Nara is famous for its ancient temples and shrines, as well as its free-roaming deer. One of the most popular places to see the deer is Nara Park, which is home to over 1,000 deer. The deer are considered sacred there, and they used to be around people. You can feed them with special crackers that you can buy in the park. Before feeding them, you can bow, and most of them will bow back.

Recommended arrival time at the first location: 8:30 AM

Quick summary of itinerary:

• Explore Nara Park and feed the deer. I've added my favorite hidden spots with fewer tourists.

• Visit Stunning Temples

• Several options for lunch

• Enjoy amazing Matcha + Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)

• My favorite local sweets shop

• Optional hike

• Optional museum

• Several dinner options

Tips:

1. Avoid buying crackers at the beginning of the park because that's where the most "bully" deer hang out. It will be funny for the first minute, but then you will be tired from running away from them 🤣

2. Wearing comfortable shoes is recommended

About Restaurants: When you're at a place like Nara Park, figuring out when to have lunch can be tricky. Some people might spend about 30 minutes with the deer, while others could take as long as 3 hours. Plus, some might go for a hike, while others won't. To make things convenient, I've set up all of the recommended restaurants all along the path, so that you could choose one whenever you feel hungry. Obviously there is no point and you won't be able to visit all of the restaurants, but if I would follow my own itinerary, I would eat lunch at Azekuraya, Drink Matcha with Wagashi(Japanese sweets) at 滴翠 Tekisui and dinner at Unagiku (the last one requires a reservation).