Dear deer Nara! ~Nara Park & Nara-machi~
Joined 2017
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' townscape.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
at Kintetsu or JR Nara station
Todaiji temple (World Heritage)
Nara was an ancient capital of Japan(710~794), and the terminal destination of Silk Road, a trading road connecting the West and the East. Influenced by international culture, a great number of treasures, including historical structures, Buddhist statues and artifacts, miraculously remain here.
Especially, the quality of Buddhist statues is marvelous! For example, Nio-zo, A pair of statues of Guardian Deities in Todaiji temple has a lot in common with Statue of David by Michelangelo. I will guide you to see such world-class masterpieces.
Kofukuji temple (World Heritage)
Kasuga Grand shrine (World Heritage)
Nara-machi (old merchants' town)
I will take you to Nara-machi, an old merchants' town. We will drop by shops of local special products, such as hemp cloth, tea, Indian ink stick, sake(rice wine).
Ending Point
ar Kintetsu or JR Nara Station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee (18500JPY),
guide transportation fee from home to Nara (2000JPY)
your transportation fee on the tour (￥210～￥500）, lunch, entrance fee（①Todaiji temple ￥800 ②National Treasure Hall in Kofukuji temple ￥700 ）
Tour Important Information
This is basically a walking tour. So I recommend wearing shoes that are easy to walk in. If you have difficulty in walking, please let me know.
You are supposed to pay in cash for entrance fees at temples and shrines.I would like you to prepare some cash.
Important message from the supplier
The price of the tour includes the guide fee and the guide's transportation fee between home and the travel city.
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
Joined 2017
About Tour Guide Michiko T.
Hi, I'm Michiko.
I'm a national certified English tour guide.Since I was born and raised in Nara, I'm familiar with the sightseeing spots and attractions of Nara, and neighboring city, Kyoto.
Nara and Kyoto, old capitals of Japan, retain time honoured structures and art works. What is more, beautiful gardens and picturesque landscapes are always waiting for you!
I'm also a traveler who especially love to explore local foods and crafts, which have been passed down from generation to generation.
I'll try to guide you with best hospitality. When you have a chance to visit Nara,Kyoto and Osaka, please contact me anytime and join my tour!
I will be looking forward to seeing you.See you soon!
Reviews
Lou L.
“Wonderful day in Kyoto ”
Excellent tour with Michiko from start to finish. Prompt and clear communication from the first contact, Michiko was eager to tailor the day to our own requirements. She carefully planned the sights so that my husband (who has a knee injury) could enjoy the day without missing the main viewing points. The pace was very comfortable, even though we packed so much into our tour. Michiko’s knowledge and local insights meant we learned so much more than we would have with a larger group. The whole day felt like an enjoyable walk with a friend. I would highly recommend Michiko if you would like to see the very best Kyoto has to offer (and if you have the time I’d try the tea ceremony)!
Michiko T.
Thanks for the great review! I was happy to spend a beautiful spring day with such a gentle and gracious couple like you. Wherever we were, we could meet cherry blossoms, which made our tour more colorful. Both you and Paul have rich sensitivity in traditional culture and nature, and I was glad you appreciated what you saw and experienced during the tour. I hope you'll enjoy a cup of green tea once in a while and remember Japan!
William T.
“Great full day in kyoto”
Had a great private tour with our new friend Michiko. We felt like we were being shown around by a personal friend. She adjusted the tour to fit our schedule and must sees along with some quiet not so visited spots. Truly a highlight of our Japan trip. I would highly recommend her for Kyoto and any areas she would do.
Michiko T.
Thank you for the wonderful review. It was my great pleasure to have 1-day tour on your wedding anniversary! I was impressed by your insights on Japanese history, culture and our way of life. Although it was a little earlier for Sakura cherry blossoms, I was so glad to share the moment to eat Sakura-mochi at a 400-year-old Japanese shop with such heartwarming friends like you! I hope to see you again!
Sam H.
“Michiko is amazing ”
We cannot recommend Michiko highly enough. We recently spent a day and a half with her in Kyoto and she was so thoughtful and engaging. Michiko brought Kyoto alive for us. Her English is excellent and she is so well informed and very professional. We thoroughly enjoyed our time her looking at all the magnificent sites and gardens. Michiko is amazing.
Michiko T.
Thanks for the thoughtful review! I am so lucky to have such wonderful guests like you two. I had felt that this tour would be something special for both of you, and I am so glad that you loved the places and experiences, including the Japanese apricot garden. I was also impressed that you liked to see not only traditional Japanese culture, but also the current life of Japanese people. I won't forget your jokes and smiles! I wish you all the best!
$139/ per group
More tours by Michiko T.
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.
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.
Nara park & Wazuka tea plantation visit
In the morning, we will visit Nara Park, Todaiji temple, Kasuga grand shrine. You will have a chance to see, take photos and feed deer. After lunch, we will have a short trip to 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.
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.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Nara
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.
