兴福寺

Arrive early, ideally before 9:00 AM, to beat the queue at the goshuin stamp counter. There are around seven different stamps across the halls, and many visitors request five or six, so waits can stretch long once the crowds build. The temple is a short five-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station near Sarusawa Pond, and deer from Nara Park wander the area freely.

Check ahead on the restoration status of the Five-Story Pagoda, as scaffolding occasionally obscures it during maintenance periods. Morning light gives the clearest views of the architecture, while late afternoon shifts the mood considerably if you have flexibility.

Inside the National Treasure Hall, photography is not permitted.