In the morning, we will be visiting Nara, the ancient capital city of Japan before Kyoto. In the late afternoon, we will move to Osaka, the vibrant center of Western Japan.
You can feel two different faces of Japan, old and new in one day. Experience ancient history during the day and enjoy vibrant commercial atomosphere of the urban life in the late afternoon / early evening.
At your hotel in Osaka (It is possible to start the tour from Kyoto or Nara as well.)
I can also do all day tour in Nara
Can add Osaka Castle, but might have to shorten our trip in Nara. I can also do all day tour in Osaka.
Flexible
We will visit one major Buddhist Temple(Todaiji) and Shinto Shrine(Kasuga Taisha), so you can understand two different religions in Japan living in harmony for 1,500 years. You have a lot of time feeding deer, messengers of Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park. We can also visit Isuien Garden or Yoshigien Garden provided we have enough time.
In Osaka, we stroll around the labyrinth of shops and arcades filled with busy noise of people and pachinko parlours. You can nibble grilled scallops and octopus balls or dine at okonomiyaki or kobe beef restaurant with a nice glass of craft beer.
guide fee
transportation fee (you and guide), lunch, entrance fee
The entrance fee of Todaiji Temple is ￥600 per person.
If you have a JR Pass, it is possible to use it from Osaka to Nara. But I would advise you we take Kintetsu Line from Namba Station especially if you are staying in the southern part of Osaka. It will cost ￥560, but much more convenient.
I will try to meet your needs and requirements as much as possible. Please let me know if you have special requests. I specialize in tours in Osaka, but I can also do day tours in Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Hiroshima and Koyasan. I can do shopping tour and eating tour. I am very flexible with time and can also do tours at late in the evening.
It will at least require 8 hours to visit both Nara and Osaka. (I can do the tour in two separate days if you prefer.)
It will involve a lot of walking. Please let me know if that is a problem, so I can make other plans.
Ichi-san met us early at our hotel and had our family of four off to Nara at a record clip. He kept our daughters entertained and enriched by teaching them how to count in Japanese during the 30-minute train ride from Osaka. He keeps a full bag of puzzles, toys, tools and treats in his backpack. He spent a few years in school in the states and is a fluent speaker, affable and an all-around pleasure to be around. We covered all the sites we wanted to see in Nara and much more (especially the super friendly army of sacred deer and the largest wooden temple). He graciously agreed to interpret for us at lunch and stayed with us as long as we needed him all the way back to Osaka, including tips for shopping. You will not be disappointed with Ichi-san if you are in the area, he has my highest recommendation.
Dear Joseph-san, Thanks very much for your favorable comment on the tour. I enjoyed the day with you and your family very much, too. Thank you very much again for treating me to join you to one of the most wonderful Japanese meals I had as well. Hope you have a wonderful life back in the States. (My recent customer from Canada said Mr T is the only hope America has!?)
We had the most incredible experience exploring Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto with Ichi as our private guide! His knowledge and thoughtfulness added a whole new dimension to the trip. Ichi tailored our itinerary based on our interests and adjusted on the fly when requested. Ichi kept our kids engaged better than we could :), and we learned so much about the Japanese culture in two days than I thought possible. I highly recommend Ichi for anyone seeking an unforgettable and enriching journey through these beautiful cities.
Dear Ron-san, Thank you very much for kind comments. Your family were wonderful as well. I enjoyed every moment with you, and I was hoping if I could spend more time with you. It was a great idea we started early to avoid the strong sun and the rush hours. I was able to do so because you stayed in Osaka, not far away from where I live. Yesterday I was at Gion Festival in Kyoto, and today I just came back from Tenjin Festival in Osaka. Both were interesting, but it was extremely crowded and sweltering hot. Hope your trip in Tokyo was as interesting. Bon voyage. all the best, Ichi
We spent one day with Ichi in Nara and Osaka. He was very kind, attentive, interesting and informative. He offered a mixture of sightseeing, culture, history and modern life, some curiosities and surprises which made this day very special for us. He was responsive to our wishes, adapted the programme to our needs and managed to involve very well also our children. His friendly and cheerful manner brought us closer to Japan. It felt like we were travelling with a knowledgeable and entertaining friend. Absolute recommendation!
Dear Antonia, Thank you very much for a overwhelming review. I thoroughly enjoyed the day with you in Nara and Osaka, too. I hope the rest of your trip in Japan was as exciting as the day I had with you! Wishing you the very best of everything for the rest of your life! best regards, Ichi (Toichi NAKATA)
We had 2 days to explore the Kobe - Osaka - Kyoto area (certainly not enough time) and Ichi set up a customized tour for us. The first day we spent seeing the sights of Nara with a visit to the Osaka castle. The second day was spent in Kyoto. There was a lot a travel on the metro and some buses and Ichi expertly maneuvered us around both cities. He explained the history of many of the temples we visited and kept us engaged throughout the tours. He arrived early both days and was with us longer than the 8 hours per day as booked (almost 10 hours each day). The communication using Go With Guide was excellent- Ichi would respond quickly to all my queries and the booking process was flawless. He was accommodating when we added 2 additional people for the tour. I highly recommend Ichi for your tour guide if in the Kobe - Osaka - Kyoto region and if we return to the area, I would definitely use him again Jeff
Hello Jeff, Thanks very much for your comments. Hope your flights back to the State are comfortable one. Please say hello’s to everyone else in the gang. Bon voyage. regards, Ichi