From Wikitravel

This article is an itinerary.

This is an itinerary in Nara, covering as many World Heritage Sites(WH) as possible with the discount 3 day pass, arriving from Kyoto/Osaka and leaving for these cities.

[edit] Understand

Nara Prefecture hosts the greatest number of World Heritages(3 Heritages) in Japan. This article aims to propose the most efficient way to cover them. World Heritages in Nara are;

• Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area[1]
• Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara[2]
• Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range(Yoshino and Omine Area)[3]
• Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties (in the tentative list in 2007)[4]

This article intends to mention all and only the world heritage sites in Nara.

[edit] Prepare

Make sure to get Nara World Heritage 3 day pass -Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino Areas-(Nara Sekai Isan Frea Kippu -Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino Areas-) at Kintetsu Railway stations(below). It's valid only for Kintetsu Railway and Nara Kotsu Bus services(not for JR), but covers all the transportation expense of the following itinerary(except Yoshino Ropeway). Tell the ticket clerk on what date you start using it and you can get one 1 month in advance.

This 3 day pass costs,

• 2800yen(1400yen for a child), if traveling from Osaka(Namba, Nipponbashi, Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi stations on Kintetsu Line), gaining 1690yen discount.
• 3000yen(1500yen for a child), if traveling from Kyoto(Kintetsu Kyoto statioin), gaining 1630yen discount.

This itinerary is based on the WEEKDAY timetable, and may vary on Saturday, Sunday and national holiday.

Also bring this PDF MAP of railways in Nara with you.

[edit] Day 1 CENTRAL NARA

[edit] Get in

Leave your hotel in Osaka or Kyoto as early as possbile for Nara after rush hour(7:00-9:00).

[edit] From Osaka

• Rapid Expresses(快速急行) depart from Namba station at 8:38, 8:51, 9:04, 9:13, 9:25, 9:37, 9:44, 9:55, 10:07, 10:17, 10:24, 10:32 and arrive at terminal Nara Station between 9:17 and 11:10, also making stops at Nipponbashi, Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi stations in Osaka. No change is needed.

[edit] From Kyoto

• Expresses(急行) depart from Kyoto station at 8:39(for Nara), 8:52, 9:09, 9:24, 9:39, 9:52(for Nara), 10:10, 10:25 and arrive at Nara Station between 9:27 and 11:15. Unless your Express is bound for Nara, change your train at Yamato-Saidaiji Station(9 stops from Kyoto, 2 stops for Nara).

After leaving Yamato-Saidaiji station, you will view the vast Heijo Palace Site(WH) from the train. Leave your baggage at your hotel and spend the rest of the day in central Nara(Nara park area)

Main article Nara

• Todai-ji Temple(WH) (admission free in the premises, 500yen for the Main Hall, open 8:00-16:00 in Nov to Feb, longer in the other months)
• Kofuku-ji Temple(WH) (admission free in the premises, open 24h)
• Kasuga Taisha Shrine(WH) (admission free in the premises, open 24h)
• Kasugayama Premeval Forest(WH)
• Gango-ji Temple(WH) (admission 400yen, open 9:00-17:00)

Note that the 3 day pass is valid for Nara Kotsu Bus service in central Nara.

[edit] Day 2 YOSHINO and ASUKA

[edit] Get in

In the morning, catch the train from Kintetsu Nara station to Yamato-Saidaiji station(2 stops from Nara) and then to Yoshino. There are lots of commuter service between Nara and Yamato-Saidaiji stations, arriving at Yamato-Saidaiji in 10 minutes.

• Expresses(急行) depart from Yamato-Saidaiji station at 8:22, 8:41, 9:28, 9:52, 10:23 bound for terminal Kashihara Jingu Mae station(7 stops). Change your train there for terminal Yoshino Station.

Mt. Omine and Onsen It's extremely difficult to get to Ominesan-ji Temple(WH) in Mt.Omine(WH) by public transportation, but you can find authentic ryokans in Dorokawa Onsen Village in front of Mt.Omine if interested. Women are requested to refrain from climbing this mountain due to the religious reason.

To Yoshino Station(Kintetsu Line)

Nara station	8:10	8:25	9:18	9:39	10:02
Yamato-Saidaiji station	8:22	8:41	9:28	9:52	10:23
arrivals at Kashihara Jingu Mae station	8：50	9：13	9：57	10：20	10：56
departures from Kashihara Jingu Mae station	9：04	9：30	10：10	10：31	10：59
Yoshino Station	9：53	10：23	10：53	11：23	11：53

Main article Yoshino

• Mt. Yoshino(WH)
  • Yoshino Mikumari Shrine(WH)
  • Yoshimizu Shrine(WH)
  • Kimpu Shrine(WH)
  • Kimpusen-ji Temple(WH)
• Mt. Omine(WH)
  • Ominesan-ji Temple(WH)
• Omine Okugake Michi(Route)(WH)
  • Tamaki Shrine(WH)
• Kumano Sankei Michi Kohechi(Route)(WH)

Next destination is Asuka. The trains from Yoshino station depart at X:08 and X:38 every hour between 9 and 21 and arrive at Asuka station(13 stops from Yoshino, 2 stops for Kashihara Jingu Mae) or Kashihara Jingu Mae station in 1 hour.

Main article Asuka, Fujiwara

Asuka is a small village with the Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals before the permanent capital was established in Nara in 710. Nara prefectural goverment expects it to be inscribed into world heritage list in around 2012. Get off the train and consult at the tourist information at Asuka station. The 3 day pass is also valid for Nara Kotsu Bus service in Asuka. Asuka Official Website

[edit] Get out

• Expresses(急行) depart from Kashihara Jingu Mae station at X:07 and X:37 every hour between 11 and 15, 16:08, 16:37, 17:08, 17:39, 18:08, 18:38, 19:08, 19:40, 20:06, 20:35 and arrive at Yamato-Saidaiji station(7 stops) in 30 minutes. There are lots of commuter service between Nara and Yamato-Saidaiji stations, arriving at Nara in 10 minutes.

[edit] Day 3 Outskirt NARA and HORYU-JI

This day, you will leave Nara and have to check out your hotel in the morning. But you will probably be able to leave your baggage there till late afternoon.

Line No.97 Nara-Nishinokyo-Ikaruga Excursion Bus Line E-1(Kasuga Shrine) - E-2(Nara Prefectural Hall) - E-3(Todai-ji Temple/Nara National Museum) - E-4(Nara Prefecture Headquaters) - E-5(Kofuku-ji Temple) - E-6(Kintetsu Nara Station) - E-7(JR Nara Station) - E-8(Toshodai-ji Temple) - E-9(Yakushi-ji Temple) - E-10(Yakushi-ji Temple) - E-11(Jiko-in Temple) - E-12(Hokki-ji Temple) - E-13(Chugu-ji Temple) - E-14(Chugu-ji Temple) - E-15(Horyu-ji Temple)

In the morning, catch the bus on Nara-Nishinokyo-Ikaruga Excursion Bus line(Line No. 97) from Kintetsu Nara(at 8:43) or JR Nara(at 8:45) stations to terminal Horyu-ji(E-15)(at 9:43) and Hokki-ji(E-13).

Main article Horyu-ji, Nara

In the afternoon, Catch the bus(Line No. 97) at 12:43 or 13:43 to Yakushi-ji(E-10) and Toshodai-ji(E-8). The distance from Yakushi-ji to Toshodai-ji is 600m, can be covered on foot. The latest bus departs from Toshodai-ji(E-8) at 16:23 and arrives at Kintetsu Nara station at 16:40.

• Horyu-ji Temple(WH) (admission 1000yen, open 8:00-16:30 in Nov to Feb, 30 minutes longer in the other months)
• Hokki-ji Temple(WH) (admission 400yen, open 8:00-16:30 in Nov to Feb, 30 minutes longer in the other months)
• Yakushi-ji Temple(WH) (admission 800yen, open 8:30-17:00, the latest entry 16:30)
• Toshodai-ji Temple(WH) (admission 600yen, open 8:30-17:00, the latest entry 16:30)

To Toshodai-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Horyu-ji

Kasuga Shrine(E-1)	8：36	10：06	11：06	12：06	13：06	14：06	15：06
Todai-ji(E-3)	8：39	10：09	11：09	12：09	13：09	14：09	15：09
Kintetsu Nara Station, Platform(8)(E-6)	8：43	10：13	11：13	12：13	13：13	14：13	15：13
JR Nara Station, Platform(10)(E-7)	8：45	10：15	11：15	12：15	13：15	14：15	15：15
Toshodai-ji(E-8)	8：59	10：29	11：29	12：29	13：29	14：29	15：29
Yakushi-ji(E-10)	9：03	10：33	11：33	12：33	13：33	14：33	15：33
Kintetsu Koriyama Station	9：18	10：48	11：48	12：48	13：48	14：48	15：48
Horyu-ji(E-15)	9：43	11：13	12：13	13：13	14：13	15：13	16：13

To Central Nara

Horyu-ji(E-15)	8：43	9：43	10：43	11：43	12：43	13：43	14：43	15：43
Kintetsu Koriyama Station	9：08	10：08	11：08	12：08	13：08	14：08	15：08	16：08
Yakushi-ji(E-10)	9：17	10：17	11：17	12：17	13：17	14：17	15：17	16：17
Toshodai-ji(E-8)	9：23	10：23	11：23	12：23	13：23	14：23	15：23	16：23
JR Nara Station(E-7)	9：38	10：38	11：38	12：38	13：38	14：38	15：38	16：38
Kintetsu Nara Station(E-6)	9：40	10：40	11：40	12：40	13：40	14：40	15：40	16：40
Todai-ji(E-3)	9：44	10：44	11：44	12：44	13：44	14：44	15：44	16：44
Kasuga Shrine(E-1)	9：49	10：49	11：49	12：49	13：49	14：49	15：49	16：49

[edit] Get out

Pick up your baggage at your hotel and leave Nara for Osaka or Kyoto. No extra charge is needed if you travel from Kyoto/Osaka and back to the same city. Otherwise,

• 430yen when you travel to Nara from Kyoto and leave for Osaka.
• 540yen when you travel to Nara from Osaka and leave for Kyoto.

Pay the extra fee at the Kintetsu train station in Osaka or Kyoto.

[edit] For Osaka

• Rapid Expresses(快速急行) or Expresses(急行) depart from Kintetsu Nara station bound for terminal Namba at least 5 times every hour between 16 to 20. The journey takes 3 quaters of an hour.

[edit] For Kyoto

• Expresses(急行) depart from Kintetsu Nara station directly bound for terminal Kyoto station at 17:17, 18:16, 19:16, 19:49 and 20:17. The journey takes less than an hour, arriving between 18:03 and 21:03. If you miss these trains, catch the train for Osaka(above) and change the train at Yamato-Saidaiji station(2 stops from Nara).

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Note

The main auther of this article(a wikitraveller) is willing to guarantee the accuracy of this article. You can email me and ask if this itinerary works when you travel. ocean_view_999@hotmail.co.jp

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