Home to the world's largest wooden structure.
Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital (710–794 AD), is a serene, walkable city known for, stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites, and sacred, free-roaming deer. Located near Kyoto/Osaka, it offers unparalleled 8th-century history, ancient wooden temples, and peaceful nature, making it a perfect, intimate addition to visiting Japan’s busier cities.
A Nara excursion offers a perfect, walkable blend of ancient history and nature, iconic bowing deer, and stunning, expansive parkland. Highlights include the massive bronze Buddha at Tōdai-ji Temple, the serene Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and tranquil strolling through Nara Park.
Kasuga Taisha is a stunning, Shinto shrine in Nara, established in 768 CE to protect the city, and famous for its 3,000+ hanging bronze and stone lanterns. Surrounded by a, primeval forest, it is renowned for its vermillion-and-white architecture and, the sacred deer that roam free.
Tōdai-ji ("Great Eastern Temple") in Nara, Japan, is a masterpiece of ancient Japanese engineering, holding the world's largest wooden building . Founded in 728 by Emperor Shōmu to serve as the head of all provincial Buddhist temples, it showcases a 15-meter-tall bronze Buddha (Daibutsu) representing Vairocana.