Nara Park

Overview

Nara Park is a large public park spreading at the foot of Mount Wakakusa in the city of Nara. Established in 1880, it is one of the oldest parks in Japan and is itself designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Its official area is about 502 hectares, but when the grounds of Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Kasuga-taisha and the Nara National Museum that sit within or around it are included, the whole reaches 660 hectares, forming a landscape where temples, shrines, nature and free-roaming deer come together in a way unique to Nara.

Highlights

• ●A vast 502 to 660 hectare landscape designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty
• ●More than 1,200 wild sika deer roaming freely as a national natural treasure
• ●A setting that gathers the world-famous Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji and Kasuga-taisha
• ●Scenery honoured among Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots and Best Urban Parks

History

The park traces its origin to 1880, when about 14 hectares of the government-owned grounds of Kofuku-ji were designated as parkland. In 1889 it expanded to 535 hectares with the addition of Todai-ji, Kasugano and mountainous areas such as Mount Wakakusa. Between 1949 and 1951 the park designation over the temple grounds was revoked, reducing it to around 500 hectares, before it was formally established in 1960 as Nara Park under the Urban Park Act at 502 hectares. More than 1,200 wild sika deer roam freely through the grounds and are protected as a natural treasure.

Map

34.6855, 135.8434 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Begin near Kofuku-ji and Sarusawa Pond, enjoying the view past the five-storied pagoda
2. 2Follow the approach eastward, meeting the deer on the way to the Nara National Museum area
3. 3Head to Todai-ji to take in the great temple halls and the lively gate-front street
4. 4Pass through the sacred grove along the Kasuga-taisha approach, then, if time allows, walk toward the foot of Mount Wakakusa

Did you know?

💡 Nara Park is also named among the 100 Best Urban Parks in Japan, a mark of its high standing as an urban park. The wild deer are famous with visitors, but as a natural treasure they are subject to rules, including how they may be fed, which is worth knowing in advance. The vegetation is rich too, with pine, cherry, maple, plum, cedar and Japanese pieris colouring the seasons.

Nearby spots