November "Autumn Night Nara Trip 2023" will be held in Nara City|Special night worship at 6 World Heritage Shrines and Temples

In Nara City, every Friday and Saturday from November 3 ~ 25, 2023, a special nighttime worship event "Nara Trip 2023" will be held at six World Heritage Sites. (Photo: Yakushiji temple participating in the event for the first time)

"Autumn Night Nara Trip" will be held for the fourth time this year. This year, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the registration of the "Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara" as a World Cultural Heritage Site, it was decided to scale up and hold the event at six World Heritage shrines and temples (Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji, Motoko-ji, Toshodai-ji, and Yakushi-ji). In the past three times, three shrines and temples were targeted.

The admission fee for special worship is free (Todaiji Temple) or 500 yen, and Kofukuji Temple has a student and child fee. Reservations are not required for any of them.

Every Saturday during the period, the "World Heritage Shrine and Temple Tour Bus" will operate via JR and Kintetsu "Nara Station", making it easier to access the six World Heritage Shrines and Temples. The fare is 220 yen (Nara Park Route) or 270 yen (Nishinokyo Route) and no reservation is required.

In addition, on Saturdays during the period, the "Nara Wakakusayama Twilight Night View Award Bus" (1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for children) will operate, and a related tour "Kasuga Taisha Gohonden Special Night Visit and Fishing Lantern Offering Experience" (2,000 yen) will also be held. Advance reservations are required.

Nara tourism had a large proportion of day-trippers from Osaka and Kyoto, and was described as a Daibutsu business method that was reluctant to go sightseeing. However, in recent years, local governments and businesses have been working together to promote overnight travel, as well as focusing on evening and early morning events.