In Nara, you can encounter the world’s largest bronze statue at Todai-ji’s Daibutsuden. This colossal statue, measuring 15 meters in height and weighing approximately 450 tons, is enshrined as the world’s largest bronze statue. Todai-ji was established in 752 by Priest Gyoki, a descendant of the Baekje Kingdom, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Buddhism in Japan. The construction, led ...
Yoshikien is a Japanese garden located within Nara Park. In contrast to the adjacent “Isuien Garden,” which requires an entrance fee, Yoshikien is free to enter, making it a more accessible option. During this trip, I had initially planned to explore Isuien Garden as well, but unfortunately, the garden wasn’t open at that time. Instead, I had the opportunity to ...
Starbucks is a cafe easily found in South Korea, and similarly, it’s a cafe you can easily find in Japan. In Nara Park, Starbucks can be found in various locations, and you can also find a Starbucks at the Nara Park Bus Terminal. “Nara Park Bus Terminal Cafe, Starbucks” At the Nara Park Bus Terminal, you can find Starbucks on ...
Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to visit Nara Park is by using the bus, as there is a “Bus Terminal” located at the heart of Nara Park. Right across from Nara’s famous deer-filled “Noborioji Park” and adjacent to the Nara Prefecture Office, you can find the “Nara Park Bus Terminal.” “Nara Park Bus Terminal” The Nara Park Bus ...
On the first floor of the Nara Park Bus Terminal West Building, easily found just east of the Nara Prefectural Office, you’ll discover a sizable souvenir shop. With its well-maintained premises, this shop offers a fitting place to explore and purchase mementos after touring Nara Park. After ascending the Nara Prefectural Office Observatory for a high-altitude view of Nara Park, ...
Opposite Noborioji Observatory in Nara Park and west of Nara Bus Terminal stands the “Nara Prefectural Office.” While primarily an administrative hub for the Nara region, the building hosts an observatory at its top, offering panoramic views of Nara Park and its surroundings. Given Nara’s abundance of cultural heritage, strict development regulations seem to limit the construction of tall buildings. ...
Nara Park encompasses various smaller parks, including Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji. One of the parks where deer sightings are common is Noborioji Park. Located conveniently near Nara Bus Terminal and directly opposite Nara Prefectural Office, Noborioji Park is the go-to place if you’re eager to see deer in Nara. “Easy Deer Sightings Near Nara Bus Terminal at Noborioji Park” While deer ...
Kofuku-ji, located at the heart of Nara Park, is a Buddhist temple and a symbol of Nara. It is home to the second tallest pagoda in Japan, standing at five stories. With a history dating back to 1399, this temple originated from the aspirations of Fujiwara no Kamatari, who founded it to pray for the recovery of his wife, Kagami ...
In the southern part of Nara Park, you’ll come across a small artificial pond known as Sarusawa Pond. The reflection of the 5-story pagoda from Kofuku-ji Temple in the pond makes this place one of the iconic landscapes representing Nara. “Uname Shrine – A Small Shrine near Sarusawa Pond” Located near Sarusawa Pond, to the northwest, you’ll find a small ...
In the southern part of Nara Park, you’ll find Sarusawa Pond (Sarusawaike), a place steeped in various stories and considered one of the iconic landscapes representing Nara. Most ponds and lakesides typically feature cafes, and Sarusawa Pond is no exception. “Starbucks Sarusawaike Store” Adjacent to Sarusawa Park in Nara Park, you can easily locate a Starbucks café, a familiar sight ...
In the southern part of Nara Park, you’ll discover a small pond known as Sarusawa Pond. This picturesque spot offers a charming atmosphere and serves as an excellent location for capturing photos with Kofuku-ji Temple as the backdrop. The pond is an artificial water feature with a circumference of 360 meters. “Sarusawa Pond in the Southern Part of Nara Park” ...
Gango-ji is a temple located in the heart of Naramachi in Nara. It can be read in Sino-Korean pronunciation as “Wonen-ji.” This ancient Buddhist temple is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Naramachi’s focal point, Gango-ji, was originally established in 596 AD in Asuka, the ancient capital, as Asukadera, Japan’s foremost (head) temple, following the relocation to its ...