1-Day Car-Free Itinerary: Nara Park’s World Heritage Walk

Discover Nara’s sacred temples, gentle deer, and timeless calm—all within walking distance from the station.

Thank you so much for reading my last post about Ehime Prefecture 🍊
If you haven’t seen it yet, please check it out!

This time, for paid subscribers, I’ve put together my personal one-day itinerary in Nara—a place that holds some of Japan’s most important World Heritage sites and a calmness that’s hard to find elsewhere.

I wanted to create something realistic for travelers without a car, so everything here can be done by train, bus, or on foot.
So here we go—let’s spend a peaceful day in Japan’s first capital.

🏯 1-Day Car-Free Itinerary: Nara Park’s World Heritage Walk

10:00 — Arrive at Kintetsu Nara Station

Start your day in central Nara. From here, every stop is just a pleasant walk away, weaving together history, spirituality, and nature.

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10:10 — Sarusawa Pond (猿沢池): A Mirror of Time

Walk: about 10 minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station

Source: Nara City Tourism Association

A tranquil pond reflecting the five-storied pagoda of Kōfuku-ji. Locals say the turtles basking in the sun have watched over Nara for generations. The pond is also tied to an old legend of a court lady’s unrequited love—adding a touch of melancholy beauty.