Nara Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“A wonderful experience with Yasu — highly recommend!”

While staying in Nara, we arranged two customized tours through Go with Guide, and our guide Yasu exceeded all expectations. He is knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely passionate about sharing Japanese history, culture, and customs — we learned so much from him throughout both days. Our first tour took us to Kyoto, which was bustling with tourists in April. Yasu struck a great balance, taking us to a couple of the iconic shrines and temples before steering us toward quieter, lesser-known spots away from the crowds. He also recommended a wonderful boiled tofu lunch in a peaceful corner of the city — a true local highlight. For our second day, Yasu crafted a fantastic itinerary centered around the Asuka area, which we explored comfortably in his car. In the morning we visited Hasedera Temple and Tanzan Shrine, both nestled in the mountains and a little off the beaten path — they were an absolute joy to visit. We also stopped at Asukadera Temple, home to Japan's oldest Buddha, and explored some fascinating prehistoric rock sites whose history remains a mystery even to scholars. Lunch was another special treat: sōmen, a local specialty of delicate, thin white noodles served chilled with a savory dipping sauce and fresh toppings. A perfect and memorable meal. On the way back to Nara, Yasu took us to Mahoroba Kitchen, a wonderful local produce market — a great find we never would have discovered on our own. He also went out of his way to stop at a Don Quijote store outside of town so we could pick up an extra duffel bag for our growing collection of souvenirs. That kind of thoughtfulness really set him apart. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. Yasu's expertise, creativity, and genuine care for his guests made both days truly unforgettable. Highly recommended!

Yasuhisa K.

(67 reviews)

Dear Carol and Wendi. Thank you very much for your nice reviews on the tour in Kyoto and Nara on 17 and 19 April. I am also very happy to know that you could enjoy the tours and able to accompay with such a nice couple as you. I could also observe that you who are the friends of bird watchers enjoy the nature in Kyoto and Nara. Hoping you continue to enjoy birdwatching trips in many parts of the world and in Japan. Yasu

“Incredible Day in Nara with Akira!”

We had the most wonderful day trip to Nara due to our tour guide Akira! Akira was flexible with the start time and met us directly at Nara station. He was funny, very knowledgeable, and kind! Akira shared with us many interesting facts throughout our tour, and walked us through the park in a very organized manner. We really enjoyed our time with him at the park and learning so much about the area’s history & how to behave with the cute deer.

Akira F.

(56 reviews)

Thank you so much for your kind review. I truly had a wonderful day with you in Nara. Although our time together was relatively short—just over four hours—I feel we made the most of it. We were able to see the key highlights of Nara and also had some great discussions about the early history of Japan. I genuinely enjoyed our conversations and the time we spent together. Thank you again, and I sincerely hope you’ll return to Japan someday so we can meet again.

“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.

(56 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.