NaraExplorer
Up-to-date and essential English tourist information about Nara for international visitors
Nara Explorer is Nara's first and only English tourist magazine.
Our inaugual first issue will be published in June.
For further information,click here.
- Special feature
- Event
- Essential Sightseeing
- NE Recommendations
Essential Sightseeing - What Not To Miss in Nara
Spring is the best season to visit Nara as all kinds of flowers and new life are coming out. After the cold winter ends, the whole Nara area will be filled with colorful blooms and new leaves. Here are several places in the prefecture that you can come in touch with the marvelous natural beauty of spring.
- Cherry Blossoms (from late March to mid April)
- Nara Park Vicinity
- Nara Park and its surrounding areas are one of the best places to enjoy cherry blossoms. From late March to late April, the area will be covered with pink blossoms. There are different kinds of cherry trees in each area. You can view spring beauty in historical settings including Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Kofuku-ji Temple, etc.
- Recommended spots: Asajigahara Field (map A, C-4, pg 6), Prefectural New Public Hall (map A, B-5, pg 7), Mt. Wakakusa (map A, B-5, pg 7), Todai-ji Temple (map A, A-4, pg 6), Ukimi-do Hall (map A, C-4, pg 6), Ara-ike Pond (map A, C-4, pg 6); Tel: 0742-22-0375;
- http://www.pref.nara.jp/narakoen/
- The old site of Yamato Koriyama Castleo
- Yamato Koriyama City, next to Nara City, is home to the old site of Yamato Koriyama Castle which was established in the late 16th century. The castle site still has the remains of the original castle. The area has an historical atmosphere with the surrounding moat, related buildings and natural beauty. Every year when about 1,000 cherry trees are in full bloom, there is a large festival (Mar. 28-Apr. 5). A variety of stalls line the streets and special events will be held amongst the beautiful cherry blossoms. To get to the castle, take the Kintetsu Railway line from Nara Sta. and get off at Koriyama Sta. (change train at Saidaiji Sta. to the one bound for Tenri or Kashihara Jingumae; about 20 min.; 250 yen).
- Tel: 0743-52-2010
- http://www.yk-kankou.jp/
- Asuka Area
- The Asuka area was one of the imperial capitals of Japan (Fujiwara-kyo) before it was moved to Heijo-kyo (present-day, central Nara city). Naturally, the area has a number of important historical sites set amongst rivers and hills. Cherry blossoms in bloom will be spectacular in and around the following sites: Amakashi no Oka Hill, Tachibana Temple, Ishibutai Tomb, along the Asuka River, etc.
- Tel: 0744-54-2126;For access information to Asuka area, see pg 12.
- http://www.asukamura.jp/english
- Camellia (from mid March to late April)
- Kaizan-do Hall in Todai-ji Temple
- Next to Todai-ji Temple’s Nigatsu-do Hall, there is another hall called Kaizan-do where there is a statue of the first head monk of the temple. The hall is famous for special camellia flowers. This camellia has white spots on the petals and is known as “nori koboshi” (no entry to the garden but the flowers can be seen across the fence).
- 500 yen;Tel: 0742-22-5511
- http://www.todaiji.or.jp/
- Byakugo-ji Temple
- This temple is located on the hillside of Mt. Takamado. The camellia tree here is known as one of the three best camellias in Nara. This tree is very unique as its flowers have five colors in one flower. The view of the city from the temple is also nice to experience. To get to the temple, take the city circular bus (see pg 8) and get off at Takabatake-cho stop and walk about 20 min.
- Tel: 0742-26-3392; 400 yen; 9:00-17:00.
- Wisteria (from late April to mid May)
- Kasuga Grand Shrine
- The Fujiwara clan was powerful imperial court clan in the Nara period (710-794) and dedicated the shrine. Wisteria has been a symbol of the shrine for a long time. There are some amazing wisteria flowers here called “Sunazuri no Fuji” (wisteria which reach the ground). When the flowers are in full bloom, they grow to more than one meter in length and almost reach to the ground. The shrine’s Shin-en Garden is also a must-see spot for beautiful spring flowers and plants.
- 500 yen; 6:30-17:30 (7:00-16:30 in Mar.); Tel: 0742-22-7788
- http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/
