Wat er het hele jaar speelt in Nara, Japan

Topdrukte — Wakakusa Yamayaki, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan

• Festival

  Wakakusa Yamayaki

  20–28 jan · meestalLicht & vuurDruk

  The grass on Wakakusa hill is set alight on the fourth Saturday of January, fireworks first. The whole city watches from the park, and it is as cold as Nara gets. Bron ↗

Tussenseizoen — schoolvakanties in 2 van de markten die de plek vullen, een gewone maand

• Festival

  Nara Rurie winter illumination

  5–16 feb · meestalLicht & vuur

  For a week in mid-February, blue light links Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha and Kofukuji through Nara Park, with evening temple openings and food stalls; it is the park's one busy night-time event of winter. Bron ↗

Topdrukte — Omizutori, Cherry blossom

• Festival

  Omizutori

  1–14 mrtLicht & vuurDruk

  Burning cedar torches are run along the balcony of Todai-ji's Nigatsu-do every night for a fortnight, the 12th being the big one. Nara says spring does not start until it finishes. Bron ↗

• Natuur

  Cherry blossom

  28 mrt – 12 apr · meestalDruk

  The deer park first, then Mount Yoshino an hour south, which flowers in bands up the hillside about a week later and is worth the early train.

Topdrukte — Cherry blossom, Golden Week

• Feestdag

  Golden Week

  29 apr – 6 meiDrukBoek vroeg

  A run of public holidays from 29 April to 5 May when much of Japan travels at once: trains, flights and hotels fill, rates peak and popular sights are crowded. Book well ahead or come the week after. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Cherry blossom (28 mrt – 12 apr (meestal))

Topdrukte — Golden Week, Golden Week in Japan

In mei begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Golden Week (29 apr – 6 mei)

Tussenseizoen — schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen, een gewone maand

• Natuur

  Lotus at the Nishinokyo temples

  15 jun – 5 aug · meestalWilde bloemen & bloei

  Kikoji, Toshodaiji, Yakushiji and Saidaiji fill their courtyards with potted lotus in early summer and sell a joint ticket; go in the morning, when the flowers are open and before the heat. Bron ↗

• Festival

  Saikusa Matsuri (Lily Festival)

  16–17 junReligieus feest

  At Isagawa, the city's oldest shrine, shrine maidens dance holding lilies brought from Mount Miwa on 17 June, and a procession of women in Heian costume walks through central Nara in the afternoon. Bron ↗

Druk — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, schoolvakanties in 4 van de markten die de plek vullen

In juli begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Lotus at the Nishinokyo temples (15 jun – 5 aug (meestal))

Topdrukte — Kasuga Mantoro, Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan

• Risico

  Typhoon season

  1 aug – 10 okt · meestalSluitingen

  Kansai takes a direct hit every few years. Temples and the Kasuga forest paths close, Kintetsu and JR trains from Kyoto and Osaka stop for the day, and Kansai airport can shut, as it did for Jebi in 2018. Bron ↗

• Festival

  Kasuga Mantoro

  14–15 augLicht & vuurDruk

  Three thousand lanterns lit along the stone approach and through the shrine on the two nights of Obon. The same thing happens again at Setsubun in February. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Lotus at the Nishinokyo temples (15 jun – 5 aug (meestal))

Tussenseizoen — schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen, een gewone maand

In september begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Typhoon season (1 aug – 10 okt (meestal))

Druk — Shosoin treasures exhibition, schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen

• Festival

  Shosoin treasures exhibition

  25 okt – 15 nov · meestalKunstenfestivalDrukBoek vroeg

  A few dozen objects from the eighth-century imperial storehouse go on show at the Nara National Museum for about a fortnight each autumn, and never the same ones twice. Timed tickets. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Typhoon season (1 aug – 10 okt (meestal))

Druk — Shosoin treasures exhibition

• Natuur

  Autumn colour

  5 nov – 5 dec · meestal

  Nara Park turns later than Kyoto and takes a fraction of the crowd. Kasugayama's primeval forest behind the shrine is the walk to do while it happens.

Nog steeds bezig: Shosoin treasures exhibition (25 okt – 15 nov (meestal))

Druk — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, schoolvakanties in 4 van de markten die de plek vullen

In december begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Autumn colour (5 nov – 5 dec (meestal))