Top Places for Art and Cultural Activities in Nara

A trip to Nara cannot be complete without understanding its rich heritage. The art and cultural activities in Nara will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. While visiting the cultural attractions in Nara would prove to be informative, attending its artsy events will leave you entertained. From cultural performances to historical monuments that give you a glimpse of the past, take a look at this list to know Nara better. Include these in attractions in your itinerary for Nara and have a great vacation.

Check the list of top places for art and culture in Nara:

  1. Todai Ji

    4.6 (1880 Votes)
    Todai Ji

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors, Educational Site

    The Todai ji is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples. It is a landmark in Nara. The temple was constructed in the year 752 as the chief temple in the Kokubun-ji system (head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan). Having a rough history, the temple was burnt down and faced earthquakes a lot many times. The present construction that ...Read more
  2. Kofuku Ji

    4.4 (892 Votes)
    Kofuku Ji

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors, Educational Site

    Kofuku ji is one of the head temples of the Hosso sect of Buddhism. The temple was established in Nara in the year 710. At the height of Fujiwara power, the temple consisted of over 150 buildings! Today a couple of buildings still remain and hold great historic value. These buildings are the five story pagoda and the three story pagoda that one sees in the temple premises. At 50 meters, the fiv...Read more
  3. Toshodai Ji

    4.4 (3249 Votes)
    Toshodai Ji

    Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors, Educational Site

    Toshodai ji temple was founded in the year 759 by Ganjin, a Chinese priest who was invited to Japan by the emperor. He was invited to Japan in order to train the priests and improve Japanese Buddhism. The name of the temple was derived from the facts that Ganjin was from Toh, China and that it was founded as a place for Buddhist training under his guidance. Toshodai ji is regarded as the head t...Read more
  4. Yakushi Ji

    4.3 (3310 Votes)
    Yakushi Ji

    Art And Culture, Religious Site, Temple, Outdoors

    The Yakushi Ji temple was established by Emperor Temmu in the year 680 to pray for the recovery of his Empress Jito from a serious illness. The temple was actually constructed by the recovered empress, who outlived the emperor. The construction of Yakushi ji was completed in the year 698 and it was moved to its present location in 718, after the capital was moved to Nara in 710. The t...Read more
  5. Nara National Museum

    4.2 (887 Votes)
    Nara National Museum

    Art And Culture, Museum, Observatory, Educational Site

    The Nara National Museum is located in Nara Park and is an art museum which primarily displays Japanese Buddhist art. It was established in the year 1889 and still retains its original building. Later, a new wing was constructed and was connected to the original building by an underground passage. The museum's permanent collection includes Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls and ceremonial obj...Read more
  6. Naramachi Koshino Le

    Outdoors, Landmark, Educational Site, Architecture

    Naramachi (meaning Nara town) is the former merchant district of Nara. Here, you will find many traditional residential buildings and warehouses that have been preserved as is. A famous one is the Koshino Le. It was the residence of a former merchant and is now open to the public. It is a good example of Nara's traditional machiya townhouses with a shop space in the front of the building and th...Read more
  7. Shin - Yakushi - Ji

    4.4 (368 Votes)
    Shin - Yakushi - Ji

    Religious Site, Temple, Educational Site, Historical Site

    The Shin-Yakushi ji Temple was founded by Empress Komyo for the sake of the recovery of ailing Emperor Shomu. The temple is devoted to Yakushi Buddha, the patron of medicine. From the original construction, only the main hall (Hondo) has survived the test of time. The main hall houses statues of 12 guardian deities surrounding a two meter tall statue of a seated Yakushi Buddha. Each guardian ha...Read more
  8. Kasuga - Taisha

    4.4 (927 Votes)
    Kasuga - Taisha

    Art And Culture, Religious Site, Temple, Historical Site

    Claimed to be one of the best Shinto shrines in Japan, the Kasuga Taisha or the Kasuga Grand Shrine was originally the royal shrine of the powerful Fujiwara family and was founded in the year 768. As per Shinto concepts of purity, the temple was torn down and rebuilt every 20 years in its original form until 1863. The shrine features vermilion coloured pillars and houses an astounding 3,000 sto...Read more