Nara City Budget Day Tour #1

Planning to visit Japan soon? I have come up with a series of budget day tour itineraries that is aimed to maximize your visit to a specific place in Japan without having to break your bank. For today's itinerary, I'm featuring a Nara City walking course itinerary. Read on my dear readers.

Nara City Budget Day Tour #1


Disclaimer:

1. Transportation from your accommodation going to JR Nara Station is not included in this itinerary.
2. The itineraries would always start at JR Nara Station and end at JR Nara Station.
3. The accommodation budget is also not included.
4. The itineraries start at 8:30AM as most destinations open at 9AM. 
5. The exploration time in a place is pegged at an hour per destination. However, you may opt to cut it shorter or stay longer. 
6. It is also assumed that you are traveling light.

Nara City Budget Day Tour Itinerary #1

Nara City Walking Course 1


8:30 AM

Arrival at JR Nara Station.

Exit at the East Gate.

8:35 AM

 

Walk towards the nearby Nara Tourism Information Center and ask for the Nara City Tourist Map.

It’s FREE, informative, and actually a good souvenir.

Optional: You can grab a coffee at the Starbucks branch inside the Nara City Information Center building.

8:40AM

Walk to Nakatanidou Mochi Shop

Travel time from Nara Tourism Office to the famed mocha shop is 13-15 minutes.

8:55 - 9:55 AM

Watch Mitsuo Nakatani and his team make mochi the traditional way. You don’t need to pay any admission fees to watch but if you want to try out the mochi, you can buy one.

Mochi: 130 yen per piece / 900 yen for a pack of 6.

Read more about  Nakatanidou Mochi Shop

 

9:55 AM

Walk to the nearby Kohfukuji temple grounds.

Travel time: 2 – 5 minutes

 

9:57- 10:57AM

 

Explore Kohfukuji

Admission Fee: FREE

Optional:

National Treasure Museum: 600 yen

Eastern Golden Hall: 300 yen

Read more about Kohfukuji

 

10:57AM

 

Walk to Nara Park

Travel time: 3-10 minutes depending on what area of Kohfukuji you are in.

 

11- 12NN

 

Explore Nara Park and feed the deer.

Admission Fee: FREE

Optional:

Shika Senbei Crackers to feed the deer: 150 for a pack of 10 crackers.

Read more about Nara Park

12 – 1 PM

 

LUNCH at any restaurant near the park

1PM

Walk to Todaiji

Travel time 5 – 20 minutes depending on where you are. However, assuming that you are in Nara Park, you can reach the temple in 5 minutes.

1:05 – 2:05PM

Explore Todaiji and check out the Great Daibutsu. You might want to try and crawl through the hole in one of the pillars inside the temple known as Buddha’s Nostril. If you successfully do so, then it is believed that you will have enlightenment in the next life once you accomplish this.

Admission Fee: 600 yen

Read more about Todaiji

2:05PM

Walk back to Nara Park and buy some souvenirs from the stores along the way.

Travel time: 5 minutes

2:10-3PM

Rest and relax at Nara Park or feed the deer again.

Admission Fee: FREE

Read more about Nara Park

3PM

Walk from Nara Park to JR Nara Station, you can buy more souvenirs and snacks along the way

Travel time: 30-40 minutes

3:30PM

Arrival at JR Nara Station. Buy train tickets back to your accommodation.

Another option is to book for a hotel in Nara City and explore again the next day using my 2nd itinerary.

Optional:

Early dinner at any restaurants near the station or along the way from Nara Park.

 

Expenses Summary:

 

Summary

 

 

Transportation Fees

 

Train ticket in and out of Nara City

Admission Fees

 

Todaiji – 600 yen

 

Food Expenses

 

Lunch  - _______ yen 

Snacks and refreshments - ______ yen

Early dinner - _______ yen

 

Optional Expenses

 

Souvenirs - ________ yen

Starbucks coffee - ________ yen

Nakatinidou Mochi Shop's Mochi - 130 yen per piece / 900 yen for a pack of 6.

Shika Senbei Crackers - 150 yen for a pack of 10 cracker

National Treasure Museum: 600 yen

Eastern Golden Hall: 300 yen

 

Total Expenses

 

600 yen + food expenses + optional expenses

 

 

Multiply the expenses to the X number of travelers.

 

Location: Nara, Japan

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