[2025 Nara Attraction] Travel Guide for Ukimido Pavilion (Updated Jun)

🚃【Transportation Guide】 ✅ Kansai Airport → Nara: Take the JR Kansai Airport Rapid Line to Tennoji Station and transfer to the Yamatoji Line. The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours to reach Nara Station directly. Using an ICOCA card costs approximately JPY 2,480. ✅ City Transportation: Recommended to purchase the "Nara-Ikaruga 1-Day Pass" (JPY 1,800 for adults), which includes round-trip transportation from Osaka/Kyoto + unlimited rides on Nara buses, covering all attractions such as Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Todai-ji Temple. 🌸【Must-See Secret Cherry Blossom Spots】 1⃣ Nara Park (Deer & Cherry Blossom Overload) 📍Nara-shi Noborioji-cho 🌸 1,800 Somei Yoshino cherry trees form a pink carpet. Capture the moment of feeding deer under the cherry blossoms! Before 8:00 am, there are fewer people and the deer are calmer. Deer crackers (JPY 200/pack) are a must-have. 2⃣ Mount Yoshino, Thousands of Cherry Blossoms (Epic Flower Sea) 📍Yoshino-gun, Yoshino-cho, Nara Prefecture 🌸 30,000 mountain cherry trees bloom gradually from the foot to the top of the mountain. The Naka-Senbon area is the densest. Take the cable car to the observation deck at the summit to overlook the spectacular "Hitome Senbon" (a thousand cherry trees at a glance). 3⃣ Ukimi-do Hall (Mirror Image of Flowers and Water) 📍Takabatake-cho, Nara-shi 🌸 The hexagonal pavilion in the center of the lake is surrounded by weeping cherry trees. At sunrise, the lake reflects the cherry blossoms like a Monet painting. Highly recommend renting a kimono (JPY 4,500/day) for stunning photos. 🍱【Cherry Blossom Season Limited Food】 🔥 Edogawa Unagi Rice: Century-old restaurant's grilled eel with cherry blossom pickles. The aroma of eel oil + the sweet and sour cherry blossoms is a superb combination. Lunch sets start from JPY 3,800. 🍡 Shizuka Kamameshi: A must-try in Nara, Kamameshi with seven ingredients. During the cherry blossom season, they offer sea bream and cherry blossom tea rice. Average price is JPY 1,500 per person. 🍘 Nakatanido Red Bean Mochi: Freshly pounded mugwort mochi filled with hand-fried red beans. Cherry blossom season limited edition with cherry blossom salt. JPY 120/piece. 📸【Picture-Perfect Tips】 👘 Outfit Formula: Light purple lace furisode + pearl hair accessories, or light blue denim jacket + white dress. Avoid aggressive colors like bright red when interacting with deer. ⏰ Golden Hour: Nara Park is recommended for morning mist, cherry blossoms, and deer from 7:00-9:00 am. Ukimi-do Hall is best at 4:00 pm for backlit golden flower shadows on the lake. 🎞 Composition Tips: Low-angle shots to frame the deer and cherry blossoms together. Use wide-angle mode at Mount Yoshino to capture the full bloom. Toss cherry blossom petals under the trees for dynamic shots. ✨ Hidden Gem: "Night Cherry Blossom Garden" limited from March 25 to April 5. Kasuga Taisha Shrine's approach is specially lit at night. Wearing Hanfu/Kimono allows you to skip the line and enter a special photography area!

A magnificent ocean spot standing on a pond! ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ 📍 Ukimido, Nara 🚃1.3km from Kintetsu Nara Station 👟\Just a short walk from Nara Park! / ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ A little-known attraction?! Ukimido is just a short walk from Nara Park. The temple standing in the pond is very mysterious. There are not as many people as Nara Park I was able to take my time taking photos📷✨ There are also rowboats for you to enjoy🚣♀️ Sunset time is really wonderful. There are deer around, and it is a famous spot where you can be healed by nature. When you visit Nara, Japan, please visit Ukimido as well as Nara Park! ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ #Travel with me #Nara #Nara trip #Nara sightseeing #Photogenic spot #japan #japantrip #nara

Nara, where the leaves begin to fall, is a must-visit spot in Nara in the fall. Ukimido in Nara Park. Especially in the early morning, there are few people, it is quiet, and the sun is reflected on the lake surface, so you can see a very beautiful view. 📍Ukimido, Nara Park. Take the city loop bus from JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station to "Daibutsuden Kasuga Taisha-mae" and walk for 5 minutes. Visited on 2022.10.23 #Autumn trip #Amazing view #Nara #Autumn leaves spot #Nara

Sorry for repeating myself lol. Here is Ukimido and Sagiike again😂 The first photo is of the evening, just like the last time, but from this angle it has a different atmosphere✨ The second photo is also of Sagiike in the evening♪ The third photo was taken early in the morning. I was trying to take a photo of Ukimido reflected in the sun rising between Mt. Kasugayama and Mt. Wakakusa in the east, but unfortunately it was cloudy and I couldn't get a photo of the morning sun. However, the Ukimido and the autumn leaves around it against the dull, shining sky were still quite beautiful🍁✨ Access: 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station. #Autumn leaves #Nara #Breathtaking view

Ukimido again! I took a photo of Ukimido from the bank of Sagiike Pond through the stones 🪨♪ There were quite a few people rowing boats on Sagiike Pond. Most of them were couples and families 😃 The green, red and yellow trees against the blue sky were a very vivid sight♪ The second photo shows a deer munching on grass. The third photo shows the view of Sagiike Pond from the top of Ukimido. It was evening, so the setting sun was hitting the clouds and they were shining orange ✨ It was a mysterious sky...! Access: 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station #Autumn leaves #Nara #Breathtaking view

It's been a while since I last visited Nara Park♪ This time, I took photos of the autumn leaves around Sagiike Pond and Ukimido Hall🍁🤳 It was dusk. It was mid-November. The clouds bathed in the setting sun were shining orange against the clear blue sky✨ I took the photos with a wide-angle lens so they look a little distorted💦 Also, as you can see in the second and third photos, there were a lot of deer🦌 gathered there☺️ Nara Park in autumn. It's crowded with many tourists who come to see the autumn leaves. It's finally starting...! Access: 15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station #Nara #Autumn leaves #Free spot #Breathtaking view

It's been a while since I last visited Ukimido in Nara Park✨ This is a photo of Ukimido in the evening♪ The cherry blossoms were in full bloom when I took this photo. However, even if there are no cherry blossoms, the water surface and clear sky make for a beautiful scene even if there are nothing around. It was also lit up...! Entry is free, and it's a great place to access other tourist spots in Nara Park♪ I'll post a photo of Ukimido surrounded by Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms on another occasion☺️ Access: 15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. 10 minutes by bus from Kintetsu Nara Station bus stop #Nara#Twilight #Summer trip#Breathtaking view

Nara Park at night. You can see this Ukimido at Sagiike Pond in the park✨It's still beautiful during the daytime when the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are blooming, but I recommend early morning, evening, and night. If the weather is good in the early morning, you can take a photo of it with the sunrise, and the lonely atmosphere of the sunset in the evening is also wonderful♪ At night, the Ukimido and the trees around it are lit up! The illumination is open all year round from sunset to 22:00. The lit-up Ukimido shines golden✨You can also see a little bit of the illuminated cherry blossoms on the left side of the photo🌸 Access: Take the city loop bus from Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station to "Kasuga Taisha Omotesando" and walk for 5 minutes. If you walk from the station, it's about a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station♪It's quite far from JR Nara Station, so I don't recommend walking😅 #Nara#World Heritage Site #Breathtaking View#A Trip to Enjoy Spring#Hanami

Ukimido is a stunning temple that appears to float on the water's surface. Every spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it creates a picturesque scene reminiscent of a manga. Cherry blossom petals drift onto the water, forming an exquisite painting-like view. The atmosphere here is tranquil and serene, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll to embrace the arrival of spring. Starting from Kasuga Taisha Shrine, you can pass through dense primal forests to reach this place. Located in the hilly area on the southern side of the Kasuga Path, this is a quiet scenic spot with diverse terrain. After a tiring walk in the park, you can take a short break here, admire the reflections in the water, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings embraced by the forest, offering a soothing retreat for the soul.

#cherryblossom25 It's that time of year again — Sakura Season, my absolute favorite! Here’s a list of stunning cherry blossom spots around Kyoto and Kansai that have totally stolen my heart 💗✨ 🏯 Himeji Castle A lesser-known cherry blossom spot compared to busy Osaka and Kyoto, but top-ranked by Lonely Planet! It’s one of Japan’s three most famous castles, with elegant white walls surrounded by clouds of pink blossoms — totally dreamy and romantic 💕 🚄 Access: ~60 mins from JR Kyoto Station via Shinkansen ~45 mins from JR Shin-Osaka 15 min walk from JR Himeji Station 🏯 Hikone Castle (Shiga) Near Kyoto, this spot features a beautiful weeping cherry tree right at the entrance shrine — photo-perfect! As you explore further inside, you’re surrounded by full-bloom trees and can even spot Lake Biwa in the distance. 🚄 Access: 48 mins from JR Kyoto Station to Hikone Station 🌸 Sewaritei (背割堤) A local favorite for hanami! Even from afar, you’ll see a long stretch of sakura lining the riverbanks for kilometers. It can get crowded, but just walk a little deeper — there are plenty of peaceful spots for perfect photos 📸🌸 ⛩️ Fushimi Jukkokubune River Cruise A canal lined with cherry trees on both sides — you can stroll under the blossoms or take a traditional boat ride for the full experience. If you catch the sakura snow, the petals cover the water like a pink blanket 💕 🕰️ Tip: Morning visits are best, and boat rides need to be booked in advance! 🦌 Nara Park Aside from stunning sakura, you’ll find adorable deer under the cherry trees! For the most romantic view, go to Ukimi-do Pavilion where the lake reflects the falling blossoms like a dream 🌸🦌💕 🌸 Saho River (左保川) A lesser-known gem — this peaceful little river is lined with cherry blossoms for 7 kilometers, and you’ll hardly run into any tourists. Just calm, scenic beauty 🌸🌿 🏮 Hirano Shrine This shrine features over 60 types of cherry trees! Stroll through the blooms during the day, then stick around in the evening for illuminated night sakura and a charming little temple fair 💡🌸 🚃 Arashiyama Famous for both autumn leaves and sakura, this Kyoto suburb is packed with charm! Don’t miss the bamboo forest, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge. ✨ Bonus: Catch the Randen cherry blossom tunnel with a purple tram gliding through — like stepping into an anime scene 💜🚃 🚂 Keage Incline (蹴上インクライン) This abandoned railway is now a stunning sakura walkway. Walk along the tracks under a canopy of cherry blossoms — when the wind blows, it rains petals. Pure magic 🌸🚶♀️🌸 #travel

This is an octagonal (hexagonal) hall floating on the Sagi Pond in Nara Park. Its beautiful reflection on the water makes it a place of relaxation by the water. The current Ukimido was restored after three years of restoration work due to the deterioration of the old Ukimido. During the "Light Up Promenade Nara" period, it is lit up at night, creating an even more fantastic atmosphere. It is also close to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, so please take a stroll there as well. Facility name: Ukimido Address: Takabatake-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture Business hours: 24 hours Access: 5 minutes walk from the "Daibutsuden Kasuga Taisha-mae" stop on the city loop bus from JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station #Sakura2024 #YogayamaEnchi #CoupleTrip #SoloTrip #GirlsTrip #FamilyTrip #NaraTourism #Nara #DomesticTrip #Japan

Ukimido is an ancient Japanese hexagonal pavilion in the middle of the water with a long bridge to walk across to the pavilion. It is located in Nara Park, Nara Prefecture. When there is sunlight, you will see the beautiful reflection of the pavilion on the surface of the pond. It is a popular place to relax by the water and take pre-wedding photos for couples. Around the pavilion, there are boats to row in the pond. And when autumn comes, the maple trees will turn red. When looking from inside the pavilion, it looks like everything is dyed with red leaves. It is a very beautiful image. Especially in the evening when the sun sets, Ukimido pavilion and the evening sunlight are very suitable for taking pictures. 📍How to get there: Located in Nara Park, get off at Nara Station and walk for about 500 meters. #Changing leaves #Ukimido pavilion #Ukimido #VisitNara #Kansai attractions #VisitJapan #Winter travel #Nara Park #narapark

I went to "Ukimido" in Nara City, Nara Prefecture (((((((っ･ω･)っ A hexagonal hall with a cypress bark roof floating on the Sagiike pond in Nara Park (ˊo̴̶̷̤ ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ) Its reflection on the water surface is beautiful✿ﾟ❀.(*´▽`*)❀.ﾟ✿ It's in Nara Park, and there are deer around There are benches inside the hexagonal hall, so you can relax there and spend some quiet time (*´ω｀*) 🏍Ukimido🏍 Address: Takabatake-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture Closed: Open all year round Opening hours: 24 hours Admission fee: Free #Domestic travel#Touring #Touring trip #Nara Prefecture #Nara trip #Nara #Nara sightseeing #Nara Park #Nara trip #Ukimido