A day trip that takes you through Nara Park in autumn, to Kasuga Taisha and Todai-ji, and then to the Shosoin Exhibition, held only at this time of year. You can walk from the station to the museum, making it well suited to a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
Enter Nara Park from Kintetsu Nara Station, walk to Kasuga Taisha and Todai-ji, and finish at the Shosoin Exhibition at the Nara National Museum. Everything is within walking distance.
Take the Kintetsu or JR line from Kyoto to Nara. For details, see the intercity travel guide.
Walk east from Kintetsu Nara Station and you are soon in Nara Park. Head toward Kasuga Taisha, taking in the lawns full of deer and the colorful trees.
View guide →
Walk to the main sanctuary past the stone lanterns along the approach. This is one of the most wooded parts of Nara Park, and a peaceful stretch to walk.
Official site ↗
Walk north from Kasuga Taisha to Todai-ji. The Vairocana Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall and the Kongo Rikishi guardian statues in the National Treasure Great South Gate are must-sees.
Official site ↗Head back south from Todai-ji to the Shosoin Exhibition at the Nara National Museum. It is a popular exhibition, so check the guide in advance for how to get in.
View guide →Sample itineraries from day trips to 5 days, by region and season. Every stop links to its guide, and you can save any itinerary as your own trip plan and rearrange it day by day.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightSpringKansai ・ 7 stops ・ March・April
A spring-only route that visits Kyoto's famous cherry blossom spots, including Daigo-ji, Maruyama Park, the Philosopher's Path, Heian Jingu, Nijo Castle, Ninna-ji and Arashiyama, in two days. It combines spots that bloom at slightly different times and groups them by area.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightKansai ・ 8 stops
A one-night route from and back to Kansai Airport that covers Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, the Kaiyukan aquarium and an observatory in Umeda. Day 1 focuses on the Minami side and day 2 on Osaka Port and Umeda, keeping each day within its own area.
🗺 3 days, 2 nightsKansai ・ 12 stops
A route covering Kyoto's signature sights, including Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama and Nijo Castle, in three days. Each day focuses on one area (the south and Higashiyama, the northwest, then the center and Okazaki), so you transfer between buses and trains less.
🗺 5 days, 4 nightsKansai ・ 18 stops
A touring route that starts at Kansai Airport and covers Osaka, Himeji, Arima Onsen, Kyoto and Nara in five days. You go west as far as Himeji first, then move east to Kyoto and Nara, so you never have to backtrack.
Check prices, opening hours and access on each stop’s guide and official website. Seasonal events and peak seasons vary from year to year.
Information as of 2026-10-13
