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Nara, Stroll in Nara Park led by Friendly Deer

Mt. Wakakusa

Kasugano Garden at the foot of Mt .Wakakusa

School trip at Todaiji Temple

Strolling garden in Nara Park

Mother & Baby deer

Dear in nara Park

Moss garden in Yoshikien Garden

Isuien Garden and Todaiji in the background

Cherry Blossoms in Great Buddha Hall

Statue of Great Buddha

Nigatu-do

Overlooking from Nigatu-do Veranda

Todaiji Temple grounds

Approach to Kasuga Taisya Shrine

Kasuga Taisya Shrine

View of Mt.Wakakusa from Sanjyo Dori street

Sarusawa Pond at the end of Sanjyo Dori

Nara, Stroll in Nara Park led by Friendly Deer

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(11 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Nara

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)

Up to 6 people

In the 8th century, Nara became the nation's capital with grid-like streets and a new Imperial Palace. The emperor erected the Statue of Great Buddha to pray for peace and stability in the country. Powerful aristocrats invited deities from afar to be enshrined at newly built shrines and pray for prosperity.

In the 19th century, this area was opened to the public as Nara (Deer) Park, a unique place where residents and tourists interact with deer on the grassy plazas.

Itinerary

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

11:00 AM

Meeting Point

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

Nara Park, a vast deer park made up of flatlands and forests

#Nara Park/A 49-hectare flat area, roughly the size of 70 soccer fields, is dotted with lawn plazas, Japanese gardens, ponds, and temples and shrines, where 1,400 deer lounge.

#Kasugano Garden/A lawn plaza with lots of deer along the approach leads to the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple

#Japanese Gardens/Isuien is a strolling-type garden behind Mt. Wakakusa and Todaiji Temple, featuring an art museum and restaurant. Yoshikien has three distinct styles: a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea ceremonial garden.

Todaiji Temple is dedicated to the Great Buddha in a historic setting

#Todaiji Temple (6.9 ha)/A complex of eight national treasure buildings, including the Great Buddha Hall, built by the Emperor in prayer for the happiness of all living things.

#Great Buddha Hall/The Great Buddha, shining a merciful light, and four Buddhist statues representing mercy, wisdom, and guardian deities recreate the Buddhist world.

#Great South Gate/Buddha preaches the teachings with its back to the north, flanked by two guardian Kongorikishi statues.

#Nigatsudo Hall (February Temple)/The torch-lit religious ceremony in February and the magnificent view of Nara city from the veranda are a sight to behold.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine at the End of the Ancient Capital's Main Road

#Sanjo Street/The main east-west road in the ancient capital, now connecting JR Nara Station and Kasuga Taisha Shrine in a straight line behind Mt.Wakakusa.

#Kasuga Taisha Shrine (100 ha, including primeval forest)/Built in the 8th century by a powerful aristocrat to pray for the prosperity of his family.

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

What‘s not included

>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/one-day bus ticket (600JPY), taxi(undecided)

>admission fee (you/per adult)/Todaiji Temple Great Buddha Hall (800JPY), Kasuga Taisya Shrine (700JPY), Isuien Garden(1200JPY)

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>The tour uses buses, taxis(for small groups), and walking as needed for easy access. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

>The above additional fees are often paid in cash on-site, so please have some Japanese yen (JPY).

>The tour does not include insurance. I hope you purchase your own travel insurance.

Important message from the supplier

>If you would like to take a listed or customized tour, please send me a message in advance. I will check the availability of the spots listed on the itinerary (opening days, hours, reservation status, etc.).

>The tour uses trains, subways, trams, buses, walking, and taxis (for small groups) for easy access. Please wear comfortable walking shoes for transfers.

>Please note that we may change or add spots depending on the availability of public transportation and tourist attractions.

>The tour does not include insurance. I hope you purchase your own travel insurance.

>It is possible to pick you up at your hotel (Osaka, Nara, or Kyoto) and take you to the spots in the other city with no additional guide fee.

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 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(11 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I love to guide you through the 3 ancient capitals—Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto—which served as the seat of the Imperial Palace for 1,300 years. I grew up in Osaka, studied urban and transportation planning in Kyoto, and worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for national and local governments. My career also focused on "city promotion"—attracting businesses and talent by highlighting the appeal and convenience of Japanese cities to international corporate leaders and the media. Later, I obtained the national qualification as a Licensed Guide-Interpreter and have been guiding international tourists on the urban landscapes and history of 3 cities.

Since the 7th century, the place of the Imperial Palace has shifted among 3 cities more than a dozen times. With each move, emperors, court nobles, samurai, and commoners alike built new palaces, temples, shrines, and residential districts, while carrying on traditional customs.

As 3 cities are all within a one-hour train ride of one another, I can propose a Customized Tour tailored to your schedule and energy levels. By exploring this area with me, you will easily grasp the origins and charm of the townscapes unfolding before you, gaining a deeper, more personal connection to the region. I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

Michelle M.

5 / 5

Jun 14, 2026

Millennial City Kyoto, Power & Charm Transition

Jun 14, 2026

Kyoto

5 hours 30 mins

“Great Highlights of Central Kyoto”

We had an excellent tour with Yosshi. I recommend him. He had great communication to create a custom tour for us. He emailed about and researched our sights ahead of time. He arrived early at our hotel lobby. He spoke good English and was very kind. He was very informative about the many sights we visited and came prepared with printouts. He took photos of our family. He took us to the Nijo castle, Imperial Palace and Manga museum. He helped us with ordering lunch. He was very knowledgeable getting around the metro. It made our day a breeze. We really enjoyed our day and Yosshi made it very special. Thank you.

Yosshi S.

Dear Michelle-san Thank you for taking the time to send me such a heartwarming review. The Kemari Garden at the Imperial Palace is a game where players pass a ball to their opponent in an easy-to-kick manner. Today, we visited a place of great importance in Japanese history, set on a vast site full of early-summer greenery. The spirit of Kemari (a football game) lives on at this turning point as well. As a guide, I tried my best to provide clear explanations. The day I spent with you has become a memorable tour for me. OH-KI-NI! (Kyoto dialect for thank you). Yosshi

James S.

5 / 5

Dec 2, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in Temple Town on Hilltop

Dec 2, 2025

Osaka

7 hours

“Great Guide!”

Yosshi was a great guide. He had vast knowledge of the sights we visited. Very friendly and payed attention to our needs as we explored. I would book with him again. Thank you Yosshi.

Yosshi S.

Dear James San. Thank you for your review. I was happy to share my experience with you as you have an interest in Osaka's history. Hearing about your hometown has added to my bucket list. The day was sunny, the autumn leaves were beautiful, and there weren't many tourists, so I was able to show you ancient, medieval, and early modern sites. We were also able to go up the Osaka Castle Tower and the Tsutenkaku Tower for a bird's-eye view of Osaka's topography. Osaka's long history has been supported by its citizens. Next time, I'd like to guide you to markets and theaters where we can experience the vitality of its citizens. Thank you for yesterday. Yosshi

Drew B.

5 / 5

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in Temple Town on Hilltop

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka

6 hours

“Cultural tour of Kawachi/Osaka ”

Yosshi san created a unique tour to introduce us to the history of Kofun burial mounds and Haniwa clay pottery. We had an amazing day despite the weather visiting Shin-ike Haniwa Factory Park and the Imashirozuka Museum. Yosshi san has amazing knowledge & excellent English and was a pleasure to spend the day with. Also Yosshi san is a master of navigating Osaka transport, very impressed!! Thank you again Yosshi san for looking after us so well, Drew & Annie.

Yosshi S.

Dear Drew & Annie san Thank you so much for sending me your generous review. You read the explanations, took photos, and asked questions to the museum guide during the tour. I was impressed by your deep interest and knowledge, and it was a great honor to guide you. However, it's unfortunate that today's tour didn't go as planned due to the heavy rain all day. Here is the only imperial mausoleum in Japan that we can enter, so if we have another opportunity, I'd like to stroll around the 350-meter burial mound on a sunny day and discuss the Kofun age with you. Thank you so much for today. Regard Yosshi