Travel to Nara (Maps)
Fly to Kansai International Airport (KIX) It is the second largest airport in Japan. Major cities in the world have regular flights to KIX. We think you can find a discount economy class ticket for less than 150,000 Yen (US$ 1650, Euro 1200) (sometimes for 100,000 Yen, US$ 1100, Euro 800) from US cities or European cities to KIX.
From KIX, take a limousine bus to JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station as shown in the above site. It takes 90 minutes and costs 2,000 Yen (US$ 22, Euro 16). The train is quicker and cheaper but you must change trains a couple of times.
Local Transportation to Todaiji
From your hotel, take a taxi or walk if you have time for 30 min from around JR Nara station or for 20 min from around Kintetsu Nara station. Otherwise, walk to JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station. Then take a bus going to Daibutsu Den/Kasuga-Taisha. You pay 200 Yen (US$ 2, Euro 1.50) when you get on the bus. You may buy a pre-paid card. After getting off the bus, take a 5 minutes’ walk
Hotels
Hotel rooms are not so expensive compared with Tokyo or Kyoto during the period of IGS 2013. The hotels listed below provide single rooms for 5,000 – 12,000 Yen ( US$ 55 – 132, Euro 40 – 96) and twin rooms for 10,000 – 20,000 Yen (US$ 110 – 220, Euro 80 – 160) except the Nara hotel (classic and gorgeous hotel).
Rakuten Travel may list more hotels in this area than others. In the front page, key in Japan for Country, Nara for City and Nara City for Locations.
Booking sites such as www.Expedia.com, www.booking.com, www.hotels.com present cheaper rates.
Near JR Nara station
- Hotel Nikko Nara (JAL hotel)
- Super Hotel Lohas JR Nara Station
- Comfort Hotel Nara
- Sun Hotel Nara
- Super Hotel JR Nara
Between JR Nara station and Kintetsu Nara station
- Hotel ASYL Nara
- Nara Washington Hotel Plaza
Near Kintetsu Nara station and near Todaiji
- People’s Inn Hanakomachi: nearest to Kintetsu Nara station
- Hotel Fujita Nara
Nearest to Todaiji
- Kasuga Hotel: Japanese style and Western style
- Hotel Sunroute Nara
- Nara Hotel: most classic and expensive hotel
1000 yen = US$11 = Euro 8 (January 2013)