Hotels in Nara

Nara was Japan's first permanent capital, established in 710, and much of what was built then is still standing. Eight of its temples, shrines and forests hold UNESCO World Heritage status collectively, and the concentration of eighth-century architecture is unmatched anywhere in the country.

Nara Park sits at the centre, a wide expanse of lawn and woodland where more than a thousand sika deer roam freely and bow for crackers sold at stalls. Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall — one of the largest wooden buildings in the world — anchors the northern end, while Kasuga Taisha's bronze lanterns line the paths through the cedar forest behind it.

Most visitors come as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, both 45 minutes away by train. Staying the night is worth considering: the deer and the temples belong to a much quieter town once the afternoon coaches leave, and the Naramachi merchant quarter comes into its own in the evening.