Nara, Japan: Towns to Explore on Foot

Nara Prefecture is one of the best places to explore the deep history of Japan. Once home to one of Imperial Japan’s earliest capitals, the region combines ancient temples and shrines with burial mounds, archaeological sites, mountain districts and distinctive local food. Neywo has free audio guides for three cities in Nara, covering 88 narrated places across seven walking tours.

What to see and do in Nara

Explore Nara city

Nara city is the prefectural capital and largest city, situated in the Nara Basin in the northwest of the prefecture. It is the region’s main concentration of historic places and the largest of the three Nara destinations covered by Neywo, with 73 narrated places.

The city’s highlights include Kasuga-taisha, Tōdai-ji Temple and the Nara National Museum. Chisoku-in is another of the narrated places to discover. Together, these sites offer an introduction to the religious, artistic and historical importance of Nara.

Nara’s significance reaches back to the early development of Japan. The region was one of the country’s earliest political centres, and its temples, shrines and surviving historic landscape reflect the lasting influence of that period. For a closer look at the city’s individual landmarks, see the Nara city guide.

Visit Asuka, a birthplace of Japanese history

Asuka lies in the historic landscape of Nara Prefecture and is associated with the emergence of an early political force at the foot of Mount Miwa, east of the Nara Basin. Between the third and fourth centuries, that force sought to unite much of Japan, giving the area an important place in the country’s early history.

The town’s key places include Oka-dera Temple, the Asuka Historical Museum, Asuka-dera Temple and the Takamatsuzuka Mural Museum. The presence of museums, temples and ancient remains makes Asuka particularly useful for understanding how archaeological discoveries illuminate Japan’s past. Neywo covers 11 narrated places in the town. Continue with the Asuka guide.

Discover Ikaruga’s temple heritage

Ikaruga is another important stop for anyone interested in the religious and cultural history of Nara. Its four narrated places include Hōryū-ji Temple, Hokki-ji Temple, Ikaruga Shrine and the monument known as 会津八一歌碑.

The area’s temples are part of the broader tradition of Buddhist architecture and worship that helped shape Nara’s historic identity. Ikaruga offers a more focused visit than the prefectural capital, with a small group of significant sites to explore. The Ikaruga guide covers each of Neywo’s four narrated places.

Look for kofun and archaeological sites

Nara’s historic landscape extends beyond famous temples and shrines. Burial mounds known as kofun, archaeological digs and other remains are found across the prefecture. They preserve evidence of the region’s early communities and political development.

The contrast between the densely populated Nara Basin and the quieter southern districts is important to the character of the prefecture. In the northwest, the basin contains Nara city and around ninety percent of the population. Farther south, Gojō and Yoshino District cover nearly two thirds of the land while containing only a small share of the population. This makes Nara a destination of both concentrated historic cities and sparsely inhabited countryside.

Taste Nara’s local food

Food is another way to understand the region. Chagayu is a rice porridge prepared with green tea, while kakinoha zushi is sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves. Meharizushi consists of rice balls wrapped in pickled takana leaves.

The prefecture is also known for Miwa sōmen, a wheat noodle, and narazuke, a traditional method of pickling vegetables. Persimmons are especially associated with Nara, whose kaki persimmon is well known. Strawberries, tea, rice and vegetables—including spinach, tomatoes and eggplants—also form part of local production.

These dishes reflect the ingredients available in the region and practical food traditions developed over time. Trying tea porridge, leaf-wrapped sushi or local noodles adds a culinary dimension to a visit focused on history.

A region shaped by early capitals and changing power

Nara’s role in Japanese history did not end when the imperial capital moved away. Emperor Kanmu first transferred the capital to Nagaoka-kyo and later to Heian-kyo, but Nara remained an important religious and cultural centre.

During the medieval period, the region received support from Minamoto no Yoritomo for restoration. The old province of Yamato was later drawn into the conflicts of the Sengoku period. Modern Nara Prefecture was established during the Meiji Restoration.

Today, the combination of shrines, Buddhist temples, kofun and archaeological sites reflects these successive layers of history. Nara has more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan, underlining the depth and variety of its cultural heritage.

The prefecture is inland, in the Kansai region at the centre of the Kii Peninsula on the western part of Honshu. Its inland climate brings clear seasonal differences and substantial temperature variation within a single day. Winters average around three to five degrees Celsius, while summers are much warmer.

Explore Nara with Neywo’s free audio guide

Download Neywo to explore Nara with seven walking tours and 88 narrated places across three cities: Nara, Asuka and Ikaruga. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

You can listen while discovering the major landmarks of Japan, then move between Nara’s historic cities according to your own interests.