Nara Private Tour Guides

“ A Truly Exceptional Day in Nara with Nicolas — Highly Recommended”

What a wonderful day we had with Nicolas in Nara! From the moment we met, it was clear we were in the best possible hands. His warmth, attentiveness, and deep knowledge of Nara made our group of five feel completely looked after from start to finish. The weather was not on our side — it rained for most of the day — but Nicolas turned what could have been a difficult day into one of the most memorable of our entire trip. Without us even asking, he went out of his way to buy umbrellas for all of us and made sure each one of us had bottled water throughout the day. It was such a thoughtful, generous gesture, and it perfectly captured the kind of guide he is: genuinely caring, proactive, and deeply committed to his guests' comfort. Beyond the kindness, his storytelling brought Nara to life. He paced the day beautifully, adapted the itinerary to the weather without missing a beat, and made every temple, shrine and encounter — including the famous deer of Nara Park — feel meaningful. He listened, he laughed with us, and he treated each of the five of us as if we were the only people he was looking after that day. We cannot recommend Nicolas highly enough. If you are looking for a guide who will go far beyond the call of duty to make your day in Nara truly special, he is the one. All five of us left feeling incredibly grateful, and we will remember this day for a long time. Thank you so much, Nicolas — you made our day in Nara unforgettable, rain and all. — The Martins Group, Portugal

“A perfectly balanced and memorable day in Nara”

We were two couples, and we had a wonderful day in Nara with Michiko. She met us at our hotel in Kyoto, and from the beginning everything felt smooth, well organized, and easy. Even getting to Nara was part of the experience, as we combined the metro and a local bus, which made the day feel even more authentic and interesting. We started with a walk through Nara Park, where the many freely roaming deer are a special attraction in themselves. We also visited Kasuga Taisha Shrine and were lucky enough to witness a traditional wedding there, which made the visit even more special. After that, we visited the impressive Todai-ji Temple, entering through the famous gate with the two giant guardian statues. The temple was absolutely beautiful, and with the cherry blossoms in bloom, the whole setting felt unforgettable. Michiko also took us to an excellent local restaurant, where we sat on tatami mats around a low table and enjoyed a full table of delicious food. Later, we walked through the old part of town, visited a traditional Japanese house, and stopped at a small craft brewery, which was a fun and unique experience. What we appreciated most was how well Michiko guided the whole day. She was very organized, well prepared, and shared a lot of interesting knowledge and context throughout the day. She was respectful, always happy to explain anything we asked, and kept a very good walking pace, which suited us perfectly. At the same time, she always kept a careful eye on the group, helping us move smoothly through the crowds and see as much as possible. She also had a very good energy and was always ready to help, including taking photos for us. We had a fantastic time with her and would happily recommend her to anyone visiting Nara or Kyoto.

Michiko T.

(95 reviews)

Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I was truly happy to explore Nara with all of you on that beautiful spring day when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. You kindly shared your requests and interests before the tour, which was really helpful. Thanks to that, we were able to experience the many charms of Nara—both past and present—by visiting magnificent temples and shrines in the morning and exploring the local town in the afternoon. I’m also glad you enjoyed the taste of the salted cherry blossom leaves—you bought sakura mochi as souvenirs. How did they taste? Even after cherry blossom season ends, every time I eat sakura mochi, I’ll think of you, Domen and everyone. Please come back to Japan again and enjoy the diverse local cultures!

“Highly Recommended!!!”

Highly recommend taking a tour to see Nara Park with Miyu. The whole experience can be very overwhelming. First there is the overall size of the park (1600 acres), numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, and wild, bowing deer everywhere. For this reason, my family booked a private tour with Miyu. Miyu had everything planned out and guided us around the park. Never once did we have to pull out our phones to try to use Google Maps/Translate. Miyu expertly led us to see the temples and shrines - handling admission and leading us to see the best spots and must-see items at each location. She helped me with buying a Goshuincho and obtaining my first Goshuins. Miyu also helped my children with their Omikujis. For me the highlight was seeing and feeding the deer (although some can be quite aggressive). Miyu explained the process of feeding the deer and gave us tips to avoid being harassed by the deer. We were finished and leaving for lunch just as the park was beginning to become really crowded. Overall, we were very happy to have Miyu as our guide and were very satisfied with her tour of Nara Park.

Miyu S.

(14 reviews)

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It makes me truly happy to hear that your family had a great time in Nara. I’m glad I could help you navigate the park so you could focus on making memories together without worrying about maps or translations. Feeding the deer and getting your first Goshuin are such special experiences, and I’m honored I could be a part of them. Please let me know when you're back in Japan—I’d love to guide you and your family again!