Heading to DrupalCon Asia 2025? Don't Miss the Magic of Nara

DrupalCon Asia 2025 is just a weekend away and the ancient capital of Japan is all set to welcome its visitors. Converging Japan's rich past with serene nature, Nara offers the perfect tranquil destination for a community-led open-source event. While the sessions, discussions, networking and events at DrupalCon Nara will lead the charts, leaving without exploring Nara, an old soul transcending years of Japanese history, would be a missed opportunity. Just an hour away from both Kyoto and Osaka, Nara is an easily accessible location and rightly sets the stage for one of the biggest conferences of Drupal. 

The organisers of DrupalCon have devised a wonderful yet unconventional plan to spike the intrigue of the attendees of DrupalCon Nara, a Treasure Hunt! Starting at 11am, 16 November, its not just a game but an adventure through the heart of Nara, learning about it. For just AUD $30 per person, you'll experience Nara in a way that no guidebook could ever offer, creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

If at all, you cannot reach in time for the Treasure Hunt or you would like to explore Nara on your own, please don't miss out on the following places.  As mentioned, Nara is the first permanent capital of Japan and boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites capturing the cultural heritage of Japan.

NARA PARK (奈良公園, Nara Kōen)

Established in 1880, Nara Park is a large central park in Nara. It is also the location of many of Nara's main attractions such as Tōdaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kōfukuji and the Nara National Museum. Home to over 1,000 sacred deer, considered the messengers of the gods, it is a national treasure. These gentle creatures roam freely in the grounds and have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. Although, it is important to feed deer only the official shika senbei (deer crackers) from authorised vendors. The park also shelters age-old shrines and hushed woodland paths, opening to mountains that glow with soft cherry blossoms in spring and burnished leaves in autumn.

TODAIJI TEMPLE (東大寺, Tōdaiji, "Great Eastern Temple")

The magnificent Tōdaiji Temple is one of the landmarks of Nara, which houses the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. Located in the northern part of Nara Park, Tōdaiji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples. 

KOFUKUJI TEMPLE (興福寺, Kōfukuji)

Kōfukuji used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan during much of the Nara and Heian periods. The temple was established in Nara at the same time as the capital in 710. Please note that the temple's five-storey pagoda is undergoing extensive renovation works from July 2023 until March 2031, during which the pagoda is covered up.

KASUGA-TAISHA & KASUGAYAMA PRIMEVAL FOREST

Found at the south-eastern edge of Nara Park, Kasuga-taisha sits at the foot of Mount Kasuga, surrounded by thousands of stone and bronze lanterns. Behind it stretches the sacred Kasugayama Primeval Forest, untouched for centuries and rich in wildlife.

GANGŌ-JI TEMPLE (元興寺)

Located in the historic Nara-machi district, just south of Nara Park, Gangō-ji Temple is an often overlooked treasure with many secrets tucked behind its modest exterior. Though deceptively simple from the outside, the temple shelters remarkable mandala artwork and mischievous ogre statues scattered throughout its halls and grounds, offering quiet reminders of its ancient, storied past.

YAKUSHIJI TEMPLE (薬師寺)

Located in the Nishinokyō area on the western side of Nara, Yakushiji Temple is renowned for its graceful East and West Pagodas and its devotion to Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha. The temple’s symmetrical layout and elegant architecture reflect strong influences from ancient Chinese design, creating one of the most striking sacred spaces in the city.

TOSHŌDAIJI TEMPLE (唐招提寺, Tōshōdaiji)

Another gem in the Nishinokyō area is Toshōdaiji Temple, founded by the Chinese monk Ganjin and celebrated for its stately Golden Hall and serene, spacious grounds. The temple’s calm atmosphere, wooden halls and centuries-old artefacts offer a quiet retreat that reflects the spirit of monastic discipline and cultural exchange in ancient Japan.

HEIJO PALACE

When Nara once flourished as Japan’s capital, it was called Heijō-kyō, with the grand Heijō Palace stretching nearly a kilometre in every direction. Within its vast courtyards stood the emperor’s residence and the heart of the nation’s early governance. Today, the palace site is honoured as one of Nara’s World Heritage treasures, a quiet expanse where the echoes of an ancient capital still linger in the air.

Along with these attractions, your visit to Nara will be incomplete without trying the iconic kakinoha-zushi (sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves) and warm bowls of udon, and go slow on the sake. Nara is an experience away from the bustling city, from hands-on calligraphy sessions to serene tea ceremonies, it welcomes visitors to experience traditions shaped over centuries. Wander through artisan boutiques filled with hand-dyed textiles, lacquerware and the famed Nara brushes, each created using skills carefully preserved across generations.

Borrowing the words of the organisers:

"DrupalCon 2025 in Nara isn’t just a conference, it’s an immersion into the elegance, history and harmony of Japan. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, Nara promises an experience that stays with you long after the final session ends."

Do cherish your time in Nara and let The DropTimes know the updates of your DrupalCon Nara 2025 experience at [email protected] with images. Happy DrupalCon!