COMPLETE NARA DIY ITINERARY FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS: What You Need To Know

From Osaka, you can embark on a budget-friendly day trip to explore Nara, Japan. The train ride itself takes less than 1 hour, making this journey convenient for travelers wishing to visit multiple cities in Japan. Whether you want to see the famous mochi store here or interact with the bowing deer, Nara offers a perfect destination for solo travelers and is DIY-friendly for strolling. (Nara DIY Itinerary)

All it takes is just one train ride from Osaka to Nara, so if you’re traveling to Osaka, including a side trip to Nara is a must-try. If you like to add a chill and therapeutic stroll to your Japan visit, this is the best way to experience it, specifically in Nara Park, so keep on reading this Nara DIY itinerary.

nara diy itinerary — Autumn Season in Nara, Japan (Nara DIY Itinerary)

Table of Contents

ABOUT NARA, JAPAN

Nara is one of Japan’s cities known for UNESCO-listed temples, traditional crafts, and bowing deer. It’s a peaceful city characterized by deep-rooted religious traditions, the iconic Nara Park, and a slower, more traditional pace of life compared to neighboring towns.

This city is famous for mochi (rice cakes) and its fast-paced pounding techniques, particularly at renowned shops. Likewise, in Nara, over 1,000 wild sika deer roam freely in Nara Park and surrounding areas and are considered messengers of the gods, so they’re sacred.

Language & Currency Used

As in other cities in Japan, people in Nara speak Japanese, and English proficiency is limited, so it’s best to use translation apps. For currency, it’s Japanese Yen (JPY) as well.

NARA, JAPAN PRE-TRAVEL GUIDE

Best Time to Visit Nara, Japan?

Identifying the best time to visit Nara, Japan, depends entirely on your personal preferences and the season you want to experience.

If you’re going to see sakura (cherry blossoms), especially in Nara Park, visit from March-May (spring season). For autumn leaves and scenic temples and parks, visit from October-November (autumn). From June-August, the weather is very hot and humid, with a rainy season from mid-June to mid-July, but the city features festivals and fireworks during these months. From December-February, the weather is cold (winter season), with occasional snow, and it’s a peaceful experience due to fewer tourists.

How to Get to Nara From Osaka?

The best way to get to Nara from Osaka is by train, ideally using the JR West Kansai Area Pass, which can be bought on Klook. This pass gives you unlimited train rides in the Kansai region, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, so you can travel between these cities without buying separate tickets each time. This helps you save compared to purchasing individual train rides for each destination. A 2-day pass costs PHP 2,175, and a 3-day pass costs PHP 2,718.

BUY DISCOUNTED JR WEST KANSAI AREA PASS HERE

Where to Stay in Nara, Japan?

If you plan to stay overnight in Nara, here are some accommodation options to consider:

BOOK ROOMS AT PIAZZA HOTEL NARA FOR PHP2231 PER NIGHT GOOD FOR 2 PAX

For budget travelers who prefer low-budget accommodation, this is a good option. Piazza Hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms, complimentary WiFi, and a buffet breakfast, and is conveniently located near Nara Station for easy access. It’s also near the Higashimuki Shopping Street.

BOOK ROOMS AT DAIWA ROYNET HOTEL NARA NATURAL HOT SPRING FOR PHP3362 PER NIGHT GOOD FOR 2 PAX

Meanwhile, if you’re on a mid-budget, Daiwa Roynet Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi, and it’s near Higashimuki Shopping Street. It also has an indoor mineral hot spring with LED murals of cherry blossoms.

BOOK ROOMS AT ONYADO NONO NARA NATURAL HOT SPRINGS FOR PHP4302 PER NIGHT GOOD FOR 2 PAX

For a higher budget, Onyado Nono Nara offers natural hot springs, nightly ramen, complimentary ice lollies, air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi, and proximity to Higashimuki Shopping Street.

Where to Eat in Nara, Japan?

Higashimuki Shopping Street

If Osaka has Dotonbori, Nara has Higashimuki. In this street, you can find a lot of shopping stalls and food stores. It’s like a famous landmark in Nara, Japan, where you can find local specialties.

Nakatanidou

This is a popular store in Nara for its traditional Japanese mochi rice cakes. In this shop, you can really watch them pound their mochi in an open kitchen, which makes it exceptionally soft once you taste it. Pounding their mochi really takes effort and speed!

Restaurants to try

Wa Yamamura – It’s a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers exceptional, high-quality kaiseki (a multi-course Japanese meal).
Sakura Burger – It’s a popular spot for high-quality, juicy burgers near Nara Park.
Kamaiki – If you’re looking for a popular restaurant for authentic, chewy Sanuki-style udon noodles, you can try this one.
Surugamachi no Okonomiyakiya – This is a known restaurant for delicious, authentic okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).
Shizuka – A famous spot for kamameshi (kettle rice) cooked with various toppings.

Where to Try Traditional Nara Cuisine?

Nara, Japan, is also known for the Slow Food Movement, which is its unique approach to cooking. With this, when you’re in Nara, it’s best to follow the locals if you want to experience their delicious dishes that use local and healthy ingredients, mostly vegetables. Below are some spots where you can try traditional Nara cuisine:

Awa (Naramachi)

It’s a farm-to-table restaurant specializing in organic Yamato vegetables and part of a project to protect traditional farming practices in Nara.

Somen Morisho

This rustic restaurant offers its Miwa Somen specialty. Miwa Sowen is a hand-stretched wheat noodle often served cold in summer or in hot soup in winter. You can also buy local produce here to take home at their mini farmers’ market.

Cafe Kotodama

It’s a casual restaurant that offers healthy lunch sets made with locally grown vegetables.

Yakko

A great spot to enjoy the Nara specialty ‘kakinohazushi’ or a sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.

Yakuan

This is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant where the locals go for soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles). Their menu also includes a selection of local vegetable dishes.

How to Get Around in Nara?

Nara is a compact city that you can easily explore on foot using Google Maps. However, if you need to travel further, buses, trains, or taxis are available. Local bus fares typically range from 210 to 220 JPY per ride, depending on the distance, while taxi fares start at approximately 670 JPY for the first 2 kilometers. You can also use the Kansai Railway Pass for unlimited train rides in Nara.

PLACES TO VISIT IN NARA, JAPAN

Stroll, Shop, and Try Japanese Street Foods at Higashimuki Shopping District

This is like Dotonbori in Osaka, so you shouldn’t miss strolling around here. I tried the mitarashi dango here, and it’s a must-try! It’s a traditional Japanese dessert and a staple street food, consisting of small, chewy rice dumplings skewered on bamboo sticks and coated in a sweet-and-savory soy sauce glaze.

Try the Mochi Rice Cake at Nakatanidou

Your visit to Nara wouldn’t be complete without trying the famous mochi rice cake at Nakatanidou. Their mochi is really soft because they put their heart and effort into pounding it, which you can watch them do while waiting for your order.

Walk Around Nara Park

This is where you can find a lot of deer that roam freely around the park. When you’re here, you can buy crackers from vendors to feed the deer. What’s impressive about the deer in Japan is that they’re known for their bowing gestures, which is why they’re called “bowing deers”; they really bow to you to ask for food! Just be careful, as there are still aggressive deer.

Visit the Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple

Another thing to do in Nara is to visit temples like Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji and then walk around the park. When I visited, I really enjoyed just strolling around, as it was autumn and the red maple leaves were very scenic to watch! It just feels therapeutic overall.

Explore the Kasuga Grand Shrine

Another renowned attraction in Nara is the Kasuga Grand Shrine, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s famous for its thousands of hanging bronze and moss-covered stone lanterns, surrounded by a sacred forest.

TIPS FROM JOAN’S FOOTPRINTS

If you’re planning to stay longer in Nara, to get discounts on your accommodation, use my Klook discount code JOANSFOOTPRINTSKLOOK or my Agoda code JFAGODA for hotels and JOANSAGODA for activities.
Use Google Maps when exploring Nara.
Wear comfortable shoes, as Nara is a walkable city, so you’ll be walking a lot here. It’s best to explore it on foot and enjoy the city’s slow, peaceful vibe.
Treat the deer properly when you’re here, as they’re sacred in Nara. But also be careful around them, as some are aggressive. It’s also best to buy crackers so you can feed them and interact with them, and see their iconic bowing gesture when you do!
For a quick visit to Nara, a daytrip should be enough.

SAMPLE NARA DIY ITINERARY WITH BUDGET

How to get to Nara from Osaka? Use Google Maps to navigate your way and make sure to choose trains/subways. Use the JR West Kansai Area Pass for your transportation. Travel time is about 1-1.5 hour from Osaka.

TIME:	ACTIVITY:	BUDGET:
6AM	Breakfast	Php400/meal
7AM	Travel to Nara Park using JR West Kansai Area Pass	Php1,048
8:30AM	ETA Higashimuki Shopping District, stroll, shop
10AM	Try the famous mochi at Nakatanidou in Higashimuki Shopping District	Php80/mochi
11AM	Walk to Nara Park, explore the area, stroll, feed the bowing deer	Php80 deer crackers (optional)
1PM	Lunch around the area	Php400/meal
2PM	Visit Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple
3PM	Explore Kasuga Grand Shrine
4PM	ETD to Osaka

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