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Exploring Nara, Nara Pref

In the glimpse of a moment, a shrine maiden, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha Museum, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara

Guardian Kings, Todai-ji, Nara

Nara Park, Nara city, Nara

The Great Buddha, Todai-ji, Nara

Une-me Festival, Nara

Nara Park, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara

Todaiji Temple, Nara City, Nara

Naramachi Nigiwai-no-ie Garden, Nara

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara

Todaiji Temple, Nara City, Nara

Naramachi Nigiwai-no-ie Garden, Nara

Todaiji Temple, Nara City, Nara

Nara Crafts Museum, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara.

Kofukuji Temple, Nara City

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara.

Todaiji Temple, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara

Todaiji Temple lying behind, Nara city, Nara

Kasuga Taisha shrine, Nara city, Nara.

At TEMIZUYA (ablution front) prior to meet the Great Buddha, Todai-ji Temple, Nara city, Nara

Mt Wakakusa, Nara

Exploring Nara, Nara Pref

Name: Nara Guided Tours
Brand: GoWithGuide
Price: 290 USD
Rating: 5.0 (63 reviews)

Day Trip

Joined 2017

Masahisa M.

5.00 / 5

(63 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Nara

English

8 hours

Private tour (only you and Masahisa M.)

Up to 15 people

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!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto or Nara

09:00 AM

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

10:00 AM

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.

11:00 AM

Isuien Japanese Garden

10 min walk from Kofukuji Temple on the way to Todai-ji Temple

01:00 PM

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.

03:00 PM

Kasuga Great Shrine

15 min walk from Todai-ji Temple to Kasuga Great Shrine

05:00 PM

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

What‘s included

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

What‘s not included

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, senior people, 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

Masahisa M.

5.00 / 5

(63 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

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 9,382 guests all over the world across Japan as of Sept 30, 2025 since Feb 2015.

Reviews

Jennifer N.

5 / 5

Nov 24, 2025

Exploring Nara, Nara Pref

Nov 24, 2025

Nara

8 hours

“A Day in Nara with Masahisa "Mike"”

From the day I booked my trip with Mike, my group was in good hands. Mike prepared material for our day in Nara along with other items to help us on our Japan vacation. Mike met us at our hotel in Kyoto and guided us on our train journey to Nara. His knowledge of Nara was incredible and we enjoyed our day and the pace he set. He even went above and beyond by procuring return Aoniyoshi tickets for our group!! Thank you for a wonderful day, Mike!

Masahisa M.

Jennifer Thank you again for coming from afar. Since you all walked quite a long distance in Nara Park today, I imagine you all must be very tired. Please take a good rest tonight. Japan still has many wonderful scenic spots to offer, so I hope you will visit us sometime again. I wish you a continued delightful family trip and a safe return home with wonderful memory. Thanks Masahisa

Lisa G.

5 / 5

Nov 5, 2025

Exploring Nara, Nara Pref

Nov 5, 2025

Nara

8 hours

“Exploring Nara (day trip from Osaka)”

We had the most amazing day exploring Nara with Masahisa - or Mike, as he likes to be called. He met us at the Osaka port and was such a lovely, energetic guide who knows Nara inside out, having lived there for many years. We caught the local train from Osaka to Nara, and Mike expertly navigated us through the crowds to all the best spots in Nara Park - even stopping along the way at Nakatanidou for some freshly made mochi (a must-try!). It was a big day of walking, but Mike smartly suggested we take the local shuttle bus between a few of the temples and shrines to give our legs a rest. Feeding the friendly deer (with crackers provided by Mike) was definitely a highlight, as was visiting the serene Yoshikien Japanese Garden. Lunch at a traditional soba noodle restaurant was another memorable moment - simple, authentic, and delicious. Mike is such a kind and generous guide who genuinely loves meeting people from around the world. His passion for sharing Japan’s history and culture made the day extra special. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!

Masahisa M.

Lisa Thank you again for visiting us from afar. Although our time together was limited, I sincerely hope you were able to touch at least a glimpse of the atmosphere of the ancient capital, Nara. Your visit brought back memories of my time in Perth. I still vividly recall a photo I took back then at the Pinnacles, where the dazzling contrast between the white sandy beach and the deep navy sky remains striking, even as the photo itself has aged. I forgot to mention this during your visit, but unlike Fremantle Prison, Nara will soon be home to Japan’s first luxury hotel utilizing a former prison designated as an Important Cultural Property. It is scheduled to open in 2026. Wishing you all a safe journey home. Thanks Masahisa

Janak V.

5 / 5

Nov 4, 2025

Exploring Kyoto in Rakutou (East) and Rakuchu (Central)

Nov 4, 2025

Kyoto

9 hours

“Guided by THE expert”

Masahisa is a true professional. He helped plan two days in Kyoto with unerring accuracy, historical knowledge, and lively commentary. He took us through the transit systems like the pro he is which saved us an amazing amount of time and effort. He showed us things that we had not even discussed and included just amazing add-ons to what we wanted to see. He is very fast paced and made sure that we were able to complete everything that we had agreed on and more. I wish I could find his business card because I would like to personally thank him and send him a token of our great appreciation which he would not accept in person while we were with him.

Masahisa M.

Janak Thank you again for visiting us from afar. In recent years, the atmosphere of Kyoto as an ancient capital has sadly been lost due to overtourism. Given this situation, I was truly pleased to be able to guide you through a serene imperial villa that still retains, under government preservation, a faint fragrance of courtly culture. I was also delighted that I could have the opportunity to view the sixteen 12th-century Buddhist statues derived from Hindu deities. I imagine your trip must have been quite tiring, given the fast pace. Please visit us again if the opportunity arises—I look forward to welcoming you. Thank you Masahisa