Nara seeks to shed day-trip image as overnight stays increase

The western Japan city of Nara has long been seen as a day-trip destination among visitors who come to feed the free-roaming deer and visit World Heritage-listed temples and shrines before returning to bases in Kyoto or Osaka. But recent figures suggest a shift, with more visitors choosing to stay overnight.As inbound tourists continued to enjoy a weak yen and the World Exposition in Osaka put a spotlight on the Kansai region, visitors to Nara topped 16 million in 2025, according to data published by the city in July.But while the total number of visitors to the ancient capital remains well…READ FULL ARTICLE