Nara Prefecture holds some of Japan’s oldest stories – home to ancient capitals, forested temples and traditions that laid the foundation for Japanese culture. While often visited as a day trip, Nara reveals far more to those who explore deeper.

In the north, Nara Park and its freely roaming deer introduce visitors to a city shaped by temples, gardens and soft morning light. But travel further, and the prefecture opens up – through the quiet plains of Asuka, where Japan’s earliest emperors once ruled, or into the mountains of Yoshino, where spring draws pilgrims and cherry blossoms alike.

Nara moves at its own pace. With weathered stone paths, cedar forests and a sense of stillness that feels increasingly rare, Nara is ideal for travelers seeking depth over dazzle – a place where the past is always present, and time feels just a little slower.