Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nara
Explore
Nara is the most rewarding day trip from Kyoto and it's very easy to reach. Indeed, by tak-
ing the Kintetsu limited express
(tokkyū)
from Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara Station,
you're there in about 30 minutes - less time than it might take you to visit some of the
more distant parts of Kyoto itself.
Whether you go by JR or Kintetsu, grab a map at the nearest tourist information centre
(there's one at each station) and walk to Nara-kōen (Nara Park), which contains the thickest
concentration of must-see sights in the city, including the awesome Daibutsu (Great Budda)
at Tōdai-ji. On the way there, don't miss Isui-en, a compact stunner of a garden. With a
9am start, you can see the sights and be back in Kyoto in time for dinner.
The Best…
Top Tip
Unless you're travelling with a Japan Rail Pass, take a comfortable
tokkyū
on the private
Kintetsu line from Kyoto Station (south side of the station) to Kintetsu Nara Station.
Getting There & Away
Kintetsu line (train)
The Kintetsu line, which runs between Kintetsu Kyoto Station (in
Kyoto Station) and Kintetsu Nara Station, is the fastest and most convenient way to travel
between Nara and Kyoto. There are
tokkyū
(¥1110, 33 minutes) and
kyūkō
(¥610, 40
minutes). The
tokkyū
trains run directly and are very comfortable; the
kyūkō
usually require
a change at Saidai-ji.
