Store your luggage around Nara with Bounce 

International travelers will have their hands full when visiting Tokyo, so few make it out outside the world’s largest city when visiting Japan. The travelers who get to explore further afield are delighted with the distinctive cities they experience. One of these travel destinations that’s worth a visit is Nara. 

Nara is situated just to the east of Osaka and south of Kyoto, which makes it the perfect stop on a trip to Japan’s non-Tokyo cities. It’s one of the most historically significant places in Japan (and that’s saying something), with a number of imperial palaces and temples located within the city center. 

Nara is, perhaps, most famous for its iconic deer at Nara Park. The Japanese revere these woodland creatures for being the messengers of the gods, which adds a spiritual element to the tranquil oasis. This expansive green space is a must-visit, and it’s located just outside the city center and is very easy to reach. 

While the temples and parks are serene and comforting, there’s also plenty of culture in Nara to be had. Nara’s restaurants are incredible, and there’s a surprising nightlife scene to enjoy. The shopping in Nara is as solid as it gets outside of Tokyo. In other words, you won’t lack for things to do in this city. 

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Nara: 

Nara, like other Japanese cities, is sprawled out and interconnected by the hyper-efficient public transportation system. Still, getting around does require some logistical planning, especially if you’re traveling with plenty of luggage. The storage lockers at transportation hubs like Jr Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station can be reliable but not always convenient given the location. If you’re popping around the city, you’ll want to find a secure place to store luggage.

The best luggage storage service in Nara is easily Bounce. With locations around the city, it’s easy to find a storage spot to drop the bags off with Bounce’s intuitive mobile app. There’s also 24/7 support, and the partners and shop owners who look after the bags are incredibly friendly. Bounce vets these facilities and their attendants to ensure quality, and there’s also the BounceShield guarantee, which provides the peace of mind you need to enjoy your trip.

The city is dotted with amazing palaces from early-imperial eras. There are also many large Shinto shrines throughout the city to explore. Nara residents and visitors are spoiled with the number of landmarks to visit, with plenty of UNESCO-listed heritage sites. The top sites are Heijo Palace, Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, but there are countless others in and around the city. 

Outside of temples, shrines, and palaces, Nara is a modern city with plenty of cultural appeal. Of course, the food is incredible, with Japanese curry, ramen, Izakaya, and other delights on offer at the diverse restaurant scene in Nara. Japan offers fashionistas and shopping fanatics a unique and pleasant experience, and Nara is no different. There are modern and traditional shopping destinations to explore for buying anything from souvenirs to upscale designer brands. 

There’s a lot to unpack in Nara. Here are a few ideas for where to start: 

Nara’s most popular landmark is also one of the most significant temples in all of Japan. The massive main hall is actually the largest wooden building in the world, with a vast interior filled with important artifacts like the imposing 50-foot bronze Buddha statue. There’s a portion of Todaiji that is free to visit, but it’s worth the price of admission to see the whole temple, especially the balcony with views of Nandaimon Gate and the surrounding landscape. 

Situated on the western edge of Nara Park near the city center, this is the perfect stop paired with an afternoon trip to the park, and even better if the weather doesn’t cooperate. This massive museum features hundreds of archaeological exhibits and artifacts detailing Japanese history as well as Nara-specific subjects. The real strength of Nara National Museum is its fabulous collection of Buddhist paintings and statues. 

If you’re in Nara Park and want to take a break from watching those adorable deer, head to this Shinto shrine for a contemplative moment. Surrounded by trees and foliage, Kasuga Taisha is famous for its thousands of lanterns made of bronze and stone. The grounds around the shrine are delightful to stroll through, with pathways and gardens to explore, and when the lanterns are lit, there’s an otherworldly beauty to behold. Its simple but elegant interior and courtyard can be entered, but there aren’t any formal tours of the Shrine.  

If you’re planning on spending a few hours visiting museums and landmarks on your travel day, you’ll want to find a secure spot to store the luggage. While there are plenty more lockers at museums in Japan than there are elsewhere, these aren’t always the best option, and temples and shrines won’t have any of these amenities. Luckily, Bounce has locations near the best landmarks and museums in Nara.

This bustling street is the primary shopping destination in the city. It’s situated right in downtown Nara near the transit hubs and best hotels, and you’ll find all the best international brands have a presence on this street. Don’t skip the street food, either.

Visiting this historic neighborhood is like traveling back in time a few decades to Endo-era Nara. This maze of narrow alleyways and streets is lined with quaint cafés, restaurants, and plenty of shops selling everything from traditional Japanese clothing and goods to antiques. Some of the older buildings have been converted into contemporary boutiques for local designers as well. 

If you’re taking the train into Nara Station, this covered shopping arcade is the perfect stop if you want to poke around for designer clothing or souvenirs. 

With Nara’s sprawling cityscape and extensive public transit network, you can really go on quite a shopping spree. Don’t let the bags get in the way; find one of Bounce’s luggage storage spots near your next shopping destination and leave the bags to a dedicated staff.

Japanese curry is absolutely worth tasting, especially for international travelers who might not find it at home. These are rich, hearty curry flavors that will taste different (much less spice) from South Asian curries, but they are no less delicious, especially when paired with katsu (breaded pork or chicken cutlets). Wakasa Curry Honpo is situated in a small shopping arcade that’s sandwiched between Naramichi and downtown Nara and is perfect for a cheap but delicious lunch. 

Izakaya are the Japanese equivalent of neighborhood pubs that serve great food. They’re everywhere in Nara, but the best one is Kura Izakaya, with inventive takes on the classic meat skewers and noodle dishes that are cornerstones in Japanese bar food. Their prices are incredibly reasonable, given the quality of the food, so you might want to stick around for a few beers. 

Eel is, to most cultures, an exotic dish that only the most adventurous eaters ever try. In Japan, it’s about as common as buffalo wings and viewed as a comfort food served at restaurants that specialize in unagi. Edogawa Naramachi is the best place in the city to try eel, with an approachable menu of noodles and other dishes to fall back on should your courage falter…

Bringing heavy bags and other items to dinner is considered rude in any country, and certainly in Japan (they condone the slurping of ramen, not cumbersome luggage in a small restaurant). Bounce’s storage spots are placed in the best nightlife and dining hotspots, so you’ll be able to drop the bags off on your way out.

The best luggage storage Nara has to offer is available through Bounce, which also has you covered in amazing travel destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Yokohama. There are useful travel guides for each of these amazing cities, and you won’t find more reliable luggage storage than Bounce in each of these places. If you’re exploring Japan, just know you can rely on Bounce in just about every corner of this amazing country! 

Top 3 Bounce luggage storage locations in Nara

3 most popular storage locations out of 11 in Nara