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
Nostalgic Old Townscapes
Important traditional building preservation areas in Nara
As Japan's representative historical city, Nara was home to several national capitals and was often a setting of important historical episodes. Naturally, Nara has several old townscapes. Enter these areas and you will feel like you have time-travelled back to Japan of several hundred years ago. They are not a bustling well-known tourist attraction but a special place where you can see and experience a traditional and authentic Japanese townscape and culture.
- Nara-machi Area
- Nara-machi is a rare example of an area where the nostalgic old Japanese atmosphere still remains. You will find people's "life" in Nara-machi's narrow lanes and streets. Follow any narrow street and enjoy what you discover. When the national capital, Heijo-kyo, was moved to central Nara in 710, the largest and most important temple of the previous capital was moved as well and it was renamed Gango-ji Temple. People started to refer to the area around the precinct of Gango-ji Temple as Nara-machi. Nara-machi offers unique attractions for everyone, both young and old and an opportunity to feel the slow and peaceful flow of time.
- Imanishi Family Residence
This is a fine example of classical Japanese style architecture (Shoin-zukuri) from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) where the head monk of Kofuku-ji Temple lived. The house was handed over to the Imanishi Family in 1924. There are a few small gardens here that are well framed by the house itself. Visitors can enjoy matcha green tea and a sweet (600 yen) while viewing their beautiful Japanese garden. - Open: 10:00-16:00 (entry until 15:30); closed: Mon. and irregularly in summer and winter; 350 yen; Tel: 0742-23-2256; map A, D-3, pg 6.
- Naramachi Lattice House
This is a perfect example of a traditional machiya townhouse and definitely worth going into to gain a good idea of what the historic homes of this area look like. It retains a typical 2-story machiya structure: rooms, ceiling, kitchen, inner garden, storage, etc. Visitors can enter and have a close look at the entire house to learn how people lived there and how it was used.- Open: 9:00-17:00; closed: Mon. (open if Mon. is a national holiday); Admission free; Tel: 0742-23-4820; map A, D-3, pg 6.
- Other areas preserving traditional townscapes
- Uda Matsuyama in Uda City
Uda is a rural area located in the northeast part of Nara Prefecture. Though it is located in a deep mountain area, the town was an important transportation point connecting Nara and Ise (where Japan's most important shrine locates) in the east. The most prosperous time was in the 16th century as a local governor established a castle here. The castle was destroyed in 1615 but the town remained prosperous until the early 20th century. There are about 130 traditional houses remaining in the town. Some of them are open to the public and visitors can examine each structure in detail. - Access: Take the Kintetsu railways from Nara to Haibara Sta.; Change to a train bound for Kashihara Jingu-mae at Saidaiji Sta. and then change again at Yagi Sta. to the one bound for Osaka; From Haibara Sta., take Nara Kotsu Bus to Ouda stop (about 15 min.); Uda City Tourism Association: http://aknv.city.uda.nara.jp/matuyama/index.htm
- Imai-cho in Kashihara City
Imai-cho was established as a town during Japan's Sengoku civil war period (1532-1555). In the Edo period (1600-1868), Imai-cho was successful as a centre for industry and commerce and flourished as a merchant town situated between Nara and Osaka. Today many of the houses remaining in the town still retain the traditional style of architecture from the Edo period. On some streets, electric poles are located underground so that the townscape is not affected. The local people just protect the old style of living and the townscape. - Access: Take JR Sakurai line from Nara to Unebi Sta. (about 40 min.) or take Kintetsu railways from Nara to Yagi Nishiguchi Sta. (change train bound for Kashihara Jingu-mae at Saidaiji Sta.); Imai-cho is about 5-min. walk to the southwest from both stations; Kashihara Tourism Association: http://www.kashihara-kanko.or.jp/
