GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
Nara Private Tour - Perspective of 3-story pagoda in Horinji Temple
Perspective of 3-story pagoda in Horinji Temple
Nara Private Tour - JR Horyuji sta.
JR Horyuji sta.
Nara Private Tour - Horyuji Temple
Horyuji Temple
Nara Private Tour - School trip in Horyuji Temple
School trip in Horyuji Temple
Nara Private Tour - Cyuguji Temple
Cyuguji Temple
Nara Private Tour - Cosmos field in Autumn
Cosmos field in Autumn
Nara Private Tour - Former JR Nara sta. building with information
Former JR Nara sta. building with information
Nara Private Tour - Statue of Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple
Statue of Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple
Nara Private Tour - Street corner in Naramachi
Street corner in Naramachi
Nara Private Tour - Main gate at Gangoji Temple
Main gate at Gangoji Temple
Nara Private Tour - Mechanism Toy Museum
Mechanism Toy Museum
Nara Private Tour - Townhouse in Naramachi
Townhouse in Naramachi
Nara Private Tour - Moon viewing decorations in Oct. in townhouse
Moon viewing decorations in Oct. in townhouse

Nara, Mixed Scenery with Temples and Mountains

Art, Culture, & Historical
Nara Tour Guide - Yosshi S.

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.
5.00 / 5
(7 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Nara
English, Japanese (Native)
5 hrs 30 mins
Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)
Up to 5 people

The poem in the 8th century wrote that NARA is a province with supreme beauty enclosed by mountains. IKARUGA began as the temple town of Japan's oldest temple, Horyu-ji Temple, and preserves a rural landscape surrounded by mountains. NARAMACHI was a post town on the grounds of Gangoji Temple in the 18th century. Locals continue to make efforts to preserve the old townscape now. We feel the quiet and rich charm while strolling through the old town area.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

12:30 PM

Meeting Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Nara City center.

Ikaruga (JR Horyuji sta.)

>Horyuji Temple (18.7ha/46 acres)/complex building group originally built by the order of the emperor and Prince Shotoku in the 7th century, the oldest wooden structure in the world, conveys the vibe of the past to the present.

>Cyuguji Temple/originally built by the order of Prince Shotoku’s mother, who was the model of the principal image with a charming smile (so-called Archaic Smile)

>Stroll through the rice fields while admiring the roof tiles and three-story pagodas of temples (Hokiji Temple and Horinji Temple) in the distance.

Todaiji Temple (JR Nara sta.)

>Todaiji Temple (6.9ha/17 acres)/complex building group originally built by the order of the emperor in the 8th century

#Great Buddha Hall/the statue of the Great Buddha and another 4 statues of Buddha are enshrined

Naramachi

>Gngoji Temple/originated from Japan's first Buddhist temple, built in the 6th century, and moved to the present place together with Heijyo-Palace in the 8th century.

>Naramachi old town (49.3ha/122 acres)/originated from a temple town of Gangoji Temple. In the Edo period, it flourished as a commercial, industrial, and entertainment town. locals preserve traditional townhouses and open them to the public

e.g., Mechanism Toy Museum/touch and play with the classic toys, Bustling House/showcase of the old townhouse built in 1917

Ending Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Nara City center

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

>guide fee, hotel pick up in Nara City center

What‘s not included

>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/train and bus (some 1000JPY)

>admission fee (you/per adult)/Horyuji Temple (2000JPY), Cyuguji Temple(600JPY), Gangoji Temple(700JPY)

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>The deer in Nara Park are sacred animals, so please treat them kindly.

>Please wear comfortable shoes for walking.

>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spot, so please bring some JPY.

>This tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance.

Important message from the supplier

>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)

>If you want a listed/customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.

>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport.

>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.


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
Nara Tour Guide - Yosshi S.

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.
5.00 / 5
(7 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I guide you to the ancient capital cities of 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming history.

I grew up in OSAKA, studied in KYOTO, and worked in TOKYO and Osaka for 20 years as an urban planning expert for national and local governments. I surveyed community development sites throughout Japan, welcomed scholars and business managers from inside and outside Japan, and guided them in the cities.

Quitting my career, I became a freelancer as a Professional Engineer (Urban & Regional Planning) who loves movies. I have visited unique cities overseas, inspected urban development sites and filming locations, and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries). The more I see cities overseas, the more clearly, I understand the characteristics of Japan's ancient capital cities.

The Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara areas were Metropolitan areas centered on the Imperial Palace, and their locations have changed 15 times since the 7th century. The three cities have many historical spots and hidden attractions depending on times and places: temples, shrines, landscape gardens, traditional townhouses, bustling entertainment districts, and the filming locations of period dramas where stories were born (SAMURAI Dramas). In addition, the three cities are all within an hour's train ride, making it easy to travel around.

To convey to as many people as possible the charms of these ancient capital cities that I have discovered through years of practice and theory, I obtained national qualifications as a Guide-Interpreter and General Travel Service Manager. I have begun my guided activities based in the ancient capital cities.

From my extensive list of tourist destinations, I will create a tour to suit your tastes and guide you. I look forward to hearing from you.




Reviews

Kyoto visit to Imperial Palace gardens and tour of Palace State Guest House, with a special tour of the guest house. Also, Philosopher’s Walk, national Treasure Silver Palace, and Kyoto Aqueduct.

We had a very high quality time with Yosshi S for our visit in Kyoto. He was well prepared from both experience and study, and gave us rich background into each site to result in a strong connection with Kyoto’s history, its rich spiritual traditions and its very special people living and working in Kyoto. We are grateful for this day and would recommend Yosshi S. with our highest regard.

John M.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, thank you for your review. We had the experience of seeing how to treat guests at the state guesthouse and having a lunch of Kyoto pickled sushi at a shopping street where ordinary people shop. The Philosopher's Path is a course where I often walked with friends during my student years. Walking with John on the tour, I got back the feeling of being a student. Unfortunately, I could not become a philosopher, but I learned the philosophy of "going my way" and became a guide. Thank you very much. Yosshi

Mixed scenery with towns, temples, and National Museum of Nara

Yosshi S provided us with a joyful life adventure for our day with him in Nara. He was helpful in finding our ways to Nara’s treasures, gardens, temple grounds, and shrines as well as an English audio-guided tour of the National Museum of Nara, containing unique treasures on special exhibition for the period of our visit. We would recommend others for Yosshi’s informative, well-researched, and personalized tours, aimed to give us a full appreciation of a place, its people, and what is special about both.

John M.

Yosshi S.

Dear John, Thank you for your valuable review. The day of our planned tour was the opening day of the National Treasures Exhibition at the Nara National Museum, so I decided to take you to the museum and let you fully appreciate the national treasure Buddha statues. The city of Nara has a long history of more than 1,300 years since Heijo-kyo. The citizens of Nara enjoy this long history through the deer relaxing in Nara Park, crawling through the pillar hole of the Great Buddha Hall, and the Karakuri Toy Museum. Those are appealing and attract both domestic and international tourists. I am happy to have conveyed this to you through this tour. Thank you. Yosshi

Want to Personalize?

$251/ per group