Heijo Palace Site

UNESCO World Heritage

平城宮跡

The capital Heijo-kyo was built where Nara City is today, about 1,300 years ago, and Heijo Palace was its center. It was home to the Imperial Palace and the government district. Buildings such as the Daigokuden (Imperial Audience Hall) and the main gate, Suzakumon, have been rebuilt, and a museum shows how the capital was built and how people lived. The wide site is open for everyone to enjoy on foot. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara".

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Visitor information

Opening hours

Most facilities, including Daiichiji Daigokuden, are open 9:00–16:30 (admission until 16:00). The Information Center is open 9:00–17:00 (admission until 16:30).

Closed

Facilities close on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a public holiday) and during the New Year holidays.

Admission

Admission is free.

Getting there

By bus: 16 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara Station (stop No. 11) or 10 minutes from the West Exit of JR Nara Station (stop No. 13) to "Suzakumon-hiroba-mae".

About a 20-minute walk from the South Exit of Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji Station to Suzaku-mon Gate, or 6 minutes by bus.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

Parking is limited, so public transport is recommended.

Tips for Muslim visitors

The reconstructed palace buildings are free to enter and accessible by wheelchair and stroller.
The Suzaku-mon Hiroba Square area has a restaurant and cafe (Tempyo Umashikan) and a rest area (Tempyo Mitsukikan). No halal information is given.
Museums are quiet, indoor places that are good for a break, but few have a prayer room. Staff may let you use a quiet corner if you ask politely.
Photography rules change by exhibition. Check the signs before taking pictures.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Nara and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.