The Day-Tripper’s Travel Guide to Nara, Japan (2019)

Many people who visit the Kansai region seem to focus on three cities – Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. There are other interesting destinations within this area of western Japan though many itineraries seem to start with these three cities.

We had never been to Nara before so we made a point to spend some time there on our most recent trip to the Kansai region. By most accounts, it didn’t seem to merit more than a day or two so we decided to visit on a day trip from Osaka.

If you’re unfamiliar with Nara, it isn’t a booming metropolis like Tokyo or Osaka. It’s traditional in feel, more closely resembling Kyoto with its wealth of historical and cultural attractions. I like to think of it as “Kyoto light”, with deer.

If you’re traveling to the Kansai region and looking to spend time in Nara, then I hope this day tripper’s travel guide can help you plan your trip.

I enjoy trip planning. I like doing the research and putting together itineraries for our trips. For me, it’s half…