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.
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
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
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 ②Kasuga grand shrine¥700 )
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.
The price of the tour includes the guide fee and the guide's transportation fee between home and the travel city.
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!
Scott M.
“Osaka,Kobe, Kyoto day tours.”
Michiko is the most amazing tour guide. Her lovely kind nature and exceptional knowledge of all areas and history is excellent. If you want a truly personal and easy experience, my wife and I could not recommend Michiko more highly. We will definitely be back to wonderful Japan and book with Michiko as she made our memories of Japan even more special.
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Michiko T.
Scott, Ramona, thank you so much for your wonderful review. We visited famous tourist spots in Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, but what truly touched me was how both of you enjoyed every moment and sought to understand not just the surface beauty, but our everyday life and the underlying culture and history. You taught me that sharing joy, happiness, and delicious food makes it all even sweeter. I’ll never forget your kindness and laughter. Enjoy the rest of your journey, too. Please come back to Japan and discover more hidden gems!
Hans L.
“A heartfelt and unforgettable experience with Michiko”
We had the great pleasure of spending two and a half days with Michiko — starting in Nara, then traveling by car to Kyoto. Together we explored both cities as well as a beautiful tea plantation along the way. Before our trip even began, Michiko had already prepared everything in detail. She arranged our sightseeing routes and even secured local train tickets that we, as visitors, would never have found on our own. Thanks to her, we discovered many hidden gems that made our journey truly special. Michiko perfectly represents the gentle and gracious spirit of Nara — calm, polite, and deeply kind. Though she is a quiet person by nature, her explanations at each site were thoughtful and rich in detail. She guided us not only through places but also through culture and history with great insight. On our last day, saying goodbye was truly emotional. Michiko had to travel more than two hours each way from her home in Nara to meet us in Kyoto, and she still took the time to help us find a taxi at the train station before leaving. She even gave me a beautiful silk scarf as a farewell gift — a gesture that deeply touched my heart. Michiko is not only an excellent guide but also a wonderful human being. Through her, we came to understand and love Nara and Kyoto even more. It was a truly memorable experience, one that we will cherish for a long time.
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Michiko T.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I feel truly fortunate to have been chosen as a guide for such a lovely couple as yourselves. Hans, I was impressed with your extensive knowledge and insight of Japanese politics, economics, and culture, gained from previous experience living here. Sharon, I was moved to see how you appreciated each moment with intelligence and rich sensitivity. I was also touched with your thoughtfulness. We hope this tour becomes a wonderful memory for both of you. Please do visit Japan again to discover more hidden gems. I wish you all the best!
Andrew B.
“Discovering Kyoto’s Quiet Corners with a Wonderful Guide”
My wife and I enjoyed a truly wonderful guided tour with Michiko-san in mid-October. Because Kyoto is so popular with visitors, we had asked Michiko-san if she might show us a few places “off the beaten path.” She crafted a thoughtful itinerary that included Gion Shinbashi, Nijō-jō Castle, and several lovely sites in the Arashiyama area. Apart from the Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama (which we especially wanted to experience, even knowing it would be crowded), every place she brought us felt calm and unhurried. I particularly appreciated this, as I had injured my knee shortly before our trip and needed a gentler pace throughout the six-hour tour. Michiko-san also arranged a delightful sushi lunch at a small restaurant in Arashiyama — a meal that remains near the very top of our list from our seventeen-day journey across Japan. Her kindness, attentiveness, and insights into each location enriched our understanding and deepened our appreciation of Kyoto. It was truly a five-star experience, and we are sincerely grateful to have had Michiko-san as our guide to this remarkable city.
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Michiko T.
Dear Andrew, thank you for your thoughtful and heartwarming review and the lovely photo you shared. It was my great pleasure to see how deeply you both cherish Japanese culture, history, and nature. I was also deeply impressed by how you savored each place and moment, enjoying your journey with such joy. I hope you'll come back to Japan again with Lisa sometime in the future!
$133/ per group
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