Kansai International Airport 1 hr 20
Hōryū-ji (35 min) Buddhist temple with frescoes, statues & the world's oldest wooden buildings on its grounds. Heijō Palace Remains (14 min) Reconstruction of the 8th-century imperial palace that once stood on this site. Nara Dreamland (10 min) Amusement park, ruins, roller coaster, park, and water park Tōdai-ji (9 min) Buddhist temple originally built in the mid-700s, with Japan's largest bronze Buddha statue. Nara Park (12 min) Landscaped, public park with ancient temples & the Nara National Museum of art, plus tame deer. Museum Shop, Nara National Museum (8 min) Todaiji Nigatsudo (11 min) Hilltop hall, part of Tōdai-ji Buddhist temple, with sweeping views of Nara from its balcony. Isui-en & Neiraku Art Museum (10 min) Sizable collection of ancient Chinese bronze wares, mirrors & seals, along with Korean pottery. Yakushi-ji Temple (17 min) Originally built in 680, this Buddhist landmark was once one of the Seven Great Temples in Nara. Kōfuku-ji (11 min) Complex of Buddhist temple halls & pagodas, plus an on-site museum showcasing national treasures. Gango-ji Temple (8 min) Ancient Buddhist temple in lush surrounds featuring a sloping tiled roof & an ornate pagoda. Mount Wakakusa (19 min) 1,122-foot tall hill with an annual festival called Yamayaki, where dead grass is burned. Kasuga-taisha (17 min) Bright vermillion columns support the roof of this Shinto shrine originally established in 768 A.D.. Sarusawa Pond (11 min) Turtles, park, and deer Tōshōdai-ji (16 min) Buddhist temple complex known for its 8th-century Golden Hall, acknowledged as a national treasure. |