This article intends to mention all and only the World Heritage sites in Nara.
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Make sure to get '''Nara World Heritage three day pass -Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino Areas-'''(Nara Sekai Isan Frea Kippu -Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino Areas-) at Kintetsu Railway stations (below). It's valid only for Kintetsu Railway and Nara Kotsu Bus services(not for JR), but covers all the transportation expenses of the following itinerary (except Yoshino Ropeway). Tell the ticket clerk on what date you will start using it and you can get a pass one month in advance.
This three day pass costs:
This itinerary is based on the '''WEEKDAY timetable''', and may vary on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays.
Also bring this [http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/00/img/map.pdf PDF MAP] of railways in Nara with you.
On your way to Nara, stop at Yamato-Saidaiji Station and walk to the '''Heijo Palace Site(WH)''' (appr. 15 minutes). The grounds are quite vast, so if you choose to visit the museums (at opposite ends of the area), you may be pressed for time to see the rest of the day's sites, depending on how long you take to see each. It may be wise to give the museums a miss, as they are not of any great interest. At the very least, walk to the center of the grounds to see the actual excavation site and the remnants of the old imperial palace. You may also enjoy seeing the Suzakumon Gate, although it is a modern reconstruction.
Go back to Yamato-Saidaiji Station and head to Nara Staton where you will find the rest of the days sites.
''Main article Nara''
You can best manage your time by visiting the sites in the following order (You will go through the Kofukuji area on the way to/from Gango-ji Temple, so order is not as important here.) The others are listed in the order you will pass them walking away from the station:
Note that the three day pass is valid for Nara Kotsu Bus service in central Nara.
<table class="wikitable" border="1"> <caption>'''To Yoshino Station(Kintetsu Line)'''</caption> <tr> <th>Nara station</th> <td>8:10</td> <td>8:25</td> <td>9:18</td> <td>9:39</td> <td>10:02</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Yamato-Saidaiji station</th> <td>8:22</td> <td>8:41</td> <td>9:28</td> <td>9:52</td> <td>10:23</td> </tr> <tr> <th>arrivals at Kashihara Jingu Mae station</th> <td>8_F50</td> <td>9_F13</td> <td>9_F57</td> <td>10_F20</td> <td>10_F56</td> </tr> <tr> <th>departures from Kashihara Jingu Mae station</th> <td>9_F04</td> <td>9_F30</td> <td>10_F10</td> <td>10_F31</td> <td>10_F59</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Yoshino Station</th> <td>9_F53</td> <td>10_F23</td> <td>10_F53</td> <td>11_F23</td> <td>11_F53</td> </tr> </table>
''Main article Yoshino''
The next destination is Asuka. The trains from Yoshino station depart at X:08 and X:38 every hour between 9 and 21 and arrive at Asuka station(13 stops from Yoshino, 2 stops for Kashihara Jingu Mae) or Kashihara Jingu Mae station in 1 hour.
''Main article Asuka, Fujiwara''
Asuka is a small village with the archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals before the permanent capital was established in Nara in 710. Nara prefecture government expects it to be inscribed into world heritage list in around 2012. Get off the train and consult at the tourist information at Asuka station. The 3 day pass is also valid for Nara Kotsu Bus service in Asuka. [http://www.asukamura.jp/english/index.html Asuka Official Website]
In the morning, catch the bus on Nara-Nishinokyo-Ikaruga Excursion Bus line(Line No. 97) from Kintetsu Nara(at 8:43) or JR Nara(at 8:45) stations to terminal Horyu-ji(E-15)(at 9:43) and Hokki-ji(E-13).
''Main article Horyu-ji, Nara''
In the afternoon, catch the bus(Line No. 97) at 12:43 or 13:43 to Yakushi-ji(E-10) and Toshodai-ji(E-8). The distance from Yakushi-ji to Toshodai-ji is 600m and can be covered on foot. The latest bus departs from Toshodai-ji(E-8) at 16:23 and arrives at Kintetsu Nara station at 16:40.
<table class="wikitable" border="1"> <caption>'''To Toshodai-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Horyu-ji'''</caption> <tr> <th>Kasuga Shrine(E-1)</th> <td>8_F36</td> <td>10_F06</td> <td>11_F06</td> <td>12_F06</td> <td>13_F06</td> <td>14_F06</td> <td>15_F06</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Todai-ji(E-3)</th> <td>8_F39</td> <td>10_F09</td> <td>11_F09</td> <td>12_F09</td> <td>13_F09</td> <td>14_F09</td> <td>15_F09</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Kintetsu Nara Station, Platform(8)(E-6)</th> <td>8_F43</td> <td>10_F13</td> <td>11_F13</td> <td>12_F13</td> <td>13_F13</td> <td>14_F13</td> <td>15_F13</td> </tr> <tr> <th>JR Nara Station, Platform(10)(E-7)</th> <td>8_F45</td> <td>10_F15</td> <td>11_F15</td> <td>12_F15</td> <td>13_F15</td> <td>14_F15</td> <td>15_F15</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Toshodai-ji(E-8)</th> <td>8_F59</td> <td>10_F29</td> <td>11_F29</td> <td>12_F29</td> <td>13_F29</td> <td>14_F29</td> <td>15_F29</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Yakushi-ji(E-10)</th> <td>9_F03</td> <td>10_F33</td> <td>11_F33</td> <td>12_F33</td> <td>13_F33</td> <td>14_F33</td> <td>15_F33</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Kintetsu Koriyama Station</th> <td>9_F18</td> <td>10_F48</td> <td>11_F48</td> <td>12_F48</td> <td>13_F48</td> <td>14_F48</td> <td>15_F48</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Horyu-ji(E-15)</th> <td>9_F43</td> <td>11_F13</td> <td>12_F13</td> <td>13_F13</td> <td>14_F13</td> <td>15_F13</td> <td>16_F13</td> </tr> </table>
<table class="wikitable" border="1"> <caption>'''To Central Nara'''</caption> <tr> <th>Horyu-ji(E-15)</th> <td>8_F43</td> <td>9_F43</td> <td>10_F43</td> <td>11_F43</td> <td>12_F43</td> <td>13_F43</td> <td>14_F43</td> <td>15_F43</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Kintetsu Koriyama Station</th> <td>9_F08</td> <td>10_F08</td> <td>11_F08</td> <td>12_F08</td> <td>13_F08</td> <td>14_F08</td> <td>15_F08</td> <td>16_F08</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Yakushi-ji(E-10)</th> <td>9_F17</td> <td>10_F17</td> <td>11_F17</td> <td>12_F17</td> <td>13_F17</td> <td>14_F17</td> <td>15_F17</td> <td>16_F17</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Toshodai-ji(E-8)</th> <td>9_F23</td> <td>10_F23</td> <td>11_F23</td> <td>12_F23</td> <td>13_F23</td> <td>14_F23</td>
<td>15_F23</td> <td>16_F23</td> </tr> <tr> <th>JR Nara Station(E-7)</th> <td>9_F38</td> <td>10_F38</td> <td>11_F38</td> <td>12_F38</td> <td>13_F38</td> <td>14_F38</td> <td>15_F38</td> <td>16_F38</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Kintetsu Nara Station(E-6)</th> <td>9_F40</td> <td>10_F40</td> <td>11_F40</td> <td>12_F40</td>
<td>13_F40</td> <td>14_F40</td> <td>15_F40</td> <td>16_F40</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Todai-ji(E-3)</th> <td>9_F44</td> <td>10_F44</td> <td>11_F44</td> <td>12_F44</td> <td>13_F44</td> <td>14_F44</td> <td>15_F44</td> <td>16_F44</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Kasuga Shrine(E-1)</th> <td>9_F49</td> <td>10_F49</td> <td>11_F49</td> <td>12_F49</td> <td>13_F49</td> <td>14_F49</td> <td>15_F49</td> <td>16_F49</td> </tr> </table>
Pick up your baggage at your hotel and leave Nara for Osaka or Kyoto. No extra charge is needed if you travel from Kyoto/Osaka and back to the same city. Otherwise,