Nara

Home to the famous Great Buddha (Daibutsu, 大仏), the largest Buddha statue in Japan and one of the largest in the world. The Daibutsu-den, which houses it, is said to be the largest wooden building in the world and is a UNESCO World…

50 Noborioji-cho

This museum has one of the world's best collections of Buddhist art and changing exhibitions. The National Treasure Hall has an impressive collection of statues.

登大路町４８

This temple has a three-story and a five-story pagoda; historically, the latter has contended with Kyoto's Toji for the title of Tallest Pagoda in Japan, although Kofuku-ji seems to have surrendered for now.

10-minute walk from the Kintetsu Nara station; across the street from the Nara National Museum

A shrine dating from 1217 and home to several fine cherry trees. Although the architecture is unremarkable, the trees in front of the shrine explode into beautiful clouds of pale pink and white blossoms in spring (late March-early April).

登大路町４９

This small pond at the east end of Sanjō-dōri with Nara Park behind or Naramachi to its south is a very popular viewing spot for Kōfukuji.

A hexagonal building built on Sagiike Pond in Nara Park so that it appears to float on water.

3 Ikeno-cho· Free

Learn basic Japanese calligraphy or origami. They'll pick out kanji that match the sound of your name so you can learn to write them with a calligraphy brush pen.

10 minutes on foot south of Kintetsu Nara station

The neighborhood, founded in the 8th century when Heijōkyō was the capital of Japan, today contains several small museums, machiya (町家) (traditional Japanese merchant houses from Edo Period), unique cafes and restaurants.

Nigatsu-dō, Todai-ji

An annual Buddhist memorial service that has been carried out first in 752 AD and continues today without a year off. Priests run around the Nigatsu-dō carrying large flaming torches.

Wakakusayama, Nara Park

Great fireworks and the dry grass on the slopes of this mountain is set on fire by two temples. The size of the burn depends on how dry the grass is.

An annual light festival. 10,000 candles illuminate the area around Nara Park and major temples.

Rokuen, Nara Park

Deer have their horns cut to prevent people from being injured.

exit Kintetsu Nara station, and you'll see a fountain of a Buddhist monk; cross the lights to the other side of the big street there, and go into the small street that runs perpendicular to the big street. Walk a couple hundred meters, passing an am/pm convenience store on your right, and you will see an Asahi beer sign on the road, with the words まぐろ小屋 written on it on your left side

A tiny hole-in-the-wall place that specializes in tuna. Tekka-don (rice bowl with raw slices of tuna and thinly sliced nori), tuna karaage (breaded deep fried pieces of tuna), tataki (seared on the outside, raw on the inside slices of…

inside Higashimuki Shopping Street arcade off the south-east entrance near the Kintetsu Nara stop

A conveyor-belt sushi restaurant that won't break your wallet. Sushi is handmade and prepared fresh; just watch out as the different plates correspond to different prices so read the menu (both sides) carefully before chowing down.

south of Sarusawa Pond

A nice sampling of local foods such as kakinohazushi and chagayu (tea gruel, which tastes better than it sounds) are included in dinner sets miyoshino and heijou. An English picture menu available.

inside Higashimuki Shopping Street arcade

A restaurant specialized in okonomiyaki (お好み焼き), a pan-fried cabbage cake with selection of meat. Okonomiyaki is definitely shortlisted on Kansai people's most beloved dishes.

In the Isui-en Garden (依水園)

It's worth a visit more for the attractive old house and garden than the menu, which consists of two very traditional dishes: mugi tororo (plain rice with ground yam, ¥1200), and unagi tororo (the same with grilled eel, ¥2500).

13-1 Hayashi-kōji-cho

Fresh poultry from local farms cooked and served in many different ways (eg. grilled, fried, even raw) with a variety of either local or other regional sake available.

1096 Takabatake-cho

Classic western-style hotel of deluxe class, since 1909.

off Sanjo-dori, close to Sarusawa Pond and Gango-ji; about 7 minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station and 15 minutes from JR Nara

The owners profess to be familiar with Buddha statue carving and calligraphy. Free wifi. No dinner, but you can get a Japanese breakfast—reserve it the night before. (A Western breakfast is available too.)

on Sanjō Avenue

Nationwide western-style hotel chain. Rooms have internet at no extra charge.

in the Higashimuki Shopping Street Arcade

Japanese and western-style rooms available.