>Nara Park/A 49-hectare flat area, roughly the size of 70 soccer fields, is dotted with lawn plazas, Japanese gardens, ponds, and temples and shrines, where 1,400 deer lounge.

*The total area, including Mt. Wakakusa (342m above sea level) and the Kasugayama primeval forest, is 511 hectares.

#Kasugano Garden/A lawn plaza with lots of the deer along the approach leads to the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple

#Japanese Gardens/Isuien is a strolling-type garden behind Mt. Wakakusa and Todaiji Temple, featuring an art museum and restaurant. Yoshikien has three distinct styles: a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea ceremonial garden.

#Todaiji Temple (6.9 ha)/A complex of eight national treasure buildings, including the Great Buddha Hall, built by the Emperor in prayer for the happiness of all living things.

#Great Buddha Hall/The Great Buddha, shining a merciful light, and four Buddhist statues representing mercy, wisdom, and guardian deities recreate the Buddhist world.

#Great South Gate/Buddha preaches the teachings with its back to the north, flanked by two guardian Kongorikishi statues.

#Nigatsudo Hall (February Temple)/The torch-lit religious ceremony in February and the magnificent view of Nara city from the veranda are a sight to behold.

#Sanjo Street/The main east-west road in the ancient capital, now connecting JR Nara Station and Kasuga Taisha Shrine in a straight line behind Mt.Wakakusa.

#The Higashimuki (80 stores) and Mochiidono (100 stores)/Bustling shopping streets with charming souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes intersect at the Sanjo Street.

#Kasuga Taisha Shrine (100 ha, including primeval forest)/Built in the 8th century by a powerful aristocrat to pray for the prosperity of his family.

The main deity arrived from afar riding a white deer, so the deer is considered a divine messenger. The shrine building is renovated every 20 years as part of a religious ceremony, always in the vibrant colors of red, green, and white (its 60th renovation took place in 2015).