Nara Park
660 hectares where ~1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and lawns, bowing for shika-senbei crackers — a National Natural Monument.
2026/06/30 15:00 NaraGratuit
© Ionut Bucur · GoogleQuand
Date
Thème
Harushika Sake Brewery Tasting
In a Naramachi machiya once home to a Kofukuji monk, taste five Harushika sakes and keep the souvenir glass — sake from the very birthplace of Japanese sake.
2026/08/01 01:00 NaraFive-sake tasting approx. ¥500 with souvenir glass
© 今西清兵衛商店 · GoogleNakatanidou High-Speed Mochi Pounding
Nara's famous mochi shop where two artisans pound steaming mugwort rice at blinding speed, then hand you a warm, soft yomogi mochi filled with red bean.
2026/08/01 01:00 NaraGratuit
© 陳長懋 · GoogleNara Tokae Lantern Festival
On summer nights, 20,000 candles flicker across Nara Park's historic grounds in a serene sea of gentle light.
2026/08/05 10:00 NaraGratuit
© Ionut Bucur · GoogleKasuga Taisha Mantoro Lantern Festival
Three thousand bronze and stone lanterns are lit across ancient Kasuga Taisha, filling the shrine's forest paths with a soft golden glow.
2026/08/14 10:00 NaraSmall fee to enter the inner lantern corridors
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleTodaiji Great Buddha Lantern Service 2026
On Obon night, around 2,500 lanterns glow before Nara's Great Buddha and the hall's window opens so his face gazes out.
2026/08/15 10:00 NaraGreat Buddha Hall admission applies (around ¥800).
© 山田秀幹 · GoogleNara Basara Festival 2026
Nara's energetic summer counterpoint — vivid street-dance teams parade past Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha and Sanjo-dori.
2026/08/29 02:00 NaraGratuit
© Zach Holloway · GoogleNara International Film Festival 2026
A biennial festival in the ancient capital, founded under Cannes-winning director Naomi Kawase, championing first- and second-time filmmakers across screenings set among Nara's temples and parks.
2026/09/20 01:00 NaraScreening tickets typically around 1,000-1,500 yen; some free outdoor and community programs.
© t takashi · GoogleShika no Tsunokiri (Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony)
In a 340-year-old Nara ritual, shrine 'seko' wrangle wild stags with ropes inside a wooden arena before a Shinto priest saws off their autumn antlers.
2026/10/10 03:00 NaraAround ¥1,000 (adults)
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleKasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri 2026
A 890-year-old festival whose daytime parade marches costumes from the Heian through Edo eras through central Nara.
2026/12/15 NaraGratuit
© 龍-Ryu- · GoogleMount Yoshino Cherry Blossoms (Yoshinoyama)
Around 30,000 cherry trees in 200 varieties blanket a sacred mountainside, blooming in waves up four zones from Shimo to Oku Senbon.
2027/03/26 15:00 NaraGratuit
© Lili Xu · GoogleNara Wakakusa Yamayaki
Each January, fireworks burst over Nara before the entire grass-covered Mt. Wakakusa is set ablaze in a spectacular winter ritual.
2026/01/24 08:30 NaraGratuit
© 井下原健太 · GoogleOmizutori (Todaiji Nigatsudo Fire Ritual)
Monks brandish giant flaming torches along Todaiji's Nigatsudo balcony each March, showering sparks over the crowd in a 1,200-year-old rite.
2026/03/12 10:00 NaraGratuit
© ヒロナカダ · Google