Nara is a historic city that you can visit from Osaka or Kyoto in under an hour. Its top attraction is Nara Park, where hundreds of friendly, bowing deer roam freely. You can get up close with these cute animals while exploring the park's beautiful scenery. Another must-see is the impressive Todai-ji Temple with its giant Buddha statue. The city also has a surprising number of great vegan food options like the vibrant lunch plates at Onwa, the tasty red bean mochi from Nakatanidou, and vegan black sesame ice cream sold right in Nara Park - the perfect treat to enjoy while watching the deer. Although this city can get quite crowded, it's well worth a visit.