Nara Park, Nara, Japan (奈良公園)
Nara Park, a public park with “bowing” deer, is located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, in the heart of the city of Nara, Japan. It dates back all the way to the year 1880!
Famous for its robust population of free-roaming deer, Nara Park is a top attraction for many first-time visitors to Japan. Feeding special rice crackers to the deer is a very popular activity.
While you’ll see deer all over the city, Nara Park is the traditional place to spend time observing them. According to a recent count, more than 1,400 deer live in the park.
But if you are wondering whether you should skip Nara Park because you aren’t interested in feeding the deer, then the short answer is no!
Other than the many deer, Nara Park is home to many renowned temples, such as Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, and Kasuga Taisha. Todaiji’s massive Great Buddha Hall is one of the most impressive sights in Japan!
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More About Nara Park
While the deer are unquestionably the star draw at Nara Park, there are other attractions to visit here, from the gigantic bronze Buddha at the Todai-ji Temple to Buddhist art works and Japanese history exhibits at the Nara National Museum.
Also in Nara Park you’ll find the photo-worthy five-story pagoda of the Kofuku-ji Temple. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a temple you won’t want to miss!
You can visit Nara Park year round. In the spring, cherry blossoms create clouds of pink color in the park, and in the fall, changing leaf colors make for a beautiful landscape.
Nara in winter is quiet, with snow occasionally creating a winter wonderland.
On this comprehensive Nara Park website, you will find everything you need to plan your visit!
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Japan, check out some of the top things to do in Japan, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
Complete 2025 Guide to Nara Park
An easy day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, Nara Park is a sprawling park in Nara, known for its large population of deer that bow for treats!
The official address is 469 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8501, Japan, and here is a convenient map!
Here is how you get to Nara Park from Kyoto.
Nara Park is free, so there is no entrance fee and you don’t need a ticket to enter! However, if you wish to visit many of the famous temples and shrines nearby, you may have to buy tickets.
While the best time to visit Nara Park is in spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, the park is equally welcoming in winter if your primary objective is to view the deer and feed them rice crackers!
While Nara Park hours of operation are daily, 24×7, the deer tend to rest in the late evenings and night. If you want a selfie with a bowing deer, make sure you visit during the daytime.
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Things to Do in Nara Park
Feed the sacred bowing deer in Nara Park!
Nara Park is best known for its population of sacred deer.
You can see dozens of deer in Nara Park during the day: grazing on grass in the park, walking temple paths, and “asking” visitors for treats.
Buy some shika senbei — rice crackers — from vendors at the park, to feed the deer. Nara Park deer have been conditioned to “bow” for treats!
You can see deer year round at Nara Park, even in the winter, when it gets quite cold in Nara. They do tend to retire into the forest to rest at night, so visit during the day.
While the deer in Nara Park are used to humans, interact with them in a respectful way and remember they are still wild creatures.
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Gaze at the Giant Buddha at Todai-ji Temple
One of the structures included in the Nara UNESCO World Heritage Site, Todaiji Temple is a must-visit in Nara Park.
Located in the northern part of Nara Park, Todai-ji is one of the most visited temples in Nara.
Home to an amazing Great Buddha statue in one of the largest wooden halls in the world, Todaiji Temple dates back to the eighth century, when Nara was the capital of Japan.
The current statue and hall are more recent, however, as the originals were destroyed over the years and had to be rebuilt.
Marvel at the lanterns at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine
One of the most striking shrines in Nara, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine is a part of Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Apart from the brilliant vermillion color on the facade that makes for great photos, Kasuga Taisha is known for its thousands of lanterns.
As you walk the pathway to the shrine, you will see numerous stone lanterns on either side, and there is an entire hall at Kasuga Taisha dedicated to lanterns as well.
The Manyo Botanical Garden at Kasuga Taisha is worth visiting, especially if your trip coincides with wisteria bloom season.
Sunazuri no Fuji, the oldest wisteria in the complex, can be found in the courtyard of the shrine.
Visit the impressive Kofukuji temple complex!
Kofukuji Temple is among the oldest and most significant Buddhist temples in Japan and part of Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The complex includes many structures, but the three that you should pay to enter are the National Treasure Hall, the East Golden Hall, and the Central Golden Hall, all of which contain impressive images and treasures.
Snap photos of the gorgeous five-story pagoda (there is also a three-story pagoda!) and capture reflections in the calm Sarusawa Pond.
You may come across some of the ubiquitous Nara deer at Kofukuji, but the temple complex is worth visiting in its own right. The architecture and the images are must-see!
Browse Buddhist art treasures at the Nara National Museum
Art and art history enthusiasts will want to stop by the Nara National Museum, located in Nara Park.
The museum is housed in a beautiful building and contains impressive permanent collections of Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls, and other artifacts.
Nara National Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, including one annually in the fall to display a selection of the Shōsō-in treasures.
How much time do you need for Nara Park?
Short answer: it depends.
If you plan to visit mainly to stroll the park, admire the bowing deer, and perhaps feed them some rice crackers, then you could be done in an hour.
But Nara Park is not just about the deer. There are many famous temples in Nara Park, some of them part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nara National Museum, also located at Nara Park, is a repository of impressive works of Buddhist art.
Lovers of local art, history, and culture can easily spend a full day exploring the many attractions at Nara Park.
Top-Rated Nara Tours