Nara is a popular tourist destination in the Kansai region, and being under an hour from Osaka and Kyoto, it makes for a perfect day trip.
Nara is a relatively small town and is serviced by two main rail stations: JR’s Nara Station on the JR Nara Line and JR Yamatoji Line, and Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line and Kyoto Line, making access from central Osaka or Kyoto simple. A rapid express train from Osaka can reach Nara in around 40 minutes. Both stations are several blocks away from each other and are not directly connected. Fortunately, both stations are well-served by sightseeing buses and have excellent tourist information desks, where you can obtain English maps and information.
The most popular way to explore Nara is on foot. From JR Nara Station, it is about a 1 km walk to Kofukuji Temple via Sajodori Street (itself a popular tourist strip). From there, it’s a 500-meter walk to the Nara National Museum and the start of the expansive Nara Park area, which is home to the magnificent Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Grand Shrine, as well as plenty of friendly deer.
Other options to get around Nara include renting a bike (available near JR Nara Station) or hopping on one of the local buses that service both stations. There are a couple of local loop routes that go near most places you would like to visit. The tourist information desks at the stations can advise you on the best route to take when visiting Nara.
