Nara Day Trip: Deer Park & Todai-ji

A full-day trip to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital: over 1,200 free-roaming sacred deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall (the world's largest wooden building), and Kasuga Taisha's thousands of stone and bronze lanterns.

The Kintetsu Nara Line runs direct from Kintetsu Kyoto Station in about 35–45 minutes. The deer will headbutt for the deer crackers (shika senbei) sold on-site. Bow to a deer and many will bow back before you feed them. Nara Park itself is free and open 24 hours; Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall charges a small separate admission.