1-Day Walking Tour in Nara: Palace, Deer and Inkstick

Experience Nara's ancient history and culture, art and historical materials, including world heritage sites and national treasures. Discover this city with us and experience its charm for yourself.
Our journey will begin at 09:15 and we will meet at JR Nara Station. Our first stop is Nara Palace Site Historical Park. This is a national park located on the site of Heijo Palace. It was the imperial residence of Japan’s capital, Heijo-kyo (now Nara), during most of the Nara period. The palace served as the imperial residence and administrative centre at the time.

After spending time in this historical park and learning a lot about it, we will return to the city centre for lunch. You may not be aware of this, but Nara is home to many unique local gourmet foods that you shouldn’t miss, and many of which are located in the city centre. If you don’t want to have lunch inside a restaurant, you can also eat at food stalls around the city centre. There are many food options.

Once you have had your fill of delicious food, our afternoon begins with a traditional Japanese art experience – making Nara Sumi (Nara Inkstick). The origin of ink is said to date back approximately 2,200 years to the Han Dynasty in China. It was also introduced to Japan around that time. This is an experience where you can actually make your own inkstick. You can take it home as a souvenir or use it yourself.

Our next destination after Nara Sumi making is Kasuga-taisha. It is a shrine founded in 768 AD and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The interior is notable for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that follow the shrine.

There are many deer on our way to Todaiji Temple. If you wish, you can stop for a moment to feed them. You may be wondering why there are so many deer in Nara. The deity enshrined here is Takemikajichi-no-Mikoto, who is said to have travelled to Nara riding on a sacred deer from Kashima Jingu Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture. Because of this legend, deer are considered sacred animals, messengers of the gods, and have been carefully protected for many years.

It is almost time to say goodbye. Our final destination is Todaiji Temple. It was founded in 738 AD, but did not open until 752 AD. Since then, the temple has undergone several reconstructions, but the most important one (the reconstruction of the Great Buddha Hall) took place in 1709. The world’s largest bronze statue of Dainichi Nyorai is enshrined in the Great Buddha Hall.

We will return to JR Nara Station together to say goodbye. However, if you would like to spend the rest of your day in the city centre, you are more than welcome. We will do our best to help you have a wonderful time in Nara.

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