Nara Prefecture offers attractions beyond Nara City, including Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Nara Park. In the south, visit Yoshino Mountain for cherry blossoms and Mount Omine for spiritual hikes. The east features Hase-dera Temple and Omiwa Shrine, while the west boasts Kashihara Jingu and the ancient Horyu-ji Temple. Each area offers unique historical and natural experiences.
JW Marriott Hotel Nara
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JW Marriott Hotel Nara
Nara: Where Ancient Spirits Whisper Through Sacred Nature
Nara, Japan
Destinations
Nara is the most historic and spiritual center of Japan, where Buddhism first flourished and the first capital city was built over 1300 years ago. Close to Kyoto and Osaka and quickly accessible by train, Nara is a living history book, full of World Heritage sites and well-preserved temples and shrines. Much of Nara is still semi-rural, dotted with picturesque villages, where life follows the rhythms of the seasons.
Heart of Japan
KASUGA TAISHA SHRINE
The approach to Nara’s most famous and impressive Shinto shrine takes you along an atmospheric forest path, lined with hundreds of stone lanterns. Everywhere you will come across the sacred deer that serve the Shinto deities of the Kasugataisha Shrine.
TOSHO DAIJI TEMPLE
Passing through the low wooden gates, you immediately see the elegant main hall with its long, low roof and muted colors. Beautifully proportioned, it is often compared with the Parthenon for its sense of balance. Look up for the Sumioni figures, like devilish Sumo wrestlers, holding up the temple roof.
KINPUSENJI-TEMPLE
Kinpusenji-Temple houses three 1300-year-old, seven-meter-tall blue-skinned Zao Gongen statues, symbolizing the Buddha’s past, present, and future. Guardians of the sacred mountains, they are central to Shugendo, an ancient ascetic practice. The Zao-do Hall, built in 1592, is Japan’s second-largest wooden structure after Todaiji. The statues are displayed only in spring and autumn.
HASE-DERA TEMPLE
Known for its long stairways and beautiful gardens, especially famous during the peony season.
MUROJI TEMPLE
A serene temple with a Five-Story Pagoda, notable for allowing female pilgrims.
KASHIHARA JINGU SHRINE
Dedicated to Japan’s first emperor, Emperor Jinmu, featuring a large, peaceful grounds.
Soni High Land
This sweeping plateau, a beautifully vivid green in summer, is covered in pampas grass which turns a golden color in autumn. Short hiking trails leading to the top of Mt Kuroso offer spectacular views over the valley and make for a fun family walk.
Totsukawa Village
Totsukawa Village offers affluent families a serene escape with natural hot springs, scenic hikes, and historic suspension bridges. Luxury ryokan provide private onsens and gourmet local cuisine, blending relaxation and cultural immersion for both parents and children.
Tsukigase Tea Farm
Discover the serene beauty of Tsukigase’s tea fields in Nara, where tradition and nature intertwine. Stroll through rolling green hills, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and experience the craftsmanship behind Japan’s finest tea. Indulge in exclusive tastings, guided by tea masters, and connect with the timeless art of tea-making in this hidden gem.