Nara: weekend or weekday?

What do you want to do in Nara? I suspect that Todai-ji is busy any day of the week; if you want to avoid the crowds there, get there when it opens. Sections of the deer park are also frequently busy, but the area is large: you'll get some deer to yourself if you wander around enough.

Apart from that, Nara is full of fascinating sights that attract relatively few visitors, and so can comfortably be visited anytime. The same can be said for Kyoto - some of the most interesting places in Kyoto never see big crowds.

Kyoto and Nara have busy parts and relaxing empty parts. If you do Todaiji on a weekend get their EARLY. Even on a weekday it can be busy though.

You dont mention where you are going in Kyoto, but the obvious big tourist sights get extremely crowded on the weekend.

I have read a few posts elsewhere that recommend going to Nara on the weekend, with the reasoning being that Kyoto is even busier on the weekend.

Wouldn't Nara be busier as well on weekends? If you are concerned about crowds there are enough quiet temples in either city. Even the best of all, Horyu-ji, sees rather few tourists (who tend to hang around Nara Park only).

At this time of year, neither place will be as busy as say spring or summer, but as commenters above have pointed out, both are likely to be more busy on the weekends, so deciding which experience would mean more to you with less crowds might be a way to move forward. Nara is generally all about the park, and people enjoy strolling around seeing the deer, whereas Kyoto will have crowds as any bigger city might year-round. Having said that, I was in both places at the busiest time of year, sakura season, and I really didn't find either one to be "too crowded" or intense. Hope that helps somewhat!

I recommend eating at Mellow cafe in Nara if you are looking for some nice salads, pizza or pasta (I was on a long trip so took a short break from the delicious Japanese food while I was there).

For Kyoto, stroll along Kiyamachi Dori to see if any of the leaves have turned autumnal yet!

Thanks, everyone. I didn't really detail what we are planning to see in Kyoto, since it is a fairly complicated spreadsheet, given the amount of time we are spending in the city :) I'm hoping it's a good mix of the big sights that everyone goes to, plus some that are less often visited.

As for Nara, we wouldn't say no to seeing a few deer, but it isn't high on our priority list...I think from reading the above that we will try to go to Nara on the weekend, at least in part as a bit of a change in scenery.

Thank you, JamesGabrielMartin, for your recommendations!

As far as you visit temples near JR Nara station & Kintetsu Nara station, you cannot escape from "crowds" with so many tourists even if you go to weekdays---Todaiji-temple, Kohukuji- temple , Nara park etc.

I reccommend you visit other temples in Nara a bit far from Nara stations avoiding visiting famous big temples every time crowds.

(i.e.) Muroo-ji(or Murō-ji) temple室生寺-- it's possible as a day trip from Kyoto by Kintetsu line only(needs transfer), but if possible, it's better to spend a night at Nara to experience and enjoy the different atomosphre from Kyoto(town & temples).

*Muroo-ji temple室生寺---Images
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%AE%A4%E7%94%9F%E5%AF%BA+%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSpfG9r9fWAhUFOJQKHa99C9YQsAQIJQ&biw=1280&bih=856

*Muroo-ji temple室生寺---Guide & Access & Map(within the temple)
http://nara-yamato.com/muro/en/index.html

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E5%AE%A4%E7%94%9F%E5%AF%BA+%E7%94%BB%E5%83%8F&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSpfG9r9fWAhUFOJQKHa99C9YQsAQIJQ&biw=1280&bih=856#imgrc=4Sj2XL-yhw4uyM:&spf=1507203021684

---very good for light walking from bottom to top within the temple while seeing many archtectures & statues of Buddha & Buddhist images including National Treasures.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.