Recommended 10 Touring Roads and Spots in Nara Prefecture, selected by riders who have circumnavigated Japan twice.

Hello to all Webike Plus readers! I am Sasu Rider, a man who once attended a Buddhist kindergarten. I am a man who used to go to a Buddhist kindergarten. ... I am a fan of Buddhist historical sites, so I would like to introduce some of the recommended touring roads and spots in Nara Prefecture, which is like a sacred place for me. The information is current as of December 2025. The information is subject to change without notice. Please check before you go.

1 Winding and Forest Roads: Nara Okuyama Driveway

Nara Okuyama Driveway is a toll road that combines winding and forest roads accessible from urban areas, which is rare in Japan. The Nara Okuyama Driveway is a toll road with three different courses: the Shin-Wakakakusa Course, the Nara Okuyama Course, and the Koenyama Course! The "Nara Okuyama Course" is a forest road course that takes you through the Kasuga-yama Primeval Forest, a World Heritage Site. Incidentally, the "New Wakakusa Course" and "Koenzan Course" can be ridden only by themselves, and to ride the "Nara Okuyama Course", you need to ride the "New Wakakusa Course→Nara Okuyama Course→Koenzan Course" (950 yen if you ride the whole course).

One point advice from a Sasu rider

The New Wakakusa Course ends at the "Wakakusa-san summit PA", where you can enjoy a spectacular view overlooking the city of Nara! This may sound a bit abstract, but I personally feel the place is full of "good energy" and you can even meet the deer, the idols of Nara Prefecture. Facilities include a free parking lot and public restrooms, and if you choose to take the "Nara Okuyama Course," the forest road starts here.

2 Roadside Station: Hari Terrace

One of the best hangouts for riders in the Kanto region is Michi no Eki Doshi in Yamanashi Prefecture, and the Kansai region's version of this is Michi no Eki: Hari Terrace in Nara Prefecture. It is located in the center of Meihan National Highway (National Route 25 bypass), a major artery connecting Nagoya and Osaka, and is like a theme park with a spacious parking lot, multiple stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and day spa facilities! On weekends and consecutive holidays, there are always a large number of motorcycles parked here, and riders are sure to be excited by that alone.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

The two main reasons why riders come to Michi no Eki Hari Terrace are its convenient location along Meihan National Highway, and the fact that there is a dedicated parking space for motorcycles. The "KUSHITANI PERFORMANCE STORE Hari Terrace" is also located on the site. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a "roadside station for riders," so it is a roadside station that can be used as a "touring destination" rather than simply a rest spot!

3 World Heritage Site: Todaiji Temple

Every Japanese person wants to see this temple at least once! Todaiji Temple is a World Heritage site that enshrines the famous "Great Buddha of Nara". Todaiji Temple, the world-famous head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism, was built by Emperor Shomu to pray for the safety of the nation and the happiness of its people! The Daibutsuden, where the Great Buddha resides, is one of the largest wooden structures in the world! The Great Buddha Hall costs 800 yen per adult, and there are other attractions such as Hokkedo, Kaitando, and Todaiji Museum (all for 800 yen).

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

Perhaps riders seeing Todaiji Temple and the Great Buddha of Nara for the first time will be overwhelmed by the size and power of the temple! There are countless wonderful temples and historic sites scattered throughout Japan, but Todaiji Temple is definitely one of the best of them all (I promise). We recommend that you visit Nara Park as well as Todaiji Temple (Todaiji Temple and Nara Park are located next to each other).

4 World Heritage Site: Horyu-ji Temple

Along with Todai-ji Temple, Horyu-ji Temple in Ikaruga Town is one of Nara Prefecture's two major tourist attractions. Horyu-ji Temple, which is registered as a World Heritage site as the"world's oldestwooden architecture," is said to have been built by Prince Shotoku and Emperor Suiko in 607. The admission fee to Horyu-ji Temple is quite expensive at 2,000 yen per adult , but it is worth seeing at least once if you are Japanese!

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

The best parking lot for visiting Horyu-ji Temple is the Horyu-ji Temple Tourist Car Parking Lot, which is about a 2-minute walk from Horyu-ji Temple! The best parking lot to visit Horyu-ji is the "Horyu-ji Tourist Automobile Parking Lot", which is only about a 2-minute walk from Horyu-ji Temple ! The parking lot is located in the middle of the approach to Horyu-ji Temple, and thankfully, public restrooms are available, so it is no exaggeration to say that you have no other choice but to park here (I always choose this lot).

5 World Heritage Site: National Heijo Palace Site Historical Park

Heijo Palace was the capital of Japan at that time, which flourished in the Nara Period (about 1,300 years ago). The park is now registered as a World Heritage Site as "National Heijo Palace Site Historical Park", and visitors can see the Suzaku-mon Gate and other structures, as well as the " Heijo Palace Isanai-kan ", which tells of the conditions of the time. What a surprise! Even though it is a World Heritage Site, all of the buildings can be visited free of charge, and it is also equipped with a " tourist exchange facility " with various stores and cafes.

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

To the great relief of riders, the National Heijo Palace Site Historical Park provides "free bicycle parking space" for motorcycles, so you can enjoy sightseeing without having to worry about parking time! There are spaces available for about 10 bikes, but we recommend that you park as early as possible, as the spaces are probably full on weekends and consecutive holidays (the photo above is taken on a weekday).

6 Sightseeing Spots: Ishibutai Kofun Tomb

For riders who love historical romance, the Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus is the largest "Hofun" burial mound in Japan, located in Asuka Village. Ishibutai Kofun is the largest "Hofun" burial mound in Asuka Village in Japan, and is made up of 30 giant stones! The dynamic appearance of the Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus, which is made of as many as 30 giant stones, is well worth a visit! The admission fee to Ishibutai Kofun is a reasonable 300 yen per adult , and there are several other burial mounds in the vicinity.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

It is possible to actually enter the interior of the stone chamber of the Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus, and I am sure you will be surprised at how much more spacious it is than you imagined! Motorcycles can be parked free of charge at the nearby " National Asuka Historical Park Ishibutai Area Parking Lot, " which is also conveniently located for visiting other tombs and has public toilets.

7 Sightseeing and Cherry Blossom Spots: Yoshinoyama

Yoshinoyama is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan, and Nara Prefecture is proud of it. The cherry blossoms at Yoshinoyamaare at their best from late March to early April every year! Moreover, the area is dotted with wonderful historical sites such as the World Heritage Yoshinomikazuchi Shrine and Kinpusenji Temple, making it impossible to visit all of them in a single day.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

There are several parking lots for sightseeing in Yoshinoyama, the most major of which is the " Yoshinoyama Tourist Parking Lot (Shimo-Senbon Parking Lot) " where motorcycles can be parked. Motorcycles can park for free or 500 yen per day, depending on the time of year, but it is usually in special operation during the cherry blossom season, so... When visiting during the cherry blossom season, we recommend that you get information on parking in advance (researching on site can be confusing).

8 Local Gourmet: Tenri Stamina Ramen Head Office

Tenri Stamina Ramen (Tenri Stamina Ramen for short) is a local delicacy in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, the birthplace of the Japanese-born religion Tenrikyo. Tenri Stamina Ramen ( Tenri Stamina Ramen for short) is a spicy pork bone broth with plenty of chives, garlic, cabbage, and other vegetables! There are several restaurants in the Tenri City area that serve Tenri Stamina Ramen , but if this is your first time, we recommend the "Tenri Stamina Ramen Main Branch" as its name.

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

Tenri Stamina Ramen is the most famous ramen restaurant serving "Tenri Stamina" and is a chain with several branches outside of Nara Prefecture... However, as a touring rider, it is always a good idea to eat at the main store in Tenri City. Try the authentic Tenri Stamina Ramen, a hearty, "spicy but mild" ramen, at the main store, which is equipped with a parking lot!

9 Onsen (hot spring): Dorogawa Onsen

Combined with the recent Showa-era retro boom, Dorogawa Onsen is a hot spring resort that has been getting a lot of buzz on SNS for its "emo" atmosphere. Dorogawa Onsen, located in Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture, has long flourished as a place of relaxation for mountain climbers who travel around the Omine Mountains, which stretch from Yoshino in Nara Prefecture to Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture , and is fed by a clear, colorless, alkaline hot spring. The hot spring resort looks like a time slip back to the good old days, and especially when lit up after dark, it looks like a scene from a movie.

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

If you have the budget and time for touring, you should definitely stay and enjoy Dorogawa Onsen with your car... If you can't afford it, but want to enjoy the hot spring at least! For those riders (that's me), I recommend the " Dorogawa Hot Spring Visitor Center, " a day-trip bathing facility! It is a one-day bathing facility with a tourist information center and a sales corner, which was established in April 2024, and you can enter the beautiful hot spring equipped with indoor and outdoor baths for 800 yen (parking is free with bathing).

10 Open-air art museum: Muroyama Park Art Forest

A new type of outdoor art museum in Uda City, Nara Prefecture, is the Muro-Yamakami Park Art Forest, which in recent years has become a "movie spot" through SNS and word of mouth. This vast open-air museum, supervised by the world-renowned Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan, covers a total area of approximately 7.8 hectares (1.6 times the size of the Tokyo Dome), and has a total of 12 objects (artworks) placed throughout the park. All of the works have a mysterious charm that stimulates the senses, and I personally recommend this place as an accent for touring Nara Prefecture!

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

Admission to the Muroshu-Sanjo Park Art Forest is a reasonable 410 yen per adult, and motorcycles can be parked in the free parking lot. The tour takes aboutone to one and a half hours, but if you are a sensitive rider like me, two to three hours can easily pass by... If you are that type of rider (?), be careful what you plan to do before and after! should pay attention to the schedule before and after the tour!

Nara Prefecture is a treasure trove of historical sites!

Nara Prefecture is dotted with many famous historical sites, including World Heritage sites, and each of them is worth seeing and has a lot of volume... We are sure that our touring schedule will be pushed back.... So, when touring in Nara Prefecture, be sure to plan ahead and allow yourself more time than usual. To the gallery (20)