Nara Park is a large, scenic, public park in the center of Nara City. The park is famous for its friendly wild deer, and most of Nara’s major attractions are located either inside or on the edges of the park. This makes it the first focus of any trip to Nara.
The Sagiike Pond in Nara Park
Getting to the park is really easy. Nara is quite compact and it is easy to find your way around. Nara has two stations: JR Nara Station, and Kintetsu Nara Station. Both of these stations are within a walkable distance from the park. However, of the two stations Kintetsu Station is closer to Nara Park. In this article we will explain the easiest ways to get to the park from both the JR and Kintetsu stations.
How to Get from JR Nara Station to Nara Park
You can walk from JR Nara Station, but buses and taxis are also an option if you want to save time.
Walking
Walking from JR Nara Station to the western edge of Nara Park takes about 20 minutes. From the station’s East Exit walk to Sanjo Dori Street which is just a little to the north of the station. Sanjo Dori is a broad shopping street and very easy to recognize. Once you are on this street, simply walk straight in an eastern direction until you reach the park. Here is a map of the route.
Sanjo Dori shopping street
By Nara City Bus
Nara City has a special Loop Line Bus service for tourists. The buses are colored bright yellow and are very easy to recognize. From JR Nara Station’s East Exit bus terminal, take the number #2 service from bus stop 2. This bus runs toward Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the ride to the park-side stops usually takes around 8-10 minutes, though traffic around Nara Park can cause delays. The fixed fare is 250 yen for adults and 130 yen for children.
The number #2 Loop Line service at JR Nara Station
By Taxi
You can easily get a taxi from the taxi rank outside the East exit of JR Nara Station. The ride to the western edge of Nara Park takes around 8 minutes in normal traffic, but the metered fare will vary with your exact destination and traffic. Ordinary taxi fares in Nara generally start at 750 yen for the first 1.3 kilometers. For more detailed information, see our article: Taxis in Nara.
Taxis at JR Nara Station
How to Get to Nara Park from Kintetsu Nara Station
Most people choose to walk to the park from Kintetsu Nara Station, but the park is very big. If there is a particular location in or around the park that you want to go to quickly, you might choose to take a bus or taxi.
Walking
The easiest way to get to Nara Park from Kintetsu Nara Station is on foot. The western edge of the park is about 5-8 minutes from the station, depending on which entrance or temple area you are heading for. When you exit the station simply turn right on the road outside the station and walk in an eastern direction. After 5 minutes you will see the entrance to Kofukuji Temple on your right, and in another minute you will see the entrance to the park. Here is a map of the route.
By Nara City Bus
The Nara City Loop Bus service runs from Kintetsu Nara Station to Nara Park and various locations in the park such as Nara National Museum, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. From the west exit of Kintetsu Nara Station cross to the northern side of the street and catch the number #2 bus service from bus stop 1. This is a short ride to the park-side stops, but walking is often just as simple if your first stop is Kofukuji Temple or the western edge of Nara Park. There is a flat fare of 250 yen for adults and 130 yen for children.
The number #2 bus service at bus stop 1, Kintetsu Nara Station
By Taxi
If you want to go quickly to a particular location in or around Nara Park, you can take a taxi from the West Exit taxi ramp at Kintetsu Nara Station. Ordinary taxi fares in Nara generally start at 750 yen for the first 1.3 kilometers and then rise by 100 yen for each additional 246 meters, though fares can vary slightly by vehicle class and company.
The taxi rank at the West Exit of Kintetsu Nara Station
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 19-May-2026.
