Nara One of World's Most Underrated Cities

[Samurai_Jerk]

This Yahoo! Travel article ranks Nara as one of the world's most Underrated cities and claims it's not the tourist trap Kyoto is. Here's the write up:

Often neglected in favor of nearby Kyoto, this former imperial capital is equally rich in ancient Buddhist temples, shrines, and gardens, but without the camera-wielding crowds. You'll find tame deer and the 8th-century Todai-Ji temple complex in Nara Park, while the lovely Isui-en garden provides serenity just a short walk away. The city also has an impressive collection of machiya, or traditional wooden townhouses. Spend an afternoon wandering the narrow streets of Naramchi, the old merchant district where many machiya have been converted into cafes and restaurants.

Don't Miss: Nara is the birthplace of sake, and numerous breweries can be found in and around the city. Arrange a visit to Harushika, a 127-year-old brewery, or drop by Kuramoto Hoshuku, a popular sake bar run by another local brewer.

That puts Nara in good company with such exciting destinations as Detroit, Michigan; Tucson, Arizona and Providence, Rhode Island .

[ChargerCarl]

Hey Tucson's not bad

[Taro Toporific]

Hey Tucson's not bad

But concrete-rectum Taipei (also on the Most Underrated Cities list) has everything BAD about Japan and none of the good.

[FG Lurker]

Nara is worth a visit. I wouldn't say it has as much stuff as Kyoto but there are things to see and it's definitely not as crowded (though being Japan it isn't empty either.)

[Samurai_Jerk]

But concrete-rectum Taipei (also on the Most Underrated Cities list) has everything BAD about Japan and none of the good.

Taiwan has at least one thing Tokyo doesn't: good Chinese food.

[ichigo partygirl]

Nara is nice for a day visit but I wouldn't say it was really underrated. My enduring memory from visiting there for the first time at the age of 15 is deer droppings.

[Greji]

deer droppings.

I always keep a bunch of carrots in me knickers when I go there.

[FG Lurker]

I always keep a bunch of carrots in me knickers when I go there.

That'll just result in getting attacked by a dozen hungry deer. It's more likely that they'll knaw your member off than it is that you'll get any deer action.

[Greji]

[quote="FG Lurker"] It's more likely that they'll knaw your member off than it is that you'll get any deer action. ]

Sprints to the loo clutching a two fisted blue veiner.....

[Jack]

I visited Nara twice before I visited Kyoto for the first time. That was only because I wanted to go to a less touristy place.
There is absolutely no reason for a non-Japanese to visit Nara. The city does not have enough nattractions to make a visit worthwhile unless it is your sixth or tenth time to Japan and you have seen everything else.

[Pearse]

I visited Nara twice before I visited Kyoto for the first time. That was only because I wanted to go to a less touristy place.
There is absolutely no reason for a non-Japanese to visit Nara. The city does not have enough nattractions to make a visit worthwhile unless it is your sixth or tenth time to Japan and you have seen everything else.

And they need your permission first?

[FG Lurker]

I visited Nara twice before I visited Kyoto for the first time. That was only because I wanted to go to a less touristy place.
There is absolutely no reason for a non-Japanese to visit Nara. The city does not have enough nattractions to make a visit worthwhile unless it is your sixth or tenth time to Japan and you have seen everything else.

So, what you're saying is you're an idiot for going to Nara instead of Kyoto?

[Cyka UchuuJin]

So, what you're saying is you're an idiot for going to Nara instead of Kyoto?

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to FG Lurker again.

i love nara. went there on my first trip to japan and have taken everyone who's ever come to visit me when i lived here.

[Tsuru]

I visited Nara twice before I visited Kyoto for the first time. That was only because I wanted to go to a less touristy place.
There is absolutely no reason for a non-Japanese to visit Nara. The city does not have enough nattractions to make a visit worthwhile unless it is your sixth or tenth time to Japan and you have seen everything else.

Have you spent more time in the industry than anyone else too?

[Jack]

So, what you're saying is you're an idiot for going to Nara instead of Kyoto?

That I am an idiot is a well-known fact. The only difference with the others is that I know it.

That said, if anyone goes to Japan for a vist and spends one of those ten days in Nara, in my opinion, it's not a wise use of time. I don't think me being an idiot should disqualify me from having an opinion.

[Iraira]

That I am an idiot is a well-known fact. The only difference with the others is that I know it.

That said, if anyone goes to Japan for a vist and spends one of those ten days in Nara, in my opinion, it's not a wise use of time. I don't think me being an idiot should disqualify me from having an opinion.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.

[Samurai_Jerk]

That I am an idiot is a well-known fact. The only difference with the others is that I know it.

That said, if anyone goes to Japan for a vist and spends one of those ten days in Nara, in my opinion, it's not a wise use of time. I don't think me being an idiot should disqualify me from having an opinion.

Since Jack actually seems to be expressing a sincere opinion for once, I'll give a real response.

On my first visit to Japan (which was also my fist visit to another country) I was in college and only had a week during winter vacation. I stayed at my Japanese college buddy's house in Kobe. He took me to both Nara and Kyoto and the be honest I enjoyed Nara more. I think because everything was new and exciting to me and I knew little about Japanese culture or food at the time, Nara felt more accessable since it was smaller and easier to navigate.

[FG Lurker]

Kyoto definitely has more to see and do than Nara does. You could spend a week in Kyoto and really only scratch the surface. Nara however you can hit the main points of interest in half a day. There are other interesting places in Nara but they are spread too far apart to be visitable for the average tourist on a limited schedule.

My favorite place to take people who are on their second visit to Japan and have already seen the highlights of Kyoto is Himeji Castle. It offers a nice contrast to the temples & shrines of Kyoto and gives people a different view of historical Japan. Unfortunately the main keep is undergoing restoration right now and is completely hidden from view.

Byōdō-in in Uji is another place I like to take people. Uji is in Kyoto but a lot of people don't get there the first time they are in Japan as it is quite out of the way. It's the temple on the back of the 10 yen coin.