surviving wooden structure — the Western Precinct’s five-story pagoda dates to 607 AD (the reign of Prince Shotoku) and is the earliest known example of Chinese-influenced Buddhist architecture on Japanese soil. The main hall (Kondo) is nearly as old. The Asuka area (30 km south of Nara) is the cradle of Japanese civilization, the site of the first permanent Japanese capital (593 AD); ancient burial mounds (kofun), the Asuka Daibutsu (the oldest large Buddha statue in Japan), and the Kitora Tomb mural paintings give it an extraordinary historical atmosphere. Yoshino mountain (80 km south of Nara), a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes of the Kii Mountain Range, has 30,000 cherry trees planted across the mountainside over 1,300 years of Buddhist and imperial history — in late March to April, the mountain is covered in pink blossom from lower to upper Yoshino; it is considered Japan’s most beautiful cherry blossom view. The Omine-Okugake-Michi pilgrimage trail from Yoshino to Kumano crosses the high ridge of the Omine range.
Best time to visit
Late March to mid-April for Yoshino’s cherry blossoms (the date varies by year; lower Yoshino typically first, upper Yoshino last, about 1-2 weeks spread). October-November for autumn foliage along the pilgrimage trails. Horyu-ji and Asuka are good year-round. The Asuka area is particularly pleasant in April and November, accessed by bicycle from Asuka Station.
Getting around
Horyu-ji is served by the JR Yamatoji Line from Nara (10 minutes to Horyu-ji Station). Asuka Station is on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line from Kintetsu Nara or Osaka. Yoshino Station is the terminus of the Kintetsu Yoshino Line (1.5 hours from Osaka Abenobashi, 1 hour from Kintetsu Nara with changes). Bicycles rent from Asuka Station for the burial mound circuit; the Yoshino valley has a ropeway from the station to the mid-mountain level.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails and how do I walk them?
The Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes through the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, linking Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka to the three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha). The routes are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most walked section is the Nakahechi Route (central route from Tanabe to Hongu Taisha, 3-5 days). Staged accommodations (ryokan and minshuku) exist along the routes. Kumano Travel (the regional tourism office) provides detailed English trail maps, luggage forwarding services, and accommodation booking assistance — their website is the most useful starting point.