Nara Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

“Tracing the pre-Nara beginnings of the Japanese State (and Sumo!)”

We had the pleasure of Makoto-san's presence and guidance for two wonderful days of visiting the Japan of the 3rd to 8th centuries (before Nara). Most tourists are interested in later periods, the Nara age (710-781) and the centuries when Kyoto was the capital (796-1868). But I'm a Japanese history buff, and wanted to see unusual places (tombs and other archaeological sites) that were important before that. Although Makoto said it was a first-time request, he obviously did exhaustive research on the topic, and created a perfect 2-day itinerary. He also learned enough about me to add some special places of interest (I'm a. fan of sumo wrestling, and it is supposed to have started in the area we toured.). His English was great, his work ethic spectacular, and his personality youthful and engaging. I would have awarded him more than Five Stars, if there were more stars to give. He knows his stuff, tries to know his clients, and went far beyond expectations for us. I'm so grateful for the memorable two-day visit we had to the Nara basin, thanks to Makoto-san!

“ 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!