Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Japan Nara

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Nara

4 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Nara, Japan

Updated April 24, 2025

Email
Attractions
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Nara

Nara, Japan

Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXiVVAVfiWw

Nara, Japan

Buddha's Nostril

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

Nara, Japan

Shōsōin

A raised Japanese building has preserved 8th-century artifacts for more than a millennium, earning this log cabin a reputation as the "world's oldest museum."
Permanently Closed
Nara Dreamland

Nara, Japan

Nara Dreamland

The abandoned Japanese amusement park once loomed as a dystopian Disneyland.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
Horyuji Temple

Ikaruga, Japan

Hōryū-ji

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.
6 miles from Nara
An ancient tumulus in a parking lot.

Ikaruga, Japan

Funazuka Burial Mound

Once a heap of dirt with a shrubbery on it, this unassuming mound in a parking lot turned out to be an ancient tumulus.
6 miles from Nara
The quaint mountain pass on the Osaka-Nara border.

Ikoma, Japan

Kuragari Pass

This quaint mountain pass with centuries-old cobblestones is known as Japan's steepest slope.
7 miles from Nara
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Explore Nara, Japan

Sacred Spaces 2
Giant Buddhas 2

Nara Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Clinton
    1
  2. Rachel
    1
  3. lisa peck
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Nara.

Places Edited

  1. hrnick
    2
  2. Rachel
    2
  3. dwe65
    2
  4. Molly McBride Jacobson
    2
  5. lisa peck
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. Jeremy T
    3
  2. Staydiverse
    3
  3. mightysneidy
    3
  4. bartoszborczynski
    3
  5. tawnyah
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Nara.

Recent Nara Activity

  • bertrandbinois

    has been to Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

  • bertrandbinois

    has been to Buddha's Nostril

  • toochickens

    wants to go to Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

  • toochickens

    wants to go to Buddha's Nostril

  • hellhoundpromotions

    wants to go to Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

Stories About Nara

In Nara City, Japan, sika deer have been protected for over a thousand years due to their sacred status in Shintoism.

Decoding the Sacred Genetics of Japan's Sika Deer

The deer of Nara Park are part of a millennium-old genetic lineage—does that make them more deserving of protection?
by Roxanne Hoorn
April 9, 2024
Housekibaco’s kakigori with caramel milk syrup, raspberries, and—in a nod to a local Nara specialty—persimmon-leaf tea meringue.

In the Home of Japan's Ice Deity, the Art of Kakigori Reaches New Heights

Inside one man's quest to bring frozen glory back to Nara.
by Florentyna Leow
November 5, 2021

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.