Nara, Stroll through Nara Park led by the Deer
Joined 2024
We go around a must-visit temple and shrine in Nara Park. In the 8th century, the emperor built a new capital (Heijo-Palace) and the Statue of the Great Buddha in Nara. A powerful aristocracy built a shrine adjacent to the Palace. They prayed for the Buddha to bring stability to the country and peace to the people. In the 19th century, their vast grounds were incorporated into Nara Park, creating a unique space where residents and tourists could freely interact with the sacred deer.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or any convenient place in Nara City center.
Nara Park
>Nara Park (660ha/1630 acres)/well known for the Deer Park at the foot of Mt Wakakusa(342m height) with 1300 roaming deer and yearly 13 million visitors
#Kasugano Garden/grass square along the approach leads to the Great Buddha Hall
#Yoshikien Garden/former private villa with three different styles of gardens: Pond, Moss, and Tea-Ceremonial Flower
Todaiji Temple
>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
#Great South Gate/two guardian kings of Buddhism are standing on either side of the Gate
#Sangatu-do (March Temple)/a masterpiece that combines two structures from different eras
#Nigatu-do (February Temple)/a panoramic view of Nara city can be seen from the veranda
Kasuga Taisya Shrine
>Kasuga Taisya Shrine (100ha including Primeval Forest/250arces)
/the Main Sanctuary, enshrining the four deities, was built by the order of a dominant aristocracy in the 8th century.
#The structure is restored every 20 years as a ritual, and always wearing vibrant colors (the 60th restoration was made in 2015)
#Wakamiya tour/after visiting the Main Sanctuary, the tour of the neighboring 15 shrines has been a long-standing practice.
Shopping Streets
>Sanjyo Dori street/the main street dating back to Heijyo-Palace
>Higashimuki (80 shops) and Mochiidono(100 shops)/attractive souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. on the roads
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
>guide fee, hotel pick up in Nara City
>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/one-day bus ticket (600JPY)
>admission fee (you/per adult)/Todaiji Temple Great Buddha Hall (800JPY), Kasuga Taisya Shrine (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 can work only during the day, from about 9:30am 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
Joined 2024
About Tour Guide Yosshi S.
Thank you for visiting my page.
I will guide you to the ancient capital cities with 1000 years of urban development and 100 years of filming and screening history.
I grew up in Osaka, studied in Kyoto, and worked for 20 years as an urban planning expert for the national and local governments. During this time, I surveyed many community development sites throughout Japan. I welcomed business leaders to encourage investment in the cities.
After quitting my career, I became a film-loving professional engineer. I visited unique cities in foreign countries to see urban planning and locations that appeared in picturesque film scenes and posted photos on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now). The more I saw foreign cities, the more I loved my hometown. I wanted to know about the travel industry and got a national license as a Guide-Interpreter and Travel Service Manager. I have started guiding based in the old capital cities.
The entire area of old Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara has been a Metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace, and the actual location of the Palace has changed 15 times since the 7th century. This area has many historical spots and hidden attractions in different times and places: the townscape, temples, shrines, landscaped gardens, and historical drama locations (SAMURAI drama).
I will create your favorite tour using my list, and guide you leisurely. I look forward to hearing from you.
Reviews
Chuck Y.
“A very nice day in Osaka”
Yoshi was knowledgeable and happy to show the city to us at a leisurely pace. A very nice man who did a great job of speaking at a loud enough level so we could all hear him which was appreciated. He was very hospitable and we appreciated that.
Yosshi S.
Dear Chuck Thank you for sending me such a warm review. Osaka is a commercial city, so Osaka citizens are interactive and talkative. We looked at citizens' lives while strolling to the bustling shopping streets and the OKONOMIYAKI place. At the Rose Garden, we could see the harmony with roses, the rivers, and the skyscrapers. Thank you for including me as one of your close friends during the tour and for the topics we shared. I hope Osaka will be one of your friends' fond memories. Regards Yosshi
John M.
“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.
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
John M.
“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.
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
$265/ per group
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Let's enjoy walking around the ancient city called Heijyokyo or Nara established in 710.
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Tour of the Great Buddha of Nara
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