# One day in Nara: an itinerary in the best order > Nara, Japan's first permanent capital, is 45 minutes from Kyoto and Osaka, and everything is walkable. Morning in Naramachi, the old merchant quarter of wooden houses. Then Kofuku-ji temple and lunch. After lunch, Todai-ji, where a bronze Buddha about 15 m tall sits in one of the world's largest wooden buildings, Nara Park with its 1,500 deer, and Kasuga Taisha shrine with 3,000 lanterns. Walks take 9–18 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/in-1-day ## Plan 1. [Naramachi](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/naramachi.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free ↓ 14 min on foot 2. [Kofuku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kofuku-ji.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 18 min on foot 3. [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji.md) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800 ↓ 9 min on foot 4. [Nara Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/nara-park.md) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ↓ 11 min on foot 5. [Kasuga Taisha](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kasuga-taisha.md) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700 Total with walks: 7 h 52 min ## Nara day trip itinerary From Kintetsu-Nara station everything is close: Naramachi to the south, Kofuku-ji at the park entrance, Todai-ji at the north of the park and Kasuga Taisha on the eastern edge by the forest. The route is a walking loop. Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate. ## The deer of Nara The deer are a protected natural monument and should only be fed shika-senbei crackers, sold in the park for about 200 yen. They bow for a treat but may nudge or nip — don't hold crackers above a child's head or tease them. ## Todai-ji The Daibutsuden opens 8:00–17:00 from November to March and 7:30–17:30 from April to October. Inside, one pillar has a hole the size of the Buddha's nostril: legend says whoever squeezes through gains enlightenment — children manage easily. ## Is one day in Nara enough? Yes, for the main sights. Add the [Nara National Museum](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/nara-national-museum) of Buddhist art (free under 18), [Mount Wakakusa](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/mount-wakakusa) for the best view, the [Heijo Palace](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/heijo-palace) site of the 710–784 capital, or [Horyu-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/horyu-ji) with the world's oldest wooden buildings. ## Tips - Feed the deer only shika-senbei. - Take your rubbish with you — there are few bins, and the deer eat plastic bags. - Keep quiet at temples and shrines and take your shoes off before entering halls; photos inside halls are often not allowed. There is no tipping in Japan. - Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station. - From Kyoto, the Kintetsu line drops you closer to the park than JR. ## Questions ### What to do in Nara in one day? Naramachi, Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji, the deer park and Kasuga Taisha. ### How much is Todai-ji? 800 yen, children 6–12 400. ### Can you feed the deer? Yes, with shika-senbei crackers only — about 200 yen a pack. ### How do I get from Kyoto to Nara? By Kintetsu or JR train, about 45 minutes. ### How much does the day cost? About 1,000–2,400 yen with the museum and galleries, plus deer crackers. ### Is it good with kids? Yes: the deer and the 'Buddha's nostril' are the highlights. ### Do you need transport in Nara? No, it is all walkable from the station. ### Is one day in Nara enough? Yes for the highlights. Horyu-ji needs another half day. ### When is the best time? Spring and autumn. ### How do I pay in Japan? Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station. --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.