Things to Do in Nara

Things to do in Nara include serene outdoor parks, ancient Buddhist shrines, museums, historic ruins and modern theme parks with tons of opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment. The sheer number of Buddhist shrines and temples here is mind-blowing, with some, like Kasuga-taisha, dating back over 1,300 years and Kōfuku-ji dating to 710 CE. Temples like Hōryū-ji have several historic buildings onsite, and at Daibutsu-den and Nara Park, you can see herds of free-roaming deer. It's also worth paying a visit quirky museums like the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum or the Iga Ueno Castle.

 For family fun and excitement, head for Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park or the theme park on Mount Ikoma. You can even get a spa treatment while the kids splash and swim at Nara Kenko Land.