Welcome to Nara

Visit Nara, rich with history from the beginnings of today’s Japan. Where Emperor Jimmu rose to power are stories of emperors, teachings of scholars and beautiful crafts in a unique cultural destination…

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Welcome to Nara

Walk among ancient historical landmarks and buildings, take in surroundings filled with age-old traditions and the sacred deer as if you have stepped back in time and let Nara’s tales enlighten you.

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The Restaurant Bus

Imagine a double decker bus with a fully equipped kitchen on the lower deck and an open roof dining area on the upper level. Here you can enjoy ever changing panoramic views as you make your way through the city while dining delicious seasonal local dishes.

During November and December 2023, the Restaurant Bus is coming to Nara Prefecture for the first time! 

“Restaurant Bus in NARA” combines sightseeing, dining, and hands-on experiences, offering visitors a taste of Nara's diverse food culture and rich history. Enjoy routes both for Nara City and Gojo City while getting the opportunity to try the local cuisine and dive into Nara’s history and culture. You might even get to hear stories from the local producers as you take part of this unique experience.

During Novemer and December you can also experience the autumn foliage in Nara, making this an extraordinary event that we warmheartedly recommend and are sure that you will enjoy to the fullest!

Limited Offer!! Special Bus Tour Courses

Cities to explore

Visit the magical Gojo City in southwest Nara Prefecture. It's different from the well-known parts of Nara.

When you're in Gojo Shimmachi, it feels like you're back in the lively Edo period. Gojo City has a rich history of over 30,000 years, starting from the late Jomon era. New people came during the Kofun period and introduced new skills. The Fujiwara clan made it a cultural center in the Nara period, and even some emperors visited.

In recent history, Gojo City became an important political and economic spot and played a key role in the Meiji Restoration during the Tengu Gumi Incident.

Visit Nara, called 'Narashi' in Japanese. Once, it was the lively center of Japan known as 'Heijo-kyo' where politics and culture thrived.

Nara became an official city in 1898 and is home to famous places like the 'Todai-ji' and 'Kofuku-ji' temples. Its weather has cool days and nights. The city beautifully mixes old traditions with new, and is always evolving.

Nara welcomes you to experience a story where old meets new. Here, history and tomorrow blend together smoothly.

Major Specialty Products

Miwa Somen

What is Miwa Somen?

Let's dive into Japan's love for noodles, especially 'somen'. To really get it, we need to go back in time to Miwa in what's now Sakurai City, Nara.

Imagine this: About 1300 years ago, at the peaceful foot of Mount Miwa, there's the Omiwa Shrine, Japan's oldest. It was in this special spot that somen noodles were first made, inspired by the shrine's significance.

Miwa somen, a beloved food, has been around for ages, even mentioned in ancient Japanese poems. Come taste a noodle that's stood the test of time, showing off Japan's deep history and cherished traditions.

Yoshino Cedar

What is Yoshino Cedar?

Yoshino cedar is one of Japan's three most beautiful forests, along with Akita cedar and Kiso cypress.

What's special about Yoshino cedar is its smooth texture, even growth patterns, and great strength. Plus, it has a lovely pale pink color that people love to look at.

Beyond its appearance, this wood smells amazing. Back in the Edo period, people even used it to make barrels for storing the best sake.

With its reddish shade and captivating patterns, Yoshino cedar is a top choice for making surfaces. It's a hidden gem worth checking out.

Nara Sake

What is Nara Sake?

Nara is often considered Japan's starting point and has a long history with sake, a famous Japanese drink.

There are tales of sake being made in the grand Heijō Palace in the old capital of Nara. The area even has temples believed to be the first places where clear sake was made, and shrines dedicated to sake gods.

Today, Nara has a thriving sake industry with skilled brewers making unique drinks. These new brewers are gaining fame, turning Nara into a major place for sake creativity. In Nara, every sip of sake is a blend of old traditions and fresh ideas.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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