Nara Park at a glance
Nara Park lies in the east of the city of Nara, not across the whole prefecture. It is a prefectural city park that opened on 14 February 1880. The public park areas are open 24 hours a day and cost nothing to enter. Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji, Todai-ji and the Nara National Museum sit in and around the park. Each has its own opening hours and fees, and there is no joint ticket.
Most visitors arrive at Kintetsu-Nara or JR Nara, which are two different stations. Kintetsu-Nara is close to Kofukuji and the western side of the park. JR Nara lies further west, about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the park and Kofukuji. Many of the main sights can be combined on foot.
This guide covers the deer and the rules for feeding them, the temples, the shrine and the gardens, Naramachi, Mount Wakakusa, tours, the trains from Kyoto and Osaka, the best time to visit and where to stay. It is an independent site, not run by the prefecture, the city, a temple, a shrine or a tour company. Prices are in Japanese yen (JPY), as of 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Nara tours
A mochi tasting walk, an e-bike tour and a bus day from Kyoto with Uji.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nara and Uji by bus from Kyoto
Air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi, guide, Todai-ji and Byodoin entry and a matcha experience in Uji are included. Lunch only comes with certain options; tips and drinks are extra.
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E-bike tour through Nara
E-bike, guide, deer food in Nara Park, Todai-ji entry, an introduction to Japanese knives and a snack are included. More deer food, drinks and tips are extra.
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Todai-ji walk with mochi tasting
Four hours with an English-speaking local guide. Todai-ji entry, one pack of deer food per group and a fresh mochi tasting are included.
Check availability →Nara tours and day trips
Guided walks in Nara and day trips from Kyoto and Osaka, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with the deer, then pick the pages you need.
The deer of Nara
How many there are, how to feed them with crackers and how to stay safe.
Nara tours
Walking on your own, the Wakakusa hilltop bus and guided options.
Nara from Kyoto
Kintetsu and JR trains, travel times and fares.
Nara from Osaka
Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba, JR and the weekend limited express.
Todai-ji
The Great Buddha Hall as a stop on your route through the park.
Kasuga Taisha
Opening hours, the paid visit to the main sanctuary and the lantern festivals.
Kofukuji
The National Treasure Hall and the pagoda under restoration.
Isuien and Yoshikien
Two gardens, one paid and one free, with opening hours.
Naramachi
Old merchant houses, cafes and shops a short walk from the park.
Mount Wakakusa
The climb, the hilltop bus and the winter fire festival.
Things to do in Nara
Twelve ideas beyond the deer.
Getting to Nara Park
Stations, buses, walking times and parking.
Best time to visit
Monthly weather, cherry blossom and autumn leaves.
Where to stay
Near the park, near the stations or in Naramachi.
Good to know
A few things to know before you plan.
The deer are wild animals
A count in July 2026 found 1,687 deer: 411 males, 990 females and 286 fawns. They are protected as a natural monument. Bites, kicks, charging and antler thrusts happen, so the rules for feeding and distance matter.
Deer rules →Parking fees by calendar
Since 1 October 2026 the prefectural car parks charge up to JPY 1,500 on normal weekdays and JPY 2,000 on weekends and public holidays. Special days cost JPY 2,500 or 3,000. The calendar decides the rate, so there is no single day price.
Getting there →The Kofukuji pagoda is under cover
A protective structure has surrounded the five-storied pagoda since March 2025 during a major restoration. Completion is expected between 2031 and March 2034. Plan your visit without a clear view of the pagoda.
Kofukuji →Yoshikien Garden is free for everyone
Entry costs nothing for all visitors, not only for foreign guests. Isuien next door is a separate garden with its own ticket of JPY 1,200 for adults.
Gardens →What things cost in 2026
Adult prices in Japanese yen. Each place sets its own fees.
| Place | Adult price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nara Park | Free | Public areas open 24 hours |
| Deer crackers (10) | JPY 200 | The only food you may give the deer |
| Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall | JPY 800 | Children JPY 400, cash |
| Kofukuji National Treasure Hall | JPY 900 | Teenagers JPY 800, children JPY 500 |
| Isuien Garden | JPY 1,200 | Includes its art museum, closed on Tuesdays |
| Yoshikien Garden | Free | For all visitors |
| Wakakusa hilltop bus | JPY 2,000 | Round trip, children JPY 1,000 |
The tickets are separate, so add up only the stops you plan to make. The pages on Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the gardens have hours and details.
Beyond the park
Other places that have their own guides.
The Great Buddha Hall, the gates and the festivals of Todai-ji have a guide of their own at todai-ji.com. This site treats the temple as one stop on your route through the park. If you also plan Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari shrine and Kiyomizu-dera are covered separately.
More independent guides to Nara
Separate guides from the same team.
Nara Park: frequently asked questions
Is Nara Park free?
Yes. The public park areas are open 24 hours a day at no charge. The temples, shrines, gardens and museums inside and around the park charge their own admission. In 2026 that is, for example, JPY 800 for adults at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji and JPY 1,200 at Isuien. Yoshikien is free.
Can I feed the deer?
Feeding is not allowed in general. The one exception is the special deer crackers (shika senbei), which cost JPY 200 for 10 in 2026. Do not bring your own snacks, bread, vegetables or leftovers. The deer page explains how to hand over the crackers safely.
How long does it take to get here from Kyoto or Osaka?
From Kyoto it takes about 35 minutes by Kintetsu Limited Express or about 45 minutes by JR rapid train. From Osaka-Namba it takes about 40 minutes by Kintetsu, and JR from Osaka takes 45 to 50 minutes. Details are on the pages from Kyoto and from Osaka.
Is one day enough?
For the main route, yes. From Kintetsu-Nara the National Museum is about 15 minutes on foot, Isuien about 15 minutes and Kasuga Taisha about 25 minutes. A day lets you combine the deer, one or two temples and a garden. The list of ideas helps you choose.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn are less hot for walking. Cherry blossom runs from late March to late April, and autumn leaves in the park areas from late October to early December. There is no single best week, and fawns and rutting males call for extra care. See the best time page.
Is nara-park.org an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not connected to the prefecture, the city, the deer protection foundation, any temple or shrine, or any tour operator or hotel.