[Summer Nara Travel Guide] A Summer Trip to Nara, Soothed by Ancient Forests and Clear Streams

Surrounded by World Heritage temples and shrines, this park offers scenery that feels distinctly Nara together with abundant nature.
The expansive Nara Park covers about 511 hectares and includes the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, designated as a Special Natural Monument.
Deer designated as Natural Monuments roam freely through the park, and interacting with them using deer crackers is an experience unique to Nara. In summer, you can stroll through the shade and take in the nature and history of the ancient capital at a relaxed pace.

This ancient shrine is registered as part of the World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” and has a sacred atmosphere surrounded by the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. The Kokuhoden Museum on the grounds houses about 3,000 items, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
As you explore the vivid vermilion shrine buildings, you can encounter its history and culture, then enjoy a relaxed view of summer in Nara beneath the shade created by the primeval forest.

Beloved as a symbol of Nara, this renowned temple is home to the Great Buddha Hall, which enshrines the Great Buddha of Nara, as well as many National Treasure structures such as the Nandaimon Gate and Hokke-do Hall.
In 1998, it was registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” together with Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple, and other sites. Walk through the expansive grounds, admire the historic architecture, and experience its impressive scale.

Located north of Nara Park, this pond-stroll garden is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
It consists of two areas: the Front Garden, created in the early Edo period, and the Rear Garden, developed in the Meiji period. One of its features is that visitors can experience the aesthetic sensibilities of different eras in one place.
The scenery incorporating Mount Wakakusa and Todaiji Temple’s Nandaimon Gate as borrowed landscapes is also a highlight. You can enjoy a garden stroll while taking in the greenery of the trees and the scenery reflected in the pond.

Located halfway up Mount Hatsuse, this temple is the eighth temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. It has long been known as the “Temple of Flowers,” and even today visitors can enjoy beautiful seasonal flowers throughout the year.
After climbing a covered stairway of about 399 steps, you will reach the National Treasure main hall, built as if projecting out over a cliff. From its stage, views extend as far as the Nara Basin. In summer, take a walk through the deep green temple grounds and enjoy the open feeling unique to a mountain temple.

Standing beside the Muro River, this ancient temple has long welcomed female worshippers and is affectionately known as “Nyonin Koya,” or Koya for Women.
The approximately 16-meter-high Five-Storied Pagoda is the smallest outdoor pagoda of its kind in Japan. It is also designated as a National Treasure and is admired for its refined appearance and atmosphere. The temple grounds are dotted with historic buildings, including the National Treasure Kondo Hall and main hall, and quiet scenery unfolds with each stone step you climb.
In summer, take your time exploring the grounds where history and nature come together, surrounded by green trees and clear air.

This valley is known for scenery created by a clear stream flowing from the Omine mountain range, waterfalls of various sizes, and massive boulders. A walking path is maintained along the river, making it easy to enjoy hiking with peace of mind.
From suspension bridges and viewpoints, you can admire the valley’s beauty from different angles. In summer, walking while listening to the murmuring stream surrounds you with the cool air of the clear water.

Located near the Dorogawa Onsen area, this is one of the largest limestone caves in Nara Prefecture. Inside is a mysterious underground space lined with stalactites and stalagmites formed over long periods of time, where you can observe natural formations up close.
The cave extends 280 meters in total and stays around 10°C year-round with no wind, making it cool in summer and warm in winter.
It is popular as a cool spot unique to Tenkawa Village that helps you forget the summer heat.

This plateau-like mountain area rises along the border between Nara and Mie prefectures, with Mount Hidegatake, at 1,695 meters above sea level, as its highest peak.
It is one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, and the entire mountain is designated as part of special protection areas within Yoshino-Kumano National Park.
A wide range of routes is available, from beginner-friendly hiking courses to serious mountain trails, and the varied scenery, including primeval forests of spruce and beech and sweeping valleys, is another appeal.

A representative sightseeing spot of Totsukawa Village, this is one of Japan’s leading wire suspension bridges, built by local residents as a bridge for daily life. It connects Uenoji and Tanize, measuring 297 meters long and 54 meters high.
From the bridge, wide views open out over the clear Totsukawa River and surrounding mountains, and the thrill of feeling the bridge sway with each step is part of its appeal. In summer, it is a scenic spot where you can take in valley views surrounded by deep greenery.

Spreading across the borders of Nara, Mie, and Wakayama prefectures, this secluded gorge is one of the representative sights of Yoshino-Kumano National Park. A sightseeing boat lets you view the valley scenery up close, created by steep cliffs and calm water.
The landscape formed by cobalt-blue clear water and cliffs several dozen meters high rising on both sides of the river is striking.
In summer, the contrast with the deep greenery becomes even more vivid, allowing you to leisurely take in the grand scenery created by nature.

In valleys surrounded by steep cliffs and deep greenery, you can feel the grandeur of nature up close while riding in a riverboat.
The scenery of crystal-clear streams and powerful rock walls is something special that can only be experienced from the water. Let yourself ease into the slow passage of time and take in the scenery created by the vast nature of the Kii Mountains.

Nara’s mountain areas, where highly transparent streams flow, are ideal cool retreats that help you forget the summer heat.
You can spend your time as you like, from playing in the river to walking along paths by the valley. Enjoy a moment in nature while feeling soothed by the murmuring water and the breeze through the trees.

The Kii Mountains, registered as a World Heritage Site, offer a variety of routes, from easy courses for beginners to full-scale mountain trails.
The changing scenery as you walk is also part of the appeal, including deep forests, primeval woodland, and viewpoints overlooking the mountains. In the clear air, you can enjoy forest bathing while experiencing nature on a grand scale.

This popular shop is known for helping spark Nara’s shaved ice boom. Its distinctive flavors combine ingredients such as locally produced Nara matcha and seasonal fruit, as well as white miso and local honey, and there are also menus inspired by Nara.
One of its features is the use of mousse-like foam sauces, known as espuma, on most of its shaved ice. With its smooth texture, this is a summer treat to try while sightseeing in Nara.

At the foot of Mount Miwa, known as the birthplace of somen noodles, this dining spot attached to a long-established maker serves authentic Miwa somen. The fine texture and firm bite made possible by Miwa Yamamoto’s hand-stretched production method, backed by more than 300 years of history, are its appeal.
The classic chilled somen uses Hakuryu, ultra-thin noodles about 0.6 mm wide. This bowl, with its delicate smoothness, is a good fit for Nara sightseeing in the hot season.

Located in Naramachi, this restaurant serves chagayu, a local dish that has been enjoyed in Nara for more than 1,200 years.
Chagayu, as the name suggests, is rice porridge cooked with tea. Here it is made with tencha, the tea leaves used to make matcha, giving it a pale young-green color.
Along with the Chagayu Bento, which comes with about 10 dishes such as simmered items, you can savor Nara’s food culture.

Standing in a corner of Nara Park, this luxury hotel is also convenient as a sightseeing base. The building was designed by master Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
All guest rooms are suites equipped with open-air baths, and each room’s distinct furniture and fabrics show careful attention to detail. Japanese cuisine using local ingredients, spa services, and more are also available, making for a refined stay.

Since opening in 1909, this classic hotel has welcomed many distinguished guests from Japan and abroad as the “State Guesthouse of Kansai.”
The Main Building, which still strongly retains the atmosphere of its founding throughout, was designed by architect Kingo Tatsuno. The New Building offers a different appeal, with all rooms overlooking a Japanese garden.
Enjoy a relaxed stay amid a historic setting and the calm atmosphere characteristic of Nara.

Located halfway up Mount Wakakusa, this hotel is known as a Japanese-style auberge. Its greatest pride is, above all, the view of the ancient capital of Nara from the mountainside.
In addition to views overlooking Todaiji Temple’s Great Buddha Hall, Kofukuji Temple’s Five-Storied Pagoda, and the city of Nara, the hotel’s cuisine using local ingredients such as Yamato vegetables and meat from Nara Prefecture is also appealing. Through scenery and food, guests can relax while experiencing Nara’s history and culture.

Held in Nara Park, this annual summer event is one of Nara’s signature seasonal traditions. The entire Nara Park area is enveloped in gentle candlelight, making it a hallmark of summer in Nara.
Different styles of light spread across venues such as Ukigumo Garden, Asajigahara, Ukimido, and Sarusawa Pond, and the dreamlike appearances of Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine are also highlights. You can leisurely enjoy a summer night unique to the ancient capital.

Held every year on August 15 along the Yoshino River, this is a representative summer festival of Gojo City.
The festival’s biggest highlight is the fireworks display, with about 4,000 fireworks launched. Fireworks synchronized with music and effects combining laser lights vividly color the summer night sky, while the venue, lined with about 100 food and game stalls, bustles with many visitors.
It is a summer tradition of Gojo City that blends history with modern production.

Started in 1999, this citizen-participation event is held at representative Nara spots such as Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Sanjo-dori Street.
The word “basara,” which gives the festival its name, refers to a free-spirited aesthetic that emerged during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
Dance teams dressed in colorful costumes parade through the streets to powerful music, bringing energetic excitement to summer in the ancient capital of Nara.