Getting Your Bearings
Nara-shi is a compact, largely walkable city, and most visitors find they can cover the famous central sights on foot. The practical key to getting around is understanding the city's two main railway stations and how they connect to the sights.
- Kintetsu Nara Station sits at the eastern end of the Higashimuki shopping street, close to restaurants and the Nara Tourist Information Centre (maps, events and English assistance). It is the more convenient station for the central sights: roughly a ten-minute walk to Nara Park and about fifteen minutes to Naramachi.
- JR Nara Station lies west of the centre and is more commercial, with hotels including business hotels. It is the better choice for Japan Rail Pass holders, for arrivals from Tennoji in southern Osaka, and for reaching Hōryū-ji via the JR Yamatoji Line. It is a longer walk to the park than Kintetsu Nara.
The two stations are about a kilometre apart, and both have coin lockers, tourist information, toilets and bus stops. Large lockers fill quickly on peak weekends, so it pays to store luggage early on arrival.
Walking: The Best Way to See Central Nara
Central Nara is compact and pedestrian-friendly, and the headline attractions are clustered together: Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Nara Park, Naramachi, Isuien Garden and the Nara National Museum can all be linked on foot. Walking is often faster than taking the bus between Kintetsu Nara Station, Nara Park, Todai-ji and the deer areas, because of traffic and boarding time.
- Kintetsu Nara Station to Nara Park: about ten minutes on foot.
- Nara Park to Todai-ji (Nandaimon): about fifteen minutes.
- Nara Park to Kasuga Taisha: twenty to twenty-five minutes.
- Kintetsu Nara Station to Naramachi: ten to fifteen minutes.
- Naramachi to Shin-Yakushi-ji: about fifteen minutes.
- Todai-ji to Nigatsu-do and on to Kasuga Taisha: about thirty minutes.
From JR Nara Station the walk to the park and Todai-ji is longer, so allow more time if you are based on that side of town. Note that pedestrian-first zones near the temples and deer paths require you to use designated parking if you are on a bicycle.
Rail: Kintetsu and JR
Two private and national operators, Kintetsu Railway and JR West, run rail services throughout Nara. Both offer money-saving passes aimed at overseas visitors, and the choice between them usually comes down to where you are arriving from and whether you hold a Japan Rail Pass.
- Kintetsu trains from Kyoto and Osaka arrive at Kintetsu Nara Station, which is closer to the park and the shopping streets.
- JR trains arrive at JR Nara Station and are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, which is not valid on Kintetsu.
- Kintetsu also serves outlying sights: for the Nishinokyō temples (Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji) you ride from Kintetsu Nara to Yamato-Saidaiji and transfer to Nishinokyō Station, from which both temples are a short walk. The same line reaches Yamato-Saidaiji for the Heijō Palace Ruins.
- For Hōryū-ji, take the JR Yamatoji Line from JR Nara to Hōryūji Station, then walk or take a local bus.
There is no metro or tram network in Nara; rail and bus cover the city. Be aware of rush hours on trains from Osaka and Kyoto in the morning and evening, and check the last departures to Osaka and Kyoto before heading out to dinner, since the final expresses leave in the late evening and a taxi onward to those cities is very expensive.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Nara Kotsu operates the prefecture's extensive bus network, reaching remote areas that rail does not serve, and runs tourist-friendly routes linking the key attractions in Nara City and areas such as Asuka. Buses run from both main stations to Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and other sites, and central sightseeing loop routes and sightseeing-oriented "Omotenashi" buses make the main circuit easy to follow. Low-floor buses are common on central routes, which helps wheelchair users, elderly travellers and those with strollers.
- Fares are flat within the central zone, and major IC cards such as ICOCA, Suica and Pasmo are accepted; keep coins as a backup.
- The Gurutto buses (red and blue) serve the city and are a cheap, simple way to hop between sights.
- Nara Kotsu sells day passes: a one-day pass covering Nara Park and Nishinokyo, a wider one-day pass adding Horyuji and Yamato Koriyama, and a two-day pass that also takes in Asuka, Murou and Sakurai. All include discounts at a large number of restaurants and shops in the area. A pass is generally worthwhile once you are making several bus rides in a day.
- Guided bus tours are another option: Nara Kotsu runs tours covering Nara Park, Horyuji and Nishinokyo with audio guides in English and Chinese and group discounts, while the Nara Visitor Center & Inn runs tours of Yamato Koriyama, Asuka, Sakurai and Kashihara with English-speaking guides and interactive cultural experiences.
For most visitors, an IC card is the easiest default for trains and buses, with a Nara Kotsu day pass added if you plan a bus-heavy day.
Bicycles
Bicycle rental is widely available from numerous businesses and tourist information facilities around Nara. Many outlets offer battery-powered bicycles, which are helpful on hills, and some rental locations let you return the bike at a partner location elsewhere. Rental is a good way to reach the western temples, where the terrain is flat and traffic light. Remember that pedestrian-first zones near the temples require designated parking.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a convenient alternative to buses, especially in remote areas where buses from stations to attractions can be infrequent. They are metered, and stands can be found at Nara Park, outside JR Nara Station and outside Kintetsu-Nara Station.
- Within Nara City, taxis are more available and can sometimes be hailed at peak daytime times.
- Around Nara Park, taxis can only be picked up from designated ranks along the park edge.
- Outside Nara City, taxis generally cannot be hailed and are available only from ranks outside train stations. Phone ordering is possible but may require a local's help to explain your location in Japanese.
If you are relying on taxis for outlying temples, plan around the ranks at stations rather than expecting to flag one down on the street.
Getting Into the City from the Airport
Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the main gateway for Nara. There are two practical ways into the city:
- By rail: take the JR Haruka limited express from KIX to Tennoji, then transfer to the Yamatoji Rapid to JR Nara. This route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, and the transfer at Tennoji is the key step to watch for.
- By limousine bus: a direct limousine bus runs from KIX to Nara, taking longer than the train but requiring no transfer. Buses have a luggage hold, which is useful if you are carrying large bags, and they run less frequently than the trains. If you are arriving late, confirm the final bus of the day.
Osaka's Itami Airport (ITM) is also served by a limousine bus to Nara, again with a luggage hold and no transfer required.
Practical Tips
- You do not need a car for central sightseeing; limited parking and pedestrianised areas make driving unhelpful there. A car is only really useful for rural Nara Prefecture, such as Yoshino and the southern villages.
- Both stations have coin lockers, and takkyubin luggage forwarding is available if you want to send bags ahead.
- Wayfinding at the stations requires some care at exits and platforms, so allow a little extra time when making connections.
- Check last JR and Kintetsu departures to Osaka and Kyoto before dinner, and note the transfer points you may need: Yamato-Saidaiji, Tennoji, Namba and Kyoto.