A grass-covered hill above the city with panoramic views of Nara and the temples; mountain admission ~250 ¥. In January it hosts the spectacular Yamayaki, the ritual grass burning with fireworks.
Mount Wakakusa (342 m) is a grass-covered hill that rises east of Nara Park and offers one of the best panoramic views of the city: from the summit you can see the rooftops of Tōdai-ji, the Kōfuku-ji pagoda, the old town and, on clear days, Mount Ikoma on the border with Osaka. The climb takes about 30 minutes on well-marked trails and is accessible to people in good physical condition. Admission to the mountain costs 250 ¥. It opens from mid-March to December (check exact dates on the official website, as it may close due to bad weather). In January, every fourth Saturday of the month, the mountain is the star of the spectacular Yamayaki festival: the 33 hectares of dry grass on the whole hillside are burned in a night-time ritual accompanied by fireworks that can be seen from all over the city. The ceremony begins around 18:00 and the burning lasts approximately 30 minutes; the spectacle is visible from Nara Park, near the Kōfuku-ji pagoda, which is the most popular viewing point. The entrance to the mountain is at the eastern end of the park, next to Tōdai-ji. Wear hiking or sports shoes, as the terrain can be slippery after rain.
