When thinking of the appeal of Nara, the first thing that comes to mind is “Eternity”. Nara is so heavily entrenched in history that one can feel the distant reaches of time stretching on into forever. The capital and ancient Nara were first built in the year 710. Visiting the various temples will surely convince you that you’re seeing the oldest examples in Japan.

There are a number of towns in Japan called koto, or the former capital, including Kyoto and Kamakura. How is Nara different from these? The answer is its tranquility. The deer eating grass in Nara Park. The amazingly large temple grounds. The lack of large crowds and the ability to look up at a wide blue sky from anywhere in Nara. Before you know it, you’ll be strolling at a leisurely pace.

To fully enjoy Nara, be sure to make a schedule before visiting. Rushing through will make it difficult to appreciate the charms of Nara. Take your time when gazing at the face of the Great Buddha, give some sembei crackers to the deer, and abandon yourself to Nara. A leisurely pace is truly the best way to enjoy this location.