A Quiet Day in Asuka: Cycling Japan's First Capital
Long before Kyoto, and before the great temples of Nara city, the Japanese state first took shape in a small basin of rice fields and burial mounds south of…
Region
Nara
7 quiet, car-free day trips in Nara — no rental car needed.
At a glance
7 guides cover this region. The counts below are the number of guides carrying each tag; a guide can carry several tags, and not every guide is tagged on every line.
- Interest
- Shrines & Temples (2)
- Getting There
- Train Only (1)
- Best Season
- Spring (1), Autumn (1), Winter (1)
- Facts last checked
- 2026-09-06 to 2026-10-21
Hasedera from Hasedera Station: A Quiet Day at Nara's Mountain Temple
This guide covers the way to Hasedera, the covered stairway, the main hall, the pagoda, the seasonal flowers, lunch and the practical details for a day out.
Horyuji and Ikaruga: Seeing the Yumedono's Hidden Kannon in Spring or Autumn
This guide covers the Western and Eastern Precincts of Horyuji, Chuguji and Hokiji, with the routes, times and fees you need.
Imai-cho: Nara's Edo Merchant Town, a Short Walk From Yamato-Yagi
This guide draws on a Meiji-era topographical survey of the Yamato plain, on the Japan Heritage story that the Agency for Cultural Affairs tells for Imai-cho…
Uda-Matsuyama Day Trip: Old Merchant Streets, Morino Herb Garden and Castle Ruins in Nara
This guide covers a single day in Uda-Matsuyama, the old merchant district of Oouda in Uda City, Nara.
Yamanobe no Michi: Walking from Omiwa Shrine to Isonokami Jingu in Nara
This guide covers the walk from Omiwa Shrine to Isonokami Jingu, with the time for each stretch, lunch stops along the way and how to get there.
Yoshinoyama: A Quiet Day Among Temples and Hillside Lanes in Nara
Yoshinoyama is a mountain in the south of Nara Prefecture where one ridge lane strings together temples, a shrine, inns and sweet shops.