Best Time To Visit Nara Park
Planning a trip to Nara Park? Find out the best time of the year to visit Nara Park, as well as the best time of day to be at Nara Park!
Best Time of Year to Visit Nara Park in Nara, Japan
You can visit Nara Park year round: you will find the famous Nara deer in the park throughout the year.
That said, there are times of the year when the park itself looks spectacular, so you may want to time your visit to capture the park at its best, especially if you are into landscape photography.
Planning a trip? Visit our Nara Park home page for the complete rundown on every single detail!
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!
Visiting Nara Park in the Spring
In the spring, during cherry blossom bloom time, clouds of pale pink and white blossoms cover the branches of the many cherry trees in the park, making for a delightful picture.
Although peak cherry blossom time does vary by year, it generally happens at the end of the March or the beginning of April. Bloom usually lasts just about a couple of weeks, so timing is key if you want to catch it at peak.
Nara Park does get a bit crowded in the spring during cherry bloom time, so expect to share the beauty with other visitors. The park is large, though, so you should still be able to take photos without lots of other visitors in the frame.
If you prefer more solitude, later in April or May are great times to visit. The park is draped in bright green, both the grass and the leaves on trees, and the weather is pleasantly warm.
Visiting Nara Park in the Summer
June is rainy season in Nara, and while it does not rain all the time, you should ideally plan to visit at more clement times of the year.
Fawns are usually born in the spring, so if you are hoping to see baby deer, June is a a great time to visit! The fawns and their mamas are held at Roku-en Deer Center (for their safety) until they can be released into the park, and you can view them at the center.
From a weather perspective, summers in Nara are less ideal times of the year to visit, since they tend to be hot and humid, making wandering outside in Nara Park not very pleasant during the day.
If you do visit in the summer, visit early in the day for the most pleasant weather and the opportunity to see the deer.
Visiting Nara Park in the Fall
Fall is another spectacular time of the year to be at Nara Park, especially if you time your visit to coincide with peak fall foliage season.
Peak leaf peeping occurs usually in November, and Nara Park generally sees more visitors at that time. But if you prefer a more serene visit, you can visit before peak in the fall (mid-September to end-October) to enjoy pleasant weather and some color later in that timeframe.
During deer mating season in the fall, from October 7 through 9 each year, a group of men, called seko, trim the antlers of the bucks in a historic ceremony known as the Shika no Tsunokiri. You can stand safely on raised benches and witness the ceremony if you visit at that time!
Visiting Nara Park in the Winter
Nara Park in winter is very quiet and tranquil. It does get quite cold in Nara in the winter, so dress in layers and bring a warm jacket and a beanie so you can enjoy wandering the park without feeling uncomfortable.
You may even see some snow in Nara in the winter. Snow can turn the park into a winter wonderland!
Holiday Times in Japan to Avoid
If you prefer a more relaxed holiday, you will want to travel to Nara outside of the most popular Japanese holidays.
Try to avoid planning your Nara trip around New Year’s (January 1), during Golden Week (a series of holidays spaced closely together at the end of April and the start of May), and during Obon, in the middle of August.
Want to visit the major sights at Nara Park without the hassle of figuring out logistics? This highly-rated half-day guided tour (with an option to depart from Kyoto) takes you to Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji, and, of course, Nara Park.
>>> Check price and availability for this half-day Nara Tour now!
Or pick this 5-hour Nara walking tour that includes Naramachi and lunch!
Best Time of Day to Visit Nara Park
Just as with other popular attractions in Japan, early in the day is a great time to visit Nara Park.
The deer are still present, and the crowds much thinner than during the day, making for a tranquil visit.
If you want to buy rice crackers to feed the deer, vendors at the park usually open up shop at 8.30 a.m. There are a couple of vending machines too.
During the day, the park is usually lively, with lots of deer and lots of visitors.
In the evening, the deer usually retreat into the forest to rest for the night, so you may not see them is you visit late in the day. Attractions around Nara Park also close at 5 p.m. or a bit earlier.
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