春日大社

Plan on a solid half-day here. The approach runs through Nara deer park, where the deer roam freely and will walk right up to you, so keep snacks and loose papers tucked away. The path to the shrine is lined with over 3,000 stone lanterns, and comfortable shoes matter more than you might expect by the end.

If you want to extend the visit, the Man'yo Botanical Garden sits adjacent to the shrine grounds and makes a natural add-on without backtracking.