Nara Station luggage storage

About Nara station 

If you’re planning a deep dive into the Kansai Region, you can’t simply settle for exploring Kyoto and Osaka. These are obviously some of the best travel destinations in the world, let alone Japan, but you should absolutely explore other cities if you want to truly experience the region. One of the best and most convenient places to travel to is Nara, which is situated right outside Osaka. Nara offers wonderful, and potentially more interesting, travel experiences to both first-time visitors and experienced visitors of Japan. 

Nara is not exactly a small town, but it’s not a massive metropolis like Osaka or Tokyo. You’ll find the pace to be more relaxed, the sightseeing more approachable, and there is plenty to do. UNESCO had a field day in Nara, awarding its World Heritage Site designations to the Kasuga Taisha. This Shinto shrine surrounded by the dense forest surrounding Nara city center is famous for its tranquil green spaces and beautiful wildlife. Nara is deeply a historic city, being an early Imperial capital in Ancient Japan during the 8th century. You can visit the revered Todai-ji Temple, which is famous for its massive Buddha statue. The Naramachi neighborhood boasts well-preserved architecture, offering a glimpse into the city’s past with traditional merchant houses and quaint streets. 

Being a smaller city, the primary way to reach Nara is by train. The city is served by both the JR West Nara Line as well as the Kintetsu Nara Line’s long-distance express trains. The primary train station is Nara Station, which is situated right in the middle of town and served by the JR, which is why it’s colloquially called ‘JR Nara Station.’ This is a well-connected transit facility, with easy routes to Osaka and Kyoto. 

Are there luggage lockers in Nara Station?

There are two different locker areas at JR Nara Station. The 1st-floor lockers are situated near the west ticket gates and tourist information center. The 2nd-floor lockers are situated just above the station's east exit. The largest lockers are 34” x 14” and can accommodate most carry-on bags. Specialty items and very large luggage will need to be stored with a proper luggage storage service, but the lockers at Nara Station are pretty useful if you need to store small items for a few hours. Prices per day are between $4 and $6, which is generally pretty affordable. 

Can I get from Nara to Osaka?

It’s as simple as it gets! You can take the JR Yamatoji Line directly from Nara Station to Osaka Station, which will provide access to all of the central attractions. The ride takes about 45 minutes and only costs $8. To get back to Nara, you can just reverse the exact same trip. You’ll find you’re not the only one with this itinerary, as this is a very common commuting route for Nara and Osaka locals. 

What’s the best way to store luggage in Nara? 

There are plenty of luggage storage options in Nara, such as lockers at transit hubs, museum cloakrooms, and your hotel concierge might all have a baggage room. While these aren’t terrible options, they won’t provide the same experience as a luggage storage service like Bounce. With locations throughout Japan, including dozens in both Osaka and Nara, Bounce offers the most convenient luggage storage facilities available. These partner locations (situated in transportation hubs or local shops like a convenience store) have been vetted to provide the most secure service possible, and they can be found and booked online via the Bounce mobile app. There are also extremely useful features like 24/7 customer support that will make the whole process a breeze.

What’s the difference between Kintetsu Nara Station and Nara Station? 

Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station, though they sound similar, are two entirely separate railway stations. They’re operated by different railway companies. Nara Kintetsu is a stop on the Kintetsu Railway Line, with services to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya. Meanwhile, JR Nara Station (as it’s called) is the major railway hub for the city as it’s operated by the much larger Japan Railways. 

Things to do near Nara Station

Tōdai-ji 

The vast majority of travelers are drawn to Nara to admire its magnificent Tōdai-ji statue. A traditional Daibutsu (a large statue of the Great Buddha), the massive Tōdai-ji is cast in bronze and surrounded by the wonderful Daibutsu-den hall. Each dates all the way back to the Edo period in the early 18th century. Over the centuries, both the hall and statue have withstood disaster and had to be repaired when damaged. At one point, an earthquake was so destructive the Great Buddha lost its head (note the discoloration at the statue's shoulders). You can visit the temple grounds for free, but access to the Daibutsu-den will cost about $15 (absolutely worth it). While the Great Buddha is infinitely Instagrammable, err on the side of caution by being as respectful as possible. 

Kasuga Taisha 

The Japanese have a knack for finding and cultivating tranquil spaces for both the appreciation of nature as well as contemplation. One of the most beautiful shrines in Japan is the Kasuga Taisha, which was built in the 8th century at the foot of a grove of Mikasa-yama trees. The Shinto shrine, per tradition, was rebuilt every 20 years until the 19th century when its present form was completed. Painted with an eye-catching vermillion, the shrine clashes wonderfully with its leafy surroundings and cedar roofs. The grounds are dotted with lanterns lighting the pathways during the morning and evening, and there's a biannual Mantōrō lantern festival where the town comes together to admire the shrine. 

Nara National Museum 

If you couldn’t get enough of the jolly old deity, Nara is home to one of the world's most renowned museums dedicated to Buddhist art. Nara’s largest museum features the largest array of bronze statues and sculptures in any one collection. There are 100 permanent butsu-zō (statues of Buddhas and bodhisattvas) along with temporary displays that travel between Buddhist sites. These temporary exhibitions become notable destinations for Buddhists, only adding to the appeal of the Nara National Museum. There’s a wide range of eras these works are from, with the oldest dating back to the 15th century BC (do the math, that’s old!). 

Airport travel from Nara Station

Kansai International Airport is the largest airport serving Osaka and Nara, and it’s easily the most common way international travelers reach Nara and the broader region, aside from taking the train from Tokyo. To get to Nara Station, you’ll need to take a combination of trains, with the trip taking just under two hours. You’ll start by hopping on the Kansai Airport Express "Haruka" Line to Tennoji Station. This costs about $12 and takes 30 minutes. From there, you’ll transfer to the JR Yamatoji Line (which is picked up on either Platform 1 or 2) towards Nara Station, which takes an additional 50 minutes and costs $10.

Getting around the city from Nara Station

How to get to Kintetsu Station from Nara Station 

Kintetsu Nara Station is the other major railway station serving Nara. It’s operated by the private Kintetsu Railway and has stops along the Nara Line, connecting the city with express routes to Osaka and Kyoto. If you’re taking an express Shinkansen through Kintetsu Station, you can simply walk from Nara Station. It’ll only take 11 minutes.

How to get to Kasuga Taisha from Nara Station 

If you’re heading to the expansive greenery of Kasuga Taisha, you’ll be able to get there pretty conveniently from Nara Sation. The Nara Kotsu Bus directly runs to Kasuga Taisha Honden (the park’s Main Hall where there’s a visitor center) or Kasuga Taisha Omotesando (the entrance near the shrine). The ride only takes 20 minutes and will cost $3. You can take a taxi ride for about $15, but it’ll only save you a few minutes and might not be worth the additional expense. Cabs can be hailed right outside the train station’s main entrance. If you want to walk, the short trek will take about 30 minutes, but you’ll pass through Nara Park and the main retail center of the city. 

Luggage storage near Nara Station

If you’re heading out to Nara from Osaka, either for a day trip or for a quiet weekend, you may find yourself in need of a place to stash the bags for a few hours. The best option for luggage storage Nara has would be a service like Bounce. With locations throughout Osaka and Nara, your logistics just got easier with plenty of convenient options and premium features that make storing your luggage with Bounce a breeze. Heading to Tokyo or Kyoto? Bounce has plenty of locations in each Japanese travel destination. Download the app to see where Bounce can take you next.