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Offered languages
- English
Nara is less than an hour from Kyoto by car, but with trains, buses and a lot of walking it easily eats up a whole day. This private 6-hour tour picks you up at your Kyoto hotel, takes you straight to Nara’s highlights, and brings you back, with a guide who holds Japan’s national interpreter-guide license and drives the vehicle as well.
Start at Nara Park, where over a thousand free-roaming deer come up to greet visitors (deer crackers are sold on site). Walk to Todai-ji and its Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, then climb to Nigatsu-do for a sweeping view over the city. Finish at Kasuga Taisha, famous for its thousands of stone and bronze lanterns. If time allows, we add Kofuku-ji’s five-story pagoda on the way back.
The pace is yours: linger with the deer, take a longer lunch, or skip a stop if little ones are tired. Ideal for families and first-time visitors who want Nara without the logistics.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meeting Point Information:
Hotel pick-up: Please wait in the hotel lobby at the scheduled start time. Our guide/driver will meet you there.
Hotels without a driveway: If your accommodation does not have a driveway or car entrance, we may meet on the street directly in front of the hotel entrance.
Kyoto Station pick-up: The meeting point is in front of the central exit (Karasuma Central Exit) of Kyoto Station. Please look for your guide holding a sign with your name.
Airbnb/guesthouse stays: Please provide the exact address in advance so that we can confirm the most convenient meeting point nearby.
Itinerary
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1Nara Park
Home to more than a thousand free-roaming deer, Nara Park is the heart of the city and a must-see for visitors. Guests can enjoy feeding and interacting with the friendly deer, considered messengers of the gods, while strolling through the spacious park.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
2Todai-ji Temple
A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Japan’s most significant Buddhist temples. Visitors will marvel at the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), housed in the world’s largest wooden building, and learn about the temple’s cultural and spiritual importance.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
3Nigatsu-do Temple
Perched on a hillside within the Todai-ji complex, Nigatsu-do offers panoramic views of Nara city, especially beautiful in the late afternoon. Guests can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and admire the temple’s traditional wooden architecture.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
4Kasuga Grand Shrine
Renowned for its vibrant vermilion halls and hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns, this ancient Shinto shrine is deeply tied to Nara’s history. Visitors can walk through the lantern-lined paths and experience the shrine’s sacred ambiance.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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