Start light by taking a stroll through Kōfuku-ji, a temple complex in the east of the park. It contains two elegant three- and five-story pagodas. Down the hill is a delightful pond on the outskirts of the park. The pond is rife with hundreds of red-eared slider turtles, who sun themselves on rocks and snack on bread crumbs thrown by tourists.
Head straight for Diabutsu-Den, the largest wooden building in the world, on the western side of the park. There is an admission charge for entry to the Tōdai-ji (temple complex), but it is well worth it. Diabutsu-Den is so large that it could be used for housing space shuttles. It houses the Daibutsu, which is several stories tall and is the largest Buddha in Japan. Surrounding the Buddha are other smaller, but still gigantic, statues.
Take a short walk to the Nara National Museum around the center of the park. This museum has rotating exhibits of one of the world`s best collections of Buddhist art. It also includes a National Treasure Hall, replete with impressive statues.
Take a longer walk through the beautiful Kasuga-yama Primeval Forest to the Kasuga Taisha (shrine). The paths leading to the Kasuga Taisha are lined with stone lanterns (which you are not allowed to touch). On the way, you might consider stopping by the carefully cultivated Isui-en Garden.
Enjoy the deer, several hundred of them. According to local legend, the local deer are sacred envoys of the gods, and are therefore allowed to roam free through streets and parkland. In practice, they have all become incredibly tame, and are gluttons for packets of deer biscuits that local women sell for 150 yen.
