Nara Private Tours
Book a Private Nara Tour with a Local Tour Guide
Nara Day Trip Tours
Full-Day Nara tour from Kyoto with a private guide
Nara is a very beautiful and interesting city known by the old name of "Yamato". It was established as the first permanent Japan's capital in the year 710. There are a lot of historical monuments in this ancient city, such as Todaiji Great Buddha Hall, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple and so on. Nara"deer"park is also one of must-see areas. Let's walk around and play with the lovely deer!!
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
In Nara, eight Buddhism temples and Shintoism Shrines are included in the World Heritage as “Historic Monuments in Ancient Capital of Nara” as those represent close cultural exchanges between Japan and China, and even Hellenism culture in the 8th century. On this tour we will visit three of them in a day from Osaka.
Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
Nara is ideal for those who wish to see not only numerous historical structures but also to touch, feed wild deers roaming freely around in the Nara Park. There are 8 UNESCO heritages in Nara spotted sparsely in the historic regions which have full of rich tales in Nara period (from 710 to 794). Visiting 4 UNESCO heritages (3 temples and 1 shrine) in this tour in addition to one Japanese garden.
Full day Nara/Kyoto private guided tour!
We can meet at your hotel, either from Kyoto, Nara or Osaka? The plan would be to start from Nara. We will walk across the Nara park until the monumental Todai ji temple then move up nearby to the Nigatsu-do temple for an amazing view of the city. Then we can have some snack, or lunch at the most famous shopping arcade of the city. See some shops there if you want and then get the train(or train back) to Kyoto until the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the main Shinto shrine of Japan
Nara Highlights Tours
Your most memorable tour to Nara (Kyoto or Osaka departure)
In Nara deer Park, you can feed many cute wild deers. After playing with deers, you will go to Toudaiji Temple. You can see huge buddaha statue. Next, you will go to kasuga shrine After lunch, you will viist Koufukuji Temple and you can see a five-storied pagoda. Morover, based on your request, I will take you to other spots.
One day trip of Nara Park
-Nara Park is famous and known as Deer Park, and more than one thousand deer roam freely in the park.-Numerous important temples, shrines, gardens and museums are within minutes of one another within the park.-The most famous sites are Todai-ji temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and Kofuku-ji temple.-These temples and shrines were originally built in Nara period, 1,300 years ago.
Nara, the oldest capital in Japan, Walking tour
We'll visit Todaiji temple, one of the largest wooden structures in the world, Kasugataisha shrine whose god is believed to have come to Nara riding on a white deer, popular Japanese gardens if you like. We can enjoy pretty plum trees from late February to early March and cherry blossoms in spring. 1300 wild deer are roaming around in Nara park, where you can feed them deer crackers. In June Rokuen, the deer protection center, is open to the public, where mother deer feed their cute newborns.
Nara Highlights from Kyoto or Osaka
Nara is located about 40km south from Kyoto and 30km east from Osaka. It is an older capital than Kyoto and as old as Osaka. It was about 1300 years ago. There are ancient temples. Most of them are older than Kyoto and are not Zen temple. Nara is quieter than Kyoto and Osaka. More than one thousand friendly deer live with Nara citizens. And also Nara has a lot of local food like Sushi, Ramen and so on. You would be able to have unique experience.
Nara Art, Culture, & Historical Tours
One day tour in Nara
Highlights of the tour are feeding deers in Nara Park and overwhelmed by the great Budha, Daibutu. Tour also visits several historcal sites. As all historical sites are located in the Nara park, we will mainly walk through the park ( 5~8km ) The tour also can customized in line with the customer's interest, historical sites, cultural sites or shopping.
Let's enjoy walking around the ancient city called Heijyokyo or Nara established in 710.
Nara is the most ancient city in Japan. You can see one of the most biggest images of Buddha in Japan called"Daibutu-san", and You also see many deer roaming freely around in Nara park. We visit Kasuga-Taisya Shrine ,founded to protect the Heijyokyo, which is also the deity of Fujiwara family is enshrined.
Tour of the Great Buddha of Nara
(Highlights) The Great Buddha of Nara is a magnificent structure weighing some 500 tons. Originally built in 752 AD, the stature is 15.9 meters high excluding the pedestal and its face 4.8 meters long. Subsequently, it was damaged by natural disasasters, fires and wars and was repaired several times. It was completely rebuilt in the Edo period (1603-1867). You will be amazed at the splendid image of the Great Buddha calmly seated on the pedestal with the look of a perfect repose and passionless calm. His right hand shows mercy and left hand, the wisdom of the universe. The building housing this huge image, The Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, is the largest existing wooden structure in the world, having an area of 54 meters by 49 meters and a height of 45 meters. It was burned down by a fire twice, but was rebuilt in the Edo period. (How to enjoy) You will be amazed at how huge the Buddha image is. Immerse yourself in the solemn atmosphere it creates amid the odor of burning incense, wonder at the ancient technology and the wisdom and the devotion of people. After all, you will never end up not being deeply impressed with the aura the "Daibutsu-sama" Great Buddha emits. Everywhere around the Great Buddha Hall, in the meantime, you can enjoy mixing with tame deer which do you no harm but ask you for food, "shika-sembei", which is being sold at the nearby stalls for 150 yen a pack containing some 50 grams of the deer food. You will feel very happy feeding, stroking and hugging the cute animal whose number exceeds, perhaps, 100. (Others) The transportation fare between Kyoto and Nara on a Kintetsu train is 620 yen (plus 510 yen if you take a limited express train). The entrance fee to Todaiji temple is 600 yen.
Mixed Scenery with Towns and Temples, Nara
Enjoy the beauty of the temples in rural scenery and old townscapes. Ikaruga is Japan's oldest temple town, dating back to the 7th century. Even today, the pagodas from that time rise and create a beautiful rural landscape surrounded by mountains. Naramachi is within the grounds of a temple built near the Imperial Palace in the 8th century. Commercial and industrial houses lined its grounds from the Middle Ages, and the temples blended into the traditional townscape.
Nara Off the Beaten Path Tours
Asuka village 1 day tour ~the original landscape of Japan~
Asuka, the ancient political center, has been preserved. Not only historical structure such as Asuka dera, the oldest temple in Japan and "Ishibutai", mysterious huge stone tomb, but also tranquil village landscape must leave deep impression on you. "Tanada", terraced rice field, mountains and streams, old village houses will surely energize busy modern people. In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful village, experience traditional Japanese natural dyeing,and visit the farmers' market.
Walking along historical trail of Nara(3)
Yamanobe no Michi, "Old trail along the foot of the mountain" from Miwa shrine to Kasuga shrine, has been shown in the Kojiki," Records of Ancient Matters" the Japanese oldest history book ( beginning of 8 century ). The trip is a walking about the half of the trail between Tenri and Yanagimoto JR stations visiting historical spots including shrines and ancient tombs before 6 centuries
Uji-tea plantation visit
We will visit Wazuka village, the hometown of Uji tea, excellent quality of green tea. The landscape of tea plantations, built on the mountain slope, has 800 years of history. It was designated as the first scenic property of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as one of the Japan Heritages.
Walking along historical trail of Nara(2):
Nara area used to be a Capital of Japan for 80 years (Heijyoukyou;A.D.708-810).After transferring the Capital to Kyoto, Nara was remained as a center of Buddhism. Although many temples remained such as Todaiji and Kohukuji, many other temples have been established but abolished in its long history, then only stone Buddha images are remained as an evident of the history.
Nara Nature & Outdoor Tours
Asuka Walking or Cycling Tour
Asuka is the place where first unified state was established. It was a capital of Japan from 538 to 710. There are a lot of view point including ruins of the Imperial palace, ancient tombs, uniquely shaped stone structures throughout the area. You can enjoy the historical atmosphere and beautiful scenery.
Walking along historical trail of Nara(1):Samurai road
Walking along historical trail between Nara and Yagyu where was used to be the mecca of swordsmanship "Kenjyutu" during Edo era. As Yagyu family was a leader of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, one of the stile of Japanese swordsmanships, many samurais visited Yagu to learn the skill through the trail. You can enjoy such old trail thinking about samurai who were eager to improve the skill of swordsmanship.
Walking along historical trail of Nara (4)
Second part of the "Yamanobe no michi"..The trip is a walking the trail between Sakurai and Yanagimoto JR stations. As the old palace of emperor "Makimuku" ( Some researchers believe that the site might be the old capital of Japan in 3 to 6 century with active trades and communication with Wei Dynasty of ancient China (A.D. 3rd century) , you can enjoy older historical spots along the trail.
Full-Day Guided Tour in a Japanese Mountain: Yoshino, Nara
Come with me, certified interpreter-guide, to discover Yoshino, in the South of Nara prefecture! Surrounded by nature and inside mountains, Yoshino is the place to visit especially during the beautiful sakura season, better between April 13~15. But even out season, Yoshino is a high place of History, mostly with the Southern Imperial Court of Japan (14th century).
Nara Unique Experience Tours
Nara Park & Indigo dyeing experience
First we will visit Nara Park, where historic monuments and nature create calm and peaceful atmosphere. You'll see wild deer roaming hear and there. Walking in Nara-machi district will give us a chance to see an old merchants' houses.Then I will take you to an traditional indigo-dyeing studio and help you to experience it.
Indigo dyeing experience and Yakushi-ji temple visit
Ai-zome, or indigo dyeing used to be very familiar with ordinary Japanese people, especially in Edo Period(16C to 19C). The beauty of the color is highly valued as "Japan Blue". You will experience at a studio called "Konya", the fine renovation of an old merchant's house in Yamato-koriyama city, a castle town. After that you will visit Yakushiji Temple. .
Nara Kids & Family Friendly Tours
Nara Tour Reviews
Gerald D.
“Kind, knowledgeable professional ”
Kenji was punctual. Very kind & flexible with making adjustments to the itinerary on the fly. It was a most edifying & memorable experience overall
Kenji M.
Gerald-san, Thank you for your great review of my tour. I'm very glad that you liked my guiding and facinating spots we visited in Nara. I enjoyed myself spending a wonderful time with you and appreciate your attitude always to pay respect to our history, culture and society. If you have another chance to visit Japan, please let me know so as to offer any customized tour for you. Arigatogozaimashita Kenji
Brandi D.
“Kyoto and Nara Tour”
Masahisa (or Mike for short) was an absolute joy to spend our day with yesterday. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and kind, he was also very flexible! We had originally booked him to take us from our Kyoto hotel to Nara for the day, but we had a change of plans on our end and ended up staying in Kyoto until almost 2 pm. He pivoted and showed us around our area on foot, and then we took a taxi to an incredible museum with 1000 statues, then a food court and a Japanese department store. Finally we headed to Nara where he took us through the temple, got us crackers to feed the deer and took us to a cool visitors center to check out an earthquake simulator and to get out of the rain. We truly treasured our time with Masahisa—he shared so much with us about the Japanese culture and traditions. He was a wealth of knowledge and we are so grateful to have spent the day with him. I almost forgot to mention that he accompanied us from Nara (where he lives) to Osaka to make sure we made it to our hotel! He also put together a packet for us for our stay in Osaka. Above and beyond!! Thank you Masahisa aka Mike
Masahisa M.
Brandi Thank you so much for traveling all the way from afar the city I cherished deeply during my active years. Although the forecast predicts serene spring days starting mid-week, the weather in Kyoto during this transitional season from winter to spring can be quite unpredictable. This time, your tour happened to coincide with a cold and rainy day, and I was concerned about whether everyone managed to stay in good health. I sincerely thank for your long journey to visit us. I hope you continue to have a wonderful trip and that you return home safely with delightful memories of your family travels. Safe and enjoyable journeys to you all. Thanks Masahisa
Jane W.
“good guide for challenging job”
We asked Masahisa to plan two days in Nara and Kyoto while our cruise ship was in port in Kobe, for a 77 year old grandma (who was mildly mobility impaired) and an energetic 22 year old grandson. He was helpful, well organized, very informative and juggled our disparate needs and interests well. He took us to sites of interest to both of us, was very knowledgeable, answered all our questions, and found nice spots for grandma to sit and people watch or look at a slow pace while he and grandson visited more strenuous sites or saw extra attractions. Our two days were well worth it. Thank you Masahisa for a pleasant informative two days, and for the bonus earthquake demonstration in Nara.
Masahisa M.
Jane I hope you returned home safely. I was concerned that you might not have been able to fully enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto due to the constraints of the cruise ship's departure time. Although I have never visited Albuquerque, I have seen the grand spectacle of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on TV, which is held every October, where hundreds of colorful hot air balloons soar into the sky, attracting tourists from all over the world. Thank again for visiting us all the way. Thanks Masahisa
All Tours Customizable
Start By Messaging Your Guide
100% Private Tours
Just You and Your Local Tour Guide
Quality Assured Guides
Screened and Verified via Interviews