It is a 660-hectare park with 1,000 or more deer and a collection of world heritage shrines and temples, including Todai-ji Temple. There is a lot of nature and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the four seasons.
The hotel is conveniently located just a short walk from Nara Park!
It is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. The statue of the Great Buddha with a height of about 15 m in the building is a symbol of Nara. The precincts are wide, and there are many souvenir shops along the approach to the temple.
This is also recommended!
This hall of Todai-ji Temple is famous for its Omizutori, and the stage offers a spectacular view of the setting sun and night scenery.
A temple of the Fujiwara which is famous for its five-storied pagoda.
The Central Golden Hall was completed in 2018, and other popular attractions include the Nanendo Hall with its beautiful octagonal hall and the National Treasure Hall, where visitors can see the statue of Ashura up close.
It is a beautiful shrine with a vermilion lacquered main building and about 1,000 hanging lanterns. The sessha shrines (auxiliary shrines) are also popular, and the Meotodaikokusha Shrine, which enshrines the couple Daikoku-sama, is especially good for marriage!
It is on the way to the shrine!
It is a plain without artificial objects.
It is a mountain covered with grass at an altitude of about 300 m, and you can easily hike. There are also many deer on the slope, and you can enjoy a superb view of Nara City as you climb.
Also beautiful at night♡
At night, you can enjoy a panoramic night view.
It is a popular area where townhouses from the Edo period to the Meiji period line up. There are buildings with historical value, stylish cafes utilizing townhouses, and general stores, making it a historic townscape area representative of Nara.
It is on the way to the shrine!
A World Heritage Site with many fans in a quiet atmosphere.
This temple is famous for cosmos flowers in Kansai Hana no Tera. You can enjoy seasonal flowers such as cosmos flowers in summer and autumn, daffodils, and hydrangeas.
It is a garden with a central pond with a background of the Todai-ji Nandaimon Gate and Mt. Wakakusa.
In the garden, there is also the Neiraku Museum of Art, which exhibits antiques from East Asia.
This museum is famous for its Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures. There are exhibits related to the history and culture of Nara, and the attached Buddhist statue hall also displays Buddhist statues that are national treasures and important cultural properties.
Recommended by Wakasa staff★Ittemi NARA course
Lots of repeat guests?! History exploring course
Course of the red string of fate that connects two couples closer together
Shops I found in Kitamachi♪
A center of Nara sightseeing. There are many national treasures and world heritage sites scattered around the park, and about 1,300 deer live in the park. It is said that the park is about 12 times as large as Tokyo Disneyland. There are many spectacular events in the ancient capital of Nara. Please take a leisurely stroll.
Nara is known for its Great Buddha. The world's largest wooden building, the Daibutsuden, enshrines a 15-meter-high Daibutsu statue. During the Sengoku period, the temple was damaged frequently, but it has been restored with donations from many people. The people were keen to rebuild the temple once more with Emperor Shomu's wishes in mind...
It is built with Kakezukuri known as the stage for Shuni-e (water-drawing ceremony) held in March every year. During the Omizutori ceremony, water is drawn up from a well called Wakasa well, which is the origin of the hotel's name "Wakasa."
It is the head shrine of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which has about 3,000 shrines across Japan. It enshrines the strongest warrior god "Takemikazuchinomikoto" who appeared on a white deer from Kashima Shrine (Ibaraki Prefecture) when the capital was transferred to Nara and Heijo-kyo. The beautiful vermilion-lacquered shrine pavilion and many of the precincts are designated as national treasures or important cultural properties. In the south of the precincts, Meoto Daikokusha is the only shrine in Japan where the enshrined deity is enshrined as a couple, and it is highly worshiped as a blessing for marriage and marriage happiness.
It is a promenade from the second torii gate of Kasuga Taisha Shrine to Takahata. This is a quiet, secluded path and recommended for couples or other people who want to walk in peace and quiet.
From the Edo to Meiji period, it is a popular spot visited by tourists from both Japan and abroad, and there are buildings with historical value, stylish cafes and general stores, and it is famous as a historical townscape area representing Nara.
Our "Kokoroya" members, who have more than 10 years of tourism experience, will guide you around Nara at night. We will introduce the history, stories of deer, souvenirs, shops, etc. while going around the illumination by Kohfuku-ji Temple and Nigatsu-do course! Lots of amazing reviews! It is the most recommended event of our hotel ☆
It is a valuable gate that still retains its name as a "living witness" of the Tenpyo period. It has legend that during the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha, the Nara-period monk Gyoki beckoned Bodai Senna "Come here! Hurry up!" at this gate, and his gesture resembled "scratching things with his hands," hence the character Tegai-mon (scratching gate). By the way, "Tegai-mon" comes from the meaning of turning harm away.
It is the pond behind Todai-ji Daibutsuden. View from the west of the pond offers a view of the Daibutsuden and Mt. Wakakusa in the background. There are many trees in the vicinity, and it is a little-known spot for autumn leaves.
After the death of Emperor Shomu, the founder of Todai-ji Temple, this storehouse is also used to store personal belongings and belongings left behind by Emperor Shomu. About 9,000 treasures representing the Nara period are stored, including items used in the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha. Every autumn, The Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures is held, and about 60 of them are exhibited at the National Museum.
One of the largest wooden buildings in the world. The statue of the Daibutsu with a height of about 15 m is a symbol of Nara. The precincts are wide, and there are many souvenir shops along the approach to the temple.
It is the stone steps in the east of Todai-ji Daibutsuden. In the past, it was not a stone step, but a slope, and it was passed down as a slope that said, "If you fall, you will become a cat."
The Shoro of Todai-ji Temple, which was rebuilt by Eisai Zenji in the Kamakura period, is a wall-free architecture (with only pillars) with Zen-style elements. The 26.3 t temple bell (Bonsho) is a national treasure and one of the three most famous bells in Japan.
It is the oldest existing building of Todai-ji Temple and is said to be the remains of Konshu-ji Temple before Todai-ji Temple was built. Among the ten national treasures including the principal image of Fukukensaku Kannon, the statue of Shukongoujin, which is a hidden Buddha, can be seen. The statue of Shukongoujin is only open to the public on December 16 every year.
The world's largest temple gate, which is 25 m high, houses the Statues of Kongo Rikishi, which was built by Unkei and Kaikei in 69 days. In front of the gate, there is a sign that says "Daikegon-ji," and it is a copy of the letters collected from the documents written by Emperor Shomu that remain in Shoso-in.
Our "Kokoroya" members, who have more than 10 years of tourism experience, will show you the charm of Nara. Only here can you experience something out of the ordinary! Both Nara beginners and regulars are welcome to take a ride on the "Cyclopolitan." Would you like to hear some 1,200-year-old gossip?
We will help you with sightseeing from the popular to the unfamiliar. You'll have more time to smile.
The Otorii, rebuilt in 1638, is 7.75 m high and is one of the three largest wooden torii gates in Japan. At the Kasuga Festival and the Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival, a large Sakaki tree is erected.
A 1.3 km approach from the Ichinotorii gate to the main shrine of Kasuga Taisha. The road is surrounded by stone lanterns and greenery, and along the way, there are historical spots such as the ruins of pagodas and Otabisho.
It stands as if floating on the Sagi-ike Pond on the south side of the park, is a fantastic view and lights up...This is a recommended spot for couples. Benches are set up in the hall and you can use them freely.
Kohfuku-ji Temple, with Nara's tallest five-story pagoda, is an eye-catching sight. The temple is renowned for its unique halls, which are lit up at night, and for its treasure trove of national treasured Buddhist statues, among them the handsome Ashura, the handsome man of the Buddhist statue world.
The rickshaw Kotobukiya. If you want to go sightseeing without getting crowded, we are waiting for you to contact us. We are also waiting next to the Miyama restaurant in Nara Park.
A 1-minute walk from the hotel. Kuzumochi with "Yoshino Honkuzu" is very popular! There is also a restaurant inside the store, and it is bustling with many tourists.
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The specialty is "Nama Warabi Mochi." Please enjoy the Junhon Warabi Mochi made with the finest real warabi powder. Nara is also known for the "holy land of shaved ice," and shaved ice is offered all year round. It is said that many people visit here to get ice that matches the season. It is a shop that you will want to visit again.
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Here is a renovated cafe on the site of a factory built in the Taisho period. It is the site of the factory of "probiotic drinks" that existed until the middle of 1975. Small items are lined up in the retro building, there is no doubt that it is Instagrammable★ It is open only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays.
Located across from Hannya-ji Temple, it is the oldest farm in the prefecture. There is also a restaurant and a shop on the site, so you can visit the farm and try freshly squeezed milk and soft serve ice cream! A recommended spot for both adults and children to enjoy "Kitamachi."
There are Japanese confectioneries related to Nara's history, such as "Kasuga Futatsu Baishi" and a legendary ramune?! A shop that deals in "Rainbow Ramune" that is rarely available♪ Since there are many products that last for a long time, it is perfect for souvenirs.
"A small and cute shop in Kitamachi that mainly offers homemade tarts and baked sweets. The pretty pink shop exterior is very popular with girls ★ The cute and delicious cake has a magic that makes people happy..."
