Nara Private Tours

“Best tour ever”

One of best tours ever. Akira is a walking encyclopedia for Japan history and shares great stories and does it in very passionate and interesting way. Our four hours tour of Nara went flying and we learned a lot . Definitely worth recommending.

Akira F.

(49 reviews)

was truly an honor for me to be your guide in Nara. First of all, I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with your family. You are such a warm and kind family, and I was especially impressed by your strong interest in Japanese history and culture. Because of that, our time together felt very meaningful — every moment of the tour was engaging and worthwhile. I was also very impressed by your children. They listened carefully and showed a great attitude toward learning and understanding things, even the small details behind them. Thank you again — it was a real pleasure meeting all of you. I sincerely hope we will have another opportunity to meet again in the future.

“Great time with Yoshi”

We spent 2.5 days with Yoshi at Nara and Kyoto area. The weather was mixed sun and rain but this doesn’t prevent the enjoyment and learning we recieved. Yoshi was previously a teacher which really helped him explain so clearly. Our highlights were all the gardens we gardened we experienced on the silver pavilion tour.,Amazing.

Yoshihisa T.

(281 reviews)

Hi Chris. Thank you so much for your kind comment on my tours in Nara and Kyoto. I am very pleased to learn that you enjoyed viewing beautiful gardens in Nara and Kyoto. I wish you two the bery best of luck. Yoshie

Sam F.

5 / 5

Apr 15, 2026

One day trip of Nara Park

Apr 15, 2026

Nara

6 hours

“Makoto gave us a splendid tour of Nara Park ”

My husband and I spent his birthday in Nara with Makoto, who was a pleasure to be with. Our guide skillfully set a strong pace to allow us to see and enjoy the sights on our itinerary while also threading the needle through the crowds. I am collecting goshuins, special stamps with calligraphy found at temples and shrines, and Makoto helped me locate the goshuin stations within the temple complexes. This is a fun keepsake of any trip to Japan and you can purchase a designated accordion notebook at your first religious sight. Makoto brought some very helpful educational papers for us to keep, helping us better understand the important history of this ancient capital and root of Japanese Buddhism. He also explained what we were seeing along the way and told us about the very colorful and interesting festivals, which even involve monks carrying a fiery torch of burning spruce through a wooden temple complex at night while crowds watch the sparks fly. Nara is full of ancient rituals that mystify the foreign visitor. Nara Park is a lovely and relaxing place to spend a day. We saw the Kofukuji Temple, the National Treasure House of Buddhist statues, the Todaiji Temple with the enormous wooden Buddha, the thousand beautiful lanterns at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Don't miss the dark room where it simulates night and the lanterns are all aglow. Of course we had the opportunity to meet, pet and even feed wafer crackers to the sacred deer, whom Makoto asked to bow. Many of the deer would oblige by nodding their heads. Makoto has a a good sense of humor -- he bought my husband a headband of deer antlers as a birthday present so of course Sam had to wear them through the park. Very cute! Makoto also arranged a gift of deer origami for him. We highly recommend Makoto as a knowledgeable and skillful.guide. He selected a very tasty Japanese restaurant for lunch. Our final stop in the park was a quiet garden where we took a few minutes to contemplate a Zen rock garden.

Makoto Y.

(130 reviews)

Dear Sam and Pringle, Thank you very much for your nice comments and message about Nara tour. Nara was the end of Silk Road and this is the reason why we see many mysterious sight, statue, and events. Still the background can not explain sometime. This is kind of ancient romance, which we could share in the tour. Therefore, I also enjoyed very much to guide you, who has keen interest in Nara. I have to apologize that I could not prepare the blossoming of wisteria this time. Please come back to Nara again. Thanks again for your choosing me of your guide. Please have a nice trip back to U.S. Makoto