Nara Golden Route (Todaiji, Kofukuji, Kasuga Shrine)

Day Trip

Hideo Y.

4.45(122) reviews
Kyoto
Japanese (Native), English
8 hours
Private tour (only you and your group)
Up to 30 people

Nara was the Imperial capital of Japan between 710 and 784 A.D. The city has many places of historical interest including Nara Park, Todaiji temple, Kasuga shrine, and Kofukuji Temple.

The Great Buddha Hall, the main hall of the Todaiji Temple, is one of the largest wooden structures in the world and the seated figure inside is the world's largest bronze image of Buddha.

Meeting Point

at your hotel

10:30 AM

Kofukuji Temple

It has the second tallest 5-stroried pagoda in Japan.

11:30 AM

Nara Park

You enjoy feeding deer crackers

12:00 PM

Todaiji Temple

The great image of Buddha in the Buddha Hall

02:00 PM

Nigatsudo

We command a panoramic view of Mara city from the second floor.

02:40 PM

Kasuga Great Shrine

You see a lot of bronze lanterns and golden lanterns.

03:30 PM

Nara Machi (lunch)

Old town

Ending Point

at your hotel

What to Expect

Nara was the Imperial capital of Japan between 710 and 784 A.D. The city has many places of historical interest including Nara Park, Todaiji temple, Kasuga shrine, and Kofukuji Temple.

The Great Buddha Hall, the main hall of the Todaiji Temple, is one of the largest wooden structures in the world and the seated figure inside is the world's largest bronze image of Buddha.

Guess how high the right hand of the gread image of Buddha is ?

Guess how many snail-shaped hairs Buddha has ?

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the largest Shinto shrine in Nara. This shrine is famous for its 2,000 stone lanterns and its 1,000 bronze lanterns which stand on both sides of the approach to the shrine. The lanterns are lit twice a year on the night of the Setsubun Festival and August 15.

Naramachi is an area which flourished as a prosperous town with many businesses and shops including ink production, linen textile, sake brewing and the like. The area still retains the nostalgic scenery of people's lives in the 19th century, especially in the narrow lanes winding around the area. Nara Craft Museum has a wide range of traditional Nara crafts such as itto-bori (wood carving), Akahada-yaki (ceramics), calligraphy brushes and inks.

You can enjoy Japanese foods such as kaiten-zushi (converyor belt sushi restaurant), eel and Japanese sweets for lunch.

In Nara Park, there are about 1,200 tame deer. Visitors can feed the deer with crackers sold at stalls in the park. They are believed to be divine messengers of Kasuga Shrine. The deer love the crackers so don't be surprised if you get surrounded by them!

Kofukuji Temple, which in 2010 celebrated the 1,300th anniversary of its founding, is famous for the Five Story Pagoda, the Nan-endo (Southern Octagonal Hall)and the statue of Ashura. The beautiful five-story pagoda is about 50 meters in height, the second highest pagoda in Japan.

By the way, have you ever heard of the statue of Ashura in the Kofkuji National Treasure Museum ?

Ashura is one of the most famous statues in Japan, especially very popular among women. Visitors will be able to see Ashura on open display, not behind a glass case.

Why don't you come see the Great image of Buddha, the tame deer and the statue of Ashura ?

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Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

guide fee

What‘s not included

transportation fee (you and guide), lunch, entrance fee

Important Information

I guide you Sapporo, Furano, Otaru, Hakodate in Hokkaido / Aomori in Hokuriku / Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Kagoshima in Kyushu / Kochi, Matsuyama in Shikoku / Tottori, Shimane, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato in Japan Sea side. Please get in touch with me!!

Thank you.

Cancellation Policy

  • Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
  • 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
  • No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Reviews

Justin S.

Mar 19, 2023

Great memories

We really enjoyed seeing Osaka Castle and Dotombori with Hideo. Had a great time!

Hideo Y.

We enjoyed watching fish such as puffer fish, grilled eel, big shrimps in Kuromon market. We could see early bloomers of cherries. I'm very glad to have a great time with your family. Please keep running for your health. I hope to see you again!

M

Megan B.

Mar 18, 2023

We love Hideo!

Hideo was thoughtful and interesting. We truly enjoyed our time with him.

C

Corrine P.

Feb 13, 2023

Experience guide

Hideo San is very knowledgeable, he had shown us nearly all major attractions. I had booked him for both osaka and kyoto tour.

Hideo Y.

I'm very glad to accept your good review. I also enjoyed guiding Osaka and Kyoto. I took you to Osaka Castle, Dotonbori in Osaka and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji, and Fushimi Inari Taisha in Koto. I wish you all health. Thank you,

G

Gary W.

Feb 10, 2023

Amazing tour with a guide so passionate and knowledgable.

Thank you for today, for such a wonderful experience, your knowledge and dates on historic events were outstanding. Your English was incredible. You were very friendly and answered any questions we had, as well as putting up with our sense humour -Thank you so very very much for a wonderful tour, we both really loved the food markets you took us too from being foodies and also the castle was such a highlight and amazing to see. We highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hideo Y.

I'm very happy to receive your excellent review. You were also very friendly and I could enjoy guiding Osaka with you. Kuromon Market is one of the three major markets in Japan along with Tsukiji in Tokyo, Nishiki in Kyoto. The fish caught in Osaka Bay are mainly sold. They are fresh fish such as puffer fish, shrimp, scallop, crab and the like. In Doguyasuji we see various kinds of plates, Takoyakiki, food sample and the like. Osaka has a lot of interesting spots. I wish you all the best for your good health. I hope you enjoy Japan trip! Thank you.

$231/ per group

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