As the first permanent capital of Japan, Nara is hugely significant. It’s full of historic treasures, including some of the biggest temples in the country.
Start your day with breakfast at Café Wakakusa, where you can get Western style or Japanese dishes ($15). Then, head to the Todai-ji temple where you will find the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) statue, one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It’s free to get into the temple, but you will have to pay $5 to see the Daibutsu.
Hiraso is a great spot for lunch, serving local Nara dishes like pressed sushi in persimmon leaf (kakinoha-zushi). If you can’t get to the restaurant itself, you can get box meals from its kiosk by the station.
In the afternoon, visit the Isuien Garden, and then walk around Nara Park, where you will find the city’s famous tame deer. When you get hungry head to Kura for dinner, but make sure you book ahead as the 16 seats are often full. It’s a traditional izakaya that offers a number of classic dishes such as yakitori and katsu ($25).
If you want to carry on with your night out, try Lamp Bar, whose owner Michito Kaneko was named bartender of the year in 2015 ($17 per drink), or try LBK Craft for an array of beers ($7 each).
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