Nara and Uji Ancient City Slow Travel
This trip spans two incredibly charming and historically rich cities in Japan's Kansai region—Nara and Uji! From exploring ancient temples, strolling along cherry blossom-lined rivers, to greeting friendly deer and experiencing the serene atmosphere of Uji's matcha streets, this journey fulfills all your dreams of ancient cities, nature, and gourmet delights. Highlights: The eel rice at Kikusuiro is highly recommended! The deer in Nara are super friendly, and interacting with them is truly healing. Byodoin Temple is stunning, and you can feel its historical depth at first glance.
🌸 Recommended Attractions
1. Kasuga Taisha Shrine
📍Address: 160 Kasuganocho, Nara, 630-8212 Japan
⏰ Opening Hours: March-October 06:30-17:30; November-February 07:00-17:00
A must-visit in Nara! Kasuga Taisha Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by a primeval forest. The red shrine buildings, countless stone lanterns, and roaming Nara deer create a healing atmosphere as you wander through the forest and shrine. Tip: Visit in the morning when the deer are more active, and you can take photos and feed them deer crackers. Just be careful not to scare them!
2. Mount Wakakusa
📍Address: Zoshicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8211 Japan
⏰ Opening Hours: Year-round 09:00-17:00
After visiting Kasuga Taisha Shrine, hike up Mount Wakakusa for a panoramic view of Nara City and the surrounding mountains. It's an excellent spot for watching sunsets and night views. You'll also encounter Nara deer along the way, adding to the ancient city vibe.
3. Kikusuiro
📍Address: 1130 Takabatakecho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8301 Japan
A highly popular traditional restaurant in Nara! Their signature eel rice, tempura, and kaiseki cuisine are of exceptional quality. The elegant setting even allows you to occasionally spot deer wandering outside the restaurant windows. Highly recommend their lunch set menu—perfect for a meal before continuing your exploration of Nara's historical sites.
4. Byodoin Temple
📍Address: 116 Uji Renge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture
⏰ Opening Hours: 08:45-17:30 (Last entry at 17:15)
A scene from "The Tale of Genji"! Byodoin Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Phoenix Hall and pond reflection exuding a poetic charm. It's perfect for a leisurely stroll and photography. In spring, enjoy the cherry blossoms; in summer, the lush greenery. Be sure to allocate time to explore the interior, which houses many historical artifacts.
5. Uji Bridge
📍Address: Uji, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0021 Japan
⏰ Open 24/7 year-round
Spanning the Uji River, Uji Bridge is surrounded by matcha shops and walking paths. The bridge offers a romantic view, and you can try Uji matcha desserts at nearby specialty stores. Highly recommend the local matcha shops for souvenirs and snacks.
🦌 Practical Tips
- Nara deer are adorable but may snatch food, so watch your bags and clothes while feeding them.
- The forest near Kasuga Taisha Shrine is cool in summer; bring mosquito repellent.
- Kikusuiro is busy during lunch hours; reservations are recommended.
- Byodoin Temple is less crowded in the afternoon, ideal for a relaxed visit.
- Visit the Uji River walking paths early in the morning or at sunset for the best photos without crowds.
🍱 Food Recommendations
Kikusuiro: Must-try eel rice! Their tempura is also fresh, and the kaiseki cuisine offers great value. The tranquil restaurant setting is perfect for a leisurely meal.
🚄 Transportation
- From Nara Station, you can walk or take a bus to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Mount Wakakusa, and Kikusuiro (Bus Stop: Kasuga Taisha Honden, a few minutes' walk to the restaurant).
- From Uji Station, Byodoin Temple and Uji Bridge are within walking distance. Trains to and from Kyoto City are very convenient.
If you want to experience the charm of traditional Japanese cities, interact with friendly deer, and savor matcha and Japanese cuisine, consider this itinerary to slow down and appreciate the unique allure of these two ancient cities!
The scenery is beautiful. You must buy tickets before 17:00, otherwise you can't get in. There are many deer inside. Almost half of the tourists are Chinese compatriots. Climb to the top of the peak and watch the sunset. It's very pleasant. Walk carefully, the mountain is a bit steep, watch the children, there is a toilet inside, the entrance and exit are different, and you will reach Todaiji Temple when you go out.
• Basic overview: Mount Wakakusa is located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, between Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. It is 342 meters above sea level and covers an area of 330,000 square meters. From a distance, it looks like three overlapping hats, so it is also called Mount Mikasa. Tickets are 150 yen, and entry is closed before 17:00. If the weather is good, you must come to Mount Wakakusa to watch the sunset, which is really beautiful. Check the sunset time in advance, and come in before 17:00 to take pictures and climb up. It takes 40 minutes to climb to the top. There are three peaks: the first, second, and third. The south is easier to walk than the north. Remember to buy deer biscuits when you come in, because they are not sold inside. • Natural landscape and ecology: Mount Wakakusa is a lawn mountain. In spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, complementing the new green grass; in autumn, maple leaves are like fire, dyeing the hillside into colorful colors. This is one of the habitats of Nara deer, and Japanese macaques, squirrels and many birds live here. • Climbing routes: There are mainly the Kasuga Primeval Forest Route and the Yagyu Kaido Walking Route. The former is suitable for walking, while the latter is suitable for hiking and exploration. It is also convenient to climb the mountain from the "Wakakusa Mountain Trailhead North Exit" behind Todaiji Temple or the "Wakakusa Mountain Trailhead South Exit" behind Kasuga Taisha Shrine. • History and Culture: There is a front-front and back-rounded Warblerzuka Tumulus on the top of Wakakusa Mountain. Abe no Nakamaro, an envoy to the Tang Dynasty, mentioned Mikasa Mountain in his works, which is now Wakakusa Mountain. • Wakakusa Burning Mountain: The "Wakakusa Burning Mountain" event is held on the fourth Saturday of January every year. There are different opinions on the origin. The more credible one is the boundary dispute between Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. After arbitration, the mountain burning ceremony was held and gradually became a tradition. The mountain burning ceremony started at about 6:30 pm, and the entire 33 hectares of the mountain were covered by fire, which was a spectacular scene.
happy is so simple, you can just enjoy the visit in the place with your friends and family, sit down and enjoy the relaxing
If the deer in Nara are a must-see feature of a trip to Kansai, Japan, then watching the sunset with the deer on Mount Wakakusa is definitely the most romantic place in Kansai! 📝Check-in guide: From Nara Park ➡️Kasuga Taisha ➡️Todaiji Temple ➡️Mount Wakakusa, there are deer everywhere. You can buy some deer biscuits and take photos with them. If you are afraid of being hit by deer, you can avoid some male deer with horns. Generally, if you don’t tease them maliciously, they will bow to you and ask for cookies🍪 🚗Transportation information: It is not far from Kyoto or Osaka by JR. Get off at JR Nara Station and take a bus to Nara Park. When you see the deer everywhere on the roadside (don’t doubt that they are sculptures, they may appear in any place you can’t imagine and pose in a "static frame" state, waiting for you to get close to give you a surprise), get off immediately! The small road at the entrance of Mt. Wakakusa is open to vehicles, which means that if you are in a hurry or can't walk, you can take a taxi directly to the entrance of Mt. Wakakusa. I happened to meet a guy who sprained his foot that day, so I just called a taxi to JR Station. It is quite convenient here, but Japanese taxis are notoriously expensive. It is better to walk down the mountain and take the bus unless you have no choice! 📌Price and other tips: 1️⃣ About buying deer biscuits: There are 2-3 fixed stalls in Nara Park. The salesmen here are more dignified. Deer biscuits are sold open on the table. The deer lying next to them dare not grab them, but they will not be polite to the ones in your hands [sweat]; there is a small shop on Wakakusa Mountain that also sells deer biscuits. The price is the same, 200 yen per bundle (about 8-10 pieces), but they will be locked in an iron cage here to prevent deer thieves 2️⃣ From Nara Park ➡️Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall ➡️Todaiji Temple ➡️Wakakusa Mountain, there are deer all the way, so don’t expect one pack of 🦌biscuits to be enough. It is recommended to buy 2-3 packs, hide two packs in a plastic bag first, break the pack you feed into several small pieces before feeding, otherwise when the little guys come around, I’m afraid that the big piece will be cleared all at once 3️⃣ The ticket price for Mount Wakakusa is 150 yen for adults and 80 yen for children (over 3 years old). The business hours for Mount Wakakusa are 9:00-17:00. The middle door is for exit only. You can exit from this door after watching the sunset. The other doors will be closed. Although it is just a gate, generally no one will evade the ticket from here. It all depends on your quality and self-consciousness. 4️⃣ The grass slope of Mount Wakakusa has a certain slope. Remember to keep your feet steady when climbing and feeding 🦌, otherwise it will be embarrassing to twist your feet or roll down the slope
Record of the late autumn trip in Kansai in November 2019~ After leaving Kasuga Taisha Shrine, I followed the sign to Mt. Wakakusa. Mt. Wakakusa looks like three mountains stacked on top of each other, with an altitude of 342 meters and an area of 330,000 square meters. In late autumn, Mt. Wakakusa has a whole golden grassland surrounded by a few red maples, which is unique. You need to buy a ticket to enter the mountain. Near the top of the mountain, there is a seat similar to a park. It seems lonely, but it has a different kind of beauty. Sitting there, looking up at the blue sky, nodding at the golden earth, looking at the colorful trees in the distance, and the warm afternoon sun gently covering it. Freeze this moment, the photo can convey so much beauty.
The hotel is located on Ruocaoshan. The weather in Nara is good these days. If the green road is accompanied by clouds, the air on the mountain is fresh and the hotel is sparsely populated in the early morning, all of them are resting deer. Along the way down the mountain, piles of deer are more enjoyable and comfortable than when many tourists were there the day before. If the scenery of Caoshan is pleasant, there are more tourists coming to Nara. It's in Nara Park and the tour is over. It seldom comes to the top of the mountain. So if you have time, you can make a 100 yen tour bus around Nara to visit the top of the mountain. It's very good.
I went to Osaka from Kyoto early in the morning and deliberately went to Nara. I wanted to go to Wakakusa Mountain first and then play all the way down. As a result, I played in Wakakusa Mountain for half a day and didn't go to other places. Hahaha. I sent my luggage at Nara Station. I could take the loop line at the door. I could use Suica card and get off at Kasuga Taisha Main Shrine Station. I walked there and saw many deer along the way. The ticket for Wakakusa Mountain is 150 yen, and the child is 80 yen. It is very, very cheap. If you charge 100 yen in China, it would be considered kind. Just after entering the scenic area, the child said he wanted to go to the toilet. The aunt smiled and opened the door for us to go out, and told us to come back with the ticket stub and let us in later. It was very friendly and nice. Just after entering Wakakusa Mountain, there is a big grass slope. You can sit here to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, it was very windy that day. Moreover, my mobile phone slid down the slope, and people all over the slope were watching. It was so embarrassing. Going up further is the first level, the second level, and the highest (and the windiest) third level. The scenery of each level is nice and open. There is also an ancient tomb at Sane. Deer will appear randomly, and there are a lot of them at Sane. You can buy deer senbei at the door in advance and feed them. It is said that the deer in Wakakusa Mountain are more obedient and less likely to collide with people. It seems true. Except for a few, beware of those with horns or those who once had horns, they are still a bit fierce. Going down the mountain and returning to the original route, there are cherry trees along the way. It should be more beautiful if the cherry blossoms are in bloom. If it weren't for the strong wind, it would be really nice. A must-see when you go to Nara.