Timeline
10:00
Arrive at Yoshikien Garden right as it opens. This free garden is a perfect start, offering a peaceful atmosphere before the day’s visitors arrive. The entrance is right beside Isui-en, making it easy to combine your visit.
11:00
Walk next door to Isui-en Garden. This historic site features magnificently arranged gardens full of flowers, surrounded by the rest of Nara Park. It is a short, easy walk from Yoshikien.
11:30
Head to Hiraso for lunch. This restaurant is located near the gardens and offers a nice sampling of local foods, including kakinohazushi and chagayu (tea gruel). An English picture menu is available, and dinner sets are around ¥2500.
12:30
End your morning with a browse at je êt nous. This independent accessory shop is housed in a renovated 100-year-old Japanese townhouse. You can look at handmade, deer-themed jewelry and small artisanal accessories.
Local tip
Yoshikien and Isui-en are right next to each other, so you can easily visit both in one go. Hiraso is a great spot for lunch if you want to try local specialties like chagayu.
Check before you go
- Yoshikien Garden is free to enter.
- Hiraso is open Tu-Su 10:00-20:00.
- je êt nous is open We-Su 11:30-17:00.
- Isui-en has a restaurant on site if you prefer to eat there instead.
Worth knowing
- Hiraso is open at 11:30 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
- je êt nous is open at 12:30 only on We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Nara (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).