Nara, like Kyoto, was once the capital of Japan and has seen massive religious and cultural outpourings. But Nara, unlike its more famous neighbor, has managed to avoid the worst of modernization and is still a tranquil town studded with temples, shrines, and parks.
From the fifth and sixth centuries forward, this area served as the cultural center of Japan, and its emperors built magnificent temples and commissioned enormous works of art to show their dedication to the newly adopted Buddhist religion. The most well-known is Todai-ji Temple, which has a massive bronze Buddha and is Japan's biggest remaining wooden building.
You should also check out the adjacent Kofuku-ji and Horyu-ji temples. The biggest concentration of these temples may be in the parks at the eastern end of town, making it a lovely place to take a leisurely walk.
Many of the deer in Nara are domesticated and freely wander the parks. There are stalls where you can purchase food for them. The deer are friendly and sometimes attempt to chew on people's clothes, but they are not dangerous.
Easily accessible from Kyoto by rail in only 45 minutes, Nara is an excellent destination for a day vacation or overnight stay
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