Admire the Big Buddha at Todai-ji
Home of the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha), Todai-ji Temple is a must-see for all visitors to Japan. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 in order to lower the temple's influence on government affairs. One interesting feature inside the temple is a pillar that has a hole in the middle. This is where children often try to squeeze through because this is believed to bring good luck and enlightenment.
Buy a lucky charm Amulet
While you’re at the Todai-ji Temple, browse the offerings of the vendors set up inside of it selling small Japanese amulets, or lucky charms. The booths inside of shrines offer small charms that serve as a form of protection or provide good luck. They are important in Buddhism and Shintoism traditions and feature a silky cloth stamped with the temple name and a little prayer inside. You’re not supposed to open the amulet to actually read the blessing though because that is considered to be bad luck. Choose the amulet that is most relevant and meaningful to you and tie it to the outside of your bag as you go on with the rest of your journey. Popular themes include traffic safety, good health, pregnancy, and financial prosperity.
Taste a one-of-a-kind local sushi
There are lots of amazing places to grab a bite to eat in Nara but don’t miss out on trying a special kind of sushi here. In Nara, you can enjoy a lunch of sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, which is called kakinoha sushi. Unlike Edo-style sushi which was made with fresh fish from Tokyo Bay, sushi from Nara used mackerel fish preserved in salt as the prefecture shares no borders with the sea and it was difficult to enjoy fresh fish away from the coast. The preserved fish was stored together with rice to keep the flavor from becoming too salty and wrapped in persimmon leaves, which is said to have antibacterial properties. Today, preserved sushi wrapped in an individual persimmon leaf is another meibutsu product that’s sold as a popular souvenir in Nara.
Get along with deer in Nara Park
Nara Park is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara's nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure. Nara's deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them. Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed.
Explore the Nara National Museum
Museums are a great way to learn about the local history and culture in Nara, and they’re also ideal if the day you plan to visit Nara is a rainy one. The Nara National Museum is a great choice for international tourists because all of the exhibits feature both Japanese and English languages. One building is home to a huge permanent collection of Buddha sculptures, and the other building has temporary exhibits that rotate throughout the year. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, so take your time to soak in all of the information as you’re reading it. There are an on-site café and gift shop on the lower level of the museum as well.
Take a dip in a traditional Onsen
At the end of a long day of sightseeing, there’s nothing better than taking a dip in a traditional Japanese onsen. These hot springs baths are available for both public and private use, but there’s a certain etiquette involved in using one. Onsens should be visited in the nude, not in a bathing suit, and tattoos are not allowed. Some hotels in Nara have an on-site onsen, such as the Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara Eki, will provide you with flesh-colored tape to cover your tattoos though so you don’t miss out on these soothing natural waters.