A walk in Nara
Naramachi merchant lanes
ならまち散歩
- 3 km
- 2 h
- 5 stops
Best from 1 pm
3 km, about 2 h, 5 stops from Kintetsu-Nara Station. Every stop with its Japanese name and what to look for.
Start Kintetsu-Nara Station
Sarusawa Pond猿沢池
A pond dug in 749 for Kōfuku-ji. The pagoda view is behind repair covers for now.
Gangō-ji元興寺
A World Heritage temple. Part of its hall roof still wears tiles from the Asuka period.
Kōshin-dō庚申堂
Red cloth monkeys hang from the eaves here, said to take misfortune in your place.
Naramachi Kōshi-no-ieならまち格子の家
A free replica of a long, narrow merchant house. Closed on Mondays.
Ukimidō浮見堂
A six-sided pavilion on a pond in Nara Park, lit up after dark.
Paths can be steep or slippery, and places close or change their hours. Check before you go.
Plan the rest
More walks in Nara
Sources
Our summary of the sources below, checked Nov 9, 2026