City guide · 奈良 Nara
Nara
Japan's first permanent capital: the Great Buddha, sacred deer and the end of the Silk Road
Nara is older and quieter than Kyoto. Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha, the stone lanterns of Kasuga Taisha and the deer in the park are all within walking distance, and you can see the core sights in a day.
History
How the city came to be
In 710 Empress Genmei moved the capital to Heijō-kyō, Japan's first permanent capital, used until 784 (with a brief move elsewhere from 740 to 745). After Emperor Kanmu moved the capital away, Nara gradually became a city of temples. Eight sites including Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the Heijō Palace site, together with the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, are inscribed on the World Heritage List as the 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara'.
- 710The capital moved to Heijō-kyō, Japan's first permanent capital
- 743Emperor Shōmu ordered the casting of the Great Buddha
- 752The eye-opening ceremony of Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha
- 784The capital moved to Nagaoka-kyō, ending the Nara period
- 1637The last recorded death sentence for killing a sacred deer
- 1709Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha Hall was rebuilt
Stories
Stories of the city
Legend · Nara Park
The god who arrived riding a white deer
Legend says Takemikazuchi, one of the four deities of Kasuga Taisha, came at the shrine's invitation from Kashima Jingū (in present-day Ibaraki) and appeared on Mount Mikasa riding a white deer. Ever since, Nara's deer have been regarded by Kasuga Taisha and Kōfuku-ji as messengers of the gods. Until 1637, killing a sacred deer was a capital offence.
History · Tōdai-ji
An emperor's attempt to steady the nation through Buddhism
Emperor Shōmu's reign was beset by natural disasters and epidemics; the smallpox epidemic of 735–737 killed a large part of the population, and the capital was moved four times. Believing that Buddhism could protect the nation, in 741 he decreed the founding of provincial temples across the country, and in 743 he decreed the casting of the Great Buddha. Tōdai-ji was founded in 738, and in 752 the Great Buddha was consecrated; this Vairocana Buddha is still the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world.
People
People connected with Nara
Must see
Places you shouldn’t miss
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Before you go
Rules to know in Nara
Take off your shoes when you see a genkan (entrance step)
- Take off your shoes at the entrance of homes, some restaurants, temples and hot-spring facilities
- If unsure, look for a shoe rack or slippers at the entrance
- Stepping onto tatami or indoor wooden floors in shoes
It is seen as very rude.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board
- Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
- Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
- Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility
- Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train
Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette
If you have tattoos, check the rules before using a hot spring
- Before you go, email the facility to ask about its rules
- Small to medium tattoos can be covered with skin-coloured patches (some onsen sell them)
- Choose a tattoo-friendly onsen, or book a private bath (kashikiri-buro) in advance
- Ignoring 'no tattoos' signs and getting in anyway
Most onsen do not allow guests with tattoos to bathe, but rules vary by facility and are often more relaxed for foreign visitors.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: tattoo rules and etiquette at onsen
Wash your body thoroughly before getting into a hot spring
- Before getting in, sit on the small stool in the washing area and wash your whole body with the shower or a bucket, leaving no soap
- Leave your small towel at the edge of the bath or fold it on your head
- Getting into the bath without rinsing first
- Dipping your towel in the bath water
- Leaving a used towel in the washing area
Not illegal, but other guests and the staff will see it as very rude. Most onsen require you to be fully naked in the bathing area.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: a beginner's guide to onsen
There is no tipping in Japan
- Say thank you with 'arigatō gozaimashita'
- Pressing loose change on staff
Japan is a no-tipping country and bills usually include service; if you press a tip on staff, some will politely refuse.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese table manners
An izakaya's otoshi is a cover charge
- Accept the otoshi as an appetiser
- Arguing with staff about it or asking for it to be taken back
There is no penalty: before you order at an izakaya, a small dish of otoshi always arrives. It doubles as the cover charge and cannot be chosen or swapped.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: drinking in Japan