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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Kyoto
- Nara
Nara
The city of Nara, 26 miles (42km) south of Kyoto, could be
regarded as the place where Japan's culture was formalised. The
city, originally called Heijo, became the first permanent capital
of the country in 710. Although its capital status only lasted for
74 years, they were years that entrenched and enshrined Japan's
arts, crafts and literature. Nara flourished as a political and
cultural centre and thus was blessed with numerous temples,
shrines, pagodas and palaces, which today attract locals and
foreigners intent on glimpsing historic Japan. Most of Nara's
historic treasures are contained in a vast park which has been
designated a World Heritage Site, making sightseeing easy and
pleasurable. Highlights are Todaiji, the huge temple that contains
Japan's largest Buddha statue, and Horyuji, the temple containing
the world's oldest wooden structures.
Information & Facts
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
Time