5 Things To Do in Nara for a Perfect Day Trip! Pssst, Halal Food Included

If you're going to visit Osaka, might as well go all the way to Nara! Located in the same region of Kansai, this city has a cute little friend waiting for us: Deer! 🦌 I actually went there from Ebisucho Station and it took around 1 hour to arrive at Kintetsu-Nara Station. Thus, this is the things that I did for a day there included a Halal food  😆

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the cutest of them all? Deer!

Welcome to the land of deer, Nara!

1. Deer Park near Kofukui-Ji Temple

If you wanted to visit a less crowded (part of Nara Park) and get intimate with deer in a good way, this place is a must visit! Near to Kintetsu Nara station, you will see a group of deer within 500 meters of walking. 

Make sure to be careful because they can occasionally attack people but don't worry because there is a way that could tame this cutie! For only ¥150 you can feed 10 cookies and play around with them as much as you want. I'm pretty sure your heart will melt the moment they bow asking for foods!

INFORMATION:

ℹ️ Nara Park

📍 48 Noboriojicho, Nara Prefecture 630-8213, Japan

🕰 Everyday 6.00 AM - 5.00 PM
🚗 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or a 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station, Google Maps.

Grab your ¥150 deer cookies!

It does look like baby cookies but much crispier. I can understand why the deer love it!

The deer are coming for the cookies!

Finally! They get their cookies~ Deserved it!

2. Get Historical at Kofukui-ji Temple

This temple was set up in Nara around 710 and it's one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Site for over 19 years now (mindblown). You can roam around Kofukuji's temple grounds for free and take a picture with the landmark and symbol of Nara, the five-story pagoda.

I just walk pass by the temple grounds and just enjoying the view of the five-story pagoda. If you want to get to know more about the temple you can pay a visit to the National Treasure Museum and Eastern Golden Hall. 

INFORMATION:

ℹ️ Kofukuiji Temple

📍 48 Noboriojicho, Nara Prefecture 630-8213, Japan

🕰 9.00 AM - 5.00 PM (National Treasure Museum & Eastern Golden Hall), The temple grounds open 24 hours. 

💴 ¥700 (National Treasure Museum), ¥300 (Eastern Golden Hall), ¥900 for both.

🚗 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or a 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station, Google Maps.

Can't get enough of deer!

Welcome to Kofukui-ji Temple, Nara! The Eastern Garden Hall.

Look at that Five-Story Pagoda, a landmark of Nara!

The southern octagonal halls!

3. Shop for Nara Specialty at Higashimuki Shopping Street

This 250-meter long shopping street will make you go craaaazyyy. It is a strategic place if you are coming from Kintetsu Nara Station! (near to the station). You can get most of the souvenirs arts and crafts, clothes, and kimonos here. I can assure you that it is affordable! If you still can't find any, there is also a 100-yen shop nearby.

I could say it's tempting here because we found this one store that sells tons of kimono, and we did buy one of it! Plus, you can buy a really cute souvenir for your friends too~

INFORMATION:

ℹ️ Higashimuki Shopping Street

📍 Hashomotocho, Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8217, Japan

🕰 Everyday 10.00 AM - 10.00 PM (vary by shops and restaurants)
🚗 4-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, Google Maps.

You can spot the karaoke room over there, and there are tons of souvenir shops far there.

Great souvenir ideas! These socks are just ¥100 and the options are endless~

MY younger brother trying out one of the Kimono!

4. Unique Footwear Shop, Tabi-Ji

It's clear we are not done shopping YET.  Tabi shoes have been traditionally worn by labourers since the late Meiji Period, and the design is evolving from time to time. Right now, there are tons of designs to choose from and it's clearly perfect for people who looking for fashionable and functionality shoes!

Each of us bought one, and I could say it was the most expensive shoes that I have ever owned. I owned one of the Tabi-Ji + Jeanasis collection, and the price is ¥12,000, convert to Malaysia ringgit which is around RM 450-ish. The socks are cute too, my mom loves the split toes socks and I would definitely buy few more for her when I visit Japan again, soon!

INFORMATION:

ℹ️ Tabi-Ji

📍 2 Tarui-co, Nara (on the 2nd floor), Nara Prefecture 630-8217, Japan

🕰 Open every day except Wednesday, 10.00 AM - 7.00 PM.
🚗 3-minutes walk from Kofukui-ji Temple, Google Maps.

The display in front of the Tabi-Ji store!

My mom LOVE this socks!

Adding new family to my shoe collections. This is one of the designs from Tabi-Ji +Jeanasis collection!

Dear Tabi-Ji, happy customer from Malaysia over here!

5. Eat Halal Ramen at Naramiah Jinniyah

Phew, all that hard work shopping definitely makes your stomach growling. Just 10-minute walk from Tabi-Ji, you will arrive at a restaurant that is complete with a prayer room, restroom and Wifi! It's recommended to try their halal ramen alone, but if you want some extra kick in your dishes, add on some egg boiled or papad.

INFORMATION:

ℹ️ Naramiah Jinniyah

📍 28-34 Naramachi-Souq, Minamijoudo-cho, Nara-shi, Nara, 630-8341, Japan.

🕰 Closed on Wednesday & Thursday, Open at 11.30 AM - 6.00 PM.
💜 Places to pray and toilet is available.

🚗 10-minutes walk from Kofukui-ji Temple, Google Maps.

You can spot their restaurant from a far! The interior is the bomb~

The menu, I would recommend trying their ramen since it's their speciality.

Halal Ramen - ¥800, Additional option: Papad - ¥70

Halal Chicken Rice Bowl - ¥800

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There you go! This is basically what I visited during my trip to Japan but I would totally recommend you to go to Sanjo-Dori street and watch a high-speed Mochi pounding in actions! Other than that, purchasing JR Pass if you're planning to go to multiple cities in one go. 

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🏨 Hotel Recommendation in Nara:

Hotel Pagoda

This hotel includes a free wifi & it's just10 mins walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.

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Which spot in Nara that you want to recommend besides this 5 things? Leave a comment down below!

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