Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
Joined 2019
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.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
TBD (at your hotel)
Nara Park
This park, which includes Kofuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga-taisha Shrine, is home to 1,300 deer that are considered to be sacred, and is world-famous as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan.
Kasuga-taisha Shrine
Built in 768, this Shinto shrine has a legend which says that the deity descended here on the back of a white deer. That is why deer are considered to be sacred here and why there a so many deer in Nara. The four main halls are designated to national treasure, and there are many other important cultural property buildings on the premise.
lunch
Todai-ji Temple and the Big Buddha
Todai-ji Temple which is well known as a temple of the Big Buddha was constructed as a protective temple of Japan in the 8th century. Standing on the premise are the Daibutsuden which houses the Big Buddha, and other national treasure buildings and statues.
Kohuku-ji Temple or Nara-machi Historical Area
Kofuku-ji Temple was originally built in 669 and moved to its current location in 710. In the 9th century, it became the most influential religious power in Japan, and since then it had been worshiped along with in Kasuga-taisha shrine under the Shintoism-Buddhism Unity Theory until they were separated by law in the 19th century. Standing on the premise are beautiful Buddhism halls and pagodas.
Ending Point
TBD (at your hotel)
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
Insurance
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch (you and guide),
Transportation fare
Entrance tickets, Kasuga Tasiha JPY500, Todaiji JPY800, Kofukuji JPY900 / per person
Ask for details
Tour Important Information
As this is aTRAIN and WALKING tour, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance.
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch for guests and guide are NOT included.
Direct payment for tickets, lunch and others will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
Ask for details.
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 2019
About Tour Guide Hiroyuki T.
Hi!
I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.
I am very good at cultural heritages.
And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.
I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.
I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.
I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
Reviews
Stephanie W.
“Tour of Nara”
Hiro was a wonderful guide, very friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable. Thank you for our day in Nara !
Tien N.
“An excellent excursion with Hiroyuki san”
Many thanks to Hiroyuki San for a very informative excursion with a delicious Zen vegetarian meals for lunch. My family was raving about the tour and I was so glad of my decision to book this Kyoto tour with Hiroyuki San .
Melinda A.
“Hiroyuki is the Zen master of tours”
We had so much fun with Hiroyuki. He was flexible and made sure we didn't see anything we already saw. But more importantly, he made the temples and shrines so much more than what we would have experienced if we toured them by ourselves. He taught us the complex history, politics, and social practices involved with everything we saw. I'm very curious and had many specific questions. He knows so much that he was able to answer and explain everything in detail and in such a way that we were able to understand the development of Japan and how it relates to the temples and shrines we saw. Thanks Hiroyuki! You made our visit so meaningful, educational, and fun!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. I am glad to know that you liked the Zen tour. Our sense of beauty in Japan is based on Zen, now you all understand it. If you have a chance to come back to Japan, I will show you more.
$294/ per group
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Mt. Koya is a very important part of the World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Mt. Koya is in Wakayama Prefecture and I used to work for Wakayama Prefectural Government as a general manager of Cultural Heritage Division and I was also in charge of the World Heritage Project. I know this sacred mountain very well.
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Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Nara
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!!
Exploring Nara, Nara Pref
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.
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 Deear Park and Uji Green Tea Town Tour from Kyoto
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.