Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
Joined 2017
Nara is ideal for those who wish to see not only numerous historical structures but also to touch, feed wild deers roaming freely around in the Nara Park. There are 8 UNESCO heritages in Nara spotted sparsely in the historic regions which have full of rich tales in Nara period (from 710 to 794). Visiting 4 UNESCO heritages (3 temples and 1 shrine) in this tour in addition to one Japanese garden.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto or Nara
At your hotel lobby
To meet you at your hotel lobby, with Gowithguide welcome sign board your name on. Followed after brief tour orientation, we start the tour of the day
Kofukuji Temple
We take you to Osaka METRO station to lead Kintetsu Namba station whichever METRO station closer to your hotel. If you stay in Nara, we can save 45 min travel by train to Kintetsu Nara station. 10 min walk from Kintetsu Nara station to Kofukuji Temple through old temple town, Higashi-muki shopping arcade.
Isuien Japanese Garden
10 min walk from Kofukuji Temple on the way to Todai-ji Temple
Todai-ji Temple
5 min walk from Isuien Japanese Garden to Todai-ji Temple, through Nara park where 1,300 wild deers roaming freely around.
Kasuga Great Shrine
15 min walk from Todai-ji Temple to Kasuga Great Shrine
End of this day tour at your hotel in Osaka. Will arrive at your hotel earlier if you stay in Nara.
Ending Point
At your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto or Nara
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
Included:
*Guide fee
*Hotel pick up fee in Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe)
*Travel expense as required for the guide to travel with customers by means of public transportation such as train, subway, bus.
Travel expenses for the guide included herein are limited within Kansai district (Kansai district = City of Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe)
*Admission fees, tickets for the guide as might be incurred at temples, shrines or the like.
*Meals, drinks or the like for the guide during the tour
*Any tax or the like as might be incurred by the guide in Japan
*Gratuity
Not included:
*Fees to cruise river or sea or the like for the guide
*Tickets for Universal Studio Japan, museum or the like as might be required for the guide at private or public museum, entertainment
facilities.
Tour Important Information
Messenger of deity of Kasuga Great shrine, 1,350 deers welcome you all the tour long in Nara national park. First stop is Kofuku-ji temple which was founded by Fuhito Fujiwara in 710 during Nara period where the five-storied pagoda is a symbol of Nara national park viewed over Sarusawa Pond. Next is a short walk to a Japanese garden, called Isui-en (on the way to the Todai-ji temple) is also a must-to-see scenic spot. The third stop is the main attraction in Nara i.e Todai-ji temple, the largest wooden structure in the world, built in 752 and 2.8 million people took part in to construct, houses the 15 m tall Great Buddha statue. Fourth stop is Nigatsudo Hall which stands close to Todai-ji temple where the water-drawing ritual ceremony is being held in every March since 752. Last stop is Kasuga Great shrine which is a national shrine founded to protect the Heijyo-kyo, the new capital of Nara (form 710 to 794). 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns are lit in February and August there and it brings you date back the time of the ancients.
* A scenic tour exploring, touching and feeling the area in 8th Century in Japan, a birth district of
Japan.
* A surprise greeting by wild deers
- IMPORTANT -
Not suitable for tours with infants, children, wheelchairs and strollers.
Be quiet and respectful in Temples and Shrines complex
Remove hats and sunglasses in front of main sanctuary in Temples, Shrines
Not to touch old buildings, old remains and objects
Not to take pictures where prohibited in Temples, Shrines complex
Take your shoes off before stepping on tatami
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 Masahisa M.
Lived in Chicago (5 years), Toronto (1 year), Singapore (2 years), Indonesia (4 years) and Birmingham, UK (11 years) to construct business platform, now retired after 40
years employment in Japan. Dynamic tour guide who develops many different ways along with rich experience overseas to entertain large or small tour groups. Enjoys the interaction with tour groups, very strong group presentation and communication skills, finds each guest question as an opportunity to learn anything new. Constantly learning information about each tour spot to enhance tours. Guided 8,665 guests all over the world across Japan as of Sept 30, 2024 since Feb 2015.
Reviews
Alexander P.
Explore Kyoto City by visiting Fushimi (Shrine, Sake Brewery and Boat)
“Great experience in Fushimi area! Really nice view in Tofukuji Temple”
Thank you Masahisa for great tour and review of nice places! Good and accurate tour schedule, helpful guidance and interesting cultural insights. The day was filled with stunning sights. Fushimi Inari Shrine is really popular place with a lot of tourists, but we were able to see nice view, and Masahisa provided interesting facts and history. Sake Brewery was interesting place with tasting experience and a lot of exhibits \ details of brewing process. The Tofukuji Temple surprised me for its beautiful gardens, especially during autumn, we were a bit early to view red maples, but still catched some of them. Also this temple was not so crowded. The serene atmosphere and the views from the temple’s bridges overlooking the gardens were incredibly peaceful. Overall, the tour in Fushimi was amazing, offering a perfect mix of culture, history, and natural beauty.
Masahisa M.
Alexander Hi, thank you once again for traveling such a long way to visit Kyoto and wish you safe return home with beautiful memory. At Tofukuji Temple, perhaps due to recent climate changes, the autumn leaves have been changing color later than usual, and it is regrettable that you were unable to see the deep crimson foliage this time. Please do visit us again. Thanks Masahisa
Saulius P.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
“I had a wonderful visit and learned a great deal about areas of interest”
Mr. Masahisa M. proved to be a highly intelligent and knowledgeable professional. Especially noteable is his command of both the Japanese and English languages alongside his willingness to share his wisdom. He is also very accomodating and happy to alter plans in order to enhance the tourist's experience. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting the area. Saulius Ploplys
Masahisa M.
Saulius Hi, regarding your request, I plan to start by sending the provided. materials to local sword appraisal experts to see if I can obtain any clues. I anticipate that this process will take sometime, but I will keep you updated on the progress. Thanks Masahisa
Annemarie W.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
“A wonderful day in Kyoto guided by Masahisa (Mike) Makino”
Mike met us at our hotel and whisked us off for a fantastic tour, focusing on all of the places we most wanted to see in Kyoto. He shared rich and invaluable historical, cultural and social insights that greatly added to our enjoyment of this trip. His thoughtfulness, generosity and sense of humour greatly enhanced the day for us. We couldn't have asked for more and highly recommend him!
Masahisa M.
Annemarie I, too, had a wonderful day. I was drawn to Tara Hill by Vivian Leigh's lines, and I remembered being astonished by the "Beware of Fairies" traffic sign when driving through the forests of Ireland, also the mishaps I made at the Guinness Storehouse, and the movie "The Quiet Man." Please not to forget the rain check I promised you the next time you visit Japan. Thank you again for traveling to us from such a long way. Thanks Masahisa
$254/ per group
More tours by Masahisa M.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakutou (East district) and Central district. Visiting Rakutou, Gion, Yasaka-jinja shrine, Kodai-ji temple, Kiyomizu-dera temple are the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto. Particularly well known for the deity of love and marriage in Rakutou area.
Exploring Kyoto in Rakusai (West) and Rakuchu (Central)
Kyoto is known as exotic sightseeing places and numerous historic, quaint old monuments are seen all over the town. This tour covers part of Rakusai (West district) and Central district. Visiting Rakusai , Tenryu-ji temple represents the Kitayama culture. Nijyo-jo castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace in Rakuchu (Central district) are the cultural center during Heian, Momoyama and Edo periods.
Exploring Osaka
8,000 years ago, Osaka slept under a large seashore lake. This city of lake later turned to a city of smoke and eventually grew into the 2nd key international city after Tokyo. Birth place of industry in Japan, such as bank, insurance, steel, machinery, spinning, medicine, ship building, electrical appliance, etc. Touching days of Osaka ,Then and Now.
Exploring Kobe, Hyogo
Kobe come to a vital life again from intense earthquake that hit on Jan 17, 1995. Kobe always creates us a resplendent, exotic mood that the cosmopolitan city has. The old foreign settlement where sophisticated modern architecture still remains upper town must be the reason to ferment that atmosphere and give the period of cosmopolitan flavor. At Meriken Wharf, you can hear the whistles of ships and touch cultural history in this city.
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Nara
Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
In Nara, eight Buddhism temples and Shintoism Shrines are included in the World Heritage as “Historic Monuments in Ancient Capital of Nara” as those represent close cultural exchanges between Japan and China, and even Hellenism culture in the 8th century. On this tour we will visit three of them in a day from Osaka.
Full-Day Nara tour from Kyoto with a private guide
Nara is a very beautiful and interesting city known by the old name of "Yamato". It was established as the first permanent Japan's capital in the year 710. There are a lot of historical monuments in this ancient city, such as Todaiji Great Buddha Hall, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple and so on. Nara"deer"park is also one of must-see areas. Let's walk around and play with the lovely deer!!
Full day Nara/Kyoto private guided tour!
We can meet at your hotel, either from Kyoto, Nara or Osaka? The plan would be to start from Nara. We will walk across the Nara park until the monumental Todai ji temple then move up nearby to the Nigatsu-do temple for an amazing view of the city. Then we can have some snack, or lunch at the most famous shopping arcade of the city. See some shops there if you want and then get the train(or train back) to Kyoto until the Fushimi Inari Taisha, the main Shinto shrine of Japan
Full-Day Nara tour from Kyoto and Uji Green Tea Town
On this tour, we will visit Nara and Uji Green tea Town. Nara was established as the first permanent Japan's capital in the year 710. There are a lot of historical sites, such as Todaiji Great Buddha Hall, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple and so on. Nara"deer"park is also one of must-see areas. On our way back to Kyoto, we will hop off at JR Uji Station and visit the Green Tea Town of Uji. If you have time to spare, taste the finest green tea.