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Nara Private Tour - Cherry blossom at Sahogawa River.Best timing to see the blossoming is around the first week of April.
Cherry blossom at Sahogawa River.Best timing to see the blossoming is around the first week of April.
Nara Private Tour - Cherry blossom at Himura Shrine. This is a part of Nara Park, and located at the next to Todaiji Temple.
Cherry blossom at Himura Shrine. This is a part of Nara Park, and located at the next to Todaiji Temple.
Nara Private Tour - Second Month Temple (Nigatsu-Do) (National Treasure, Edo period,1669)
Second Month Temple (Nigatsu-Do) (National Treasure, Edo period,1669)
Nara Private Tour - Belfry of Todaiji Temple (National Treasure, Kamakura period)
Belfry of Todaiji Temple (National Treasure, Kamakura period)
Nara Private Tour - The Great Budda Hall of Todaiji Temple (National Treasure, 1709)
The Great Budda Hall of Todaiji Temple (National Treasure, 1709)
Nara Private Tour - Five-storied Pagoda of Kofukuji Temple (National Treasure, Muromachi period, 1426)
Five-storied Pagoda of Kofukuji Temple (National Treasure, Muromachi period, 1426)

One day trip of Nara Park

Highlights
Nara Tour Guide - Makoto Y.

Joined 2017

Makoto Y.
4.94 / 5
(133 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Nara
English, Japanese
6 hours
Private tour (only you and Makoto Y.)
Up to 8 people

-Nara Park is famous and known as Deer Park, and more than one thousand deer roam freely in the park.-Numerous important temples, shrines, gardens and museums are within minutes of one another within the park.-The most famous sites are Todai-ji temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, and Kofuku-ji temple.-These temples and shrines were originally built in Nara period, 1,300 years ago.

Itinerary

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

08:30 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel in Nara or JR Nara station

Kofuku-ji Temple; Famous five-storied pagoda, Tokon-do, Nan-En-do(South Octagonal Temple)

Todai-ji Teple; Nandai-Mon(Great South Gate), Daibutsu-Den(Great Budda Temple), Budda statue, Shoro(Belfry),Hokke-Do, Nigatsu-Do(Second Month Temple)

Kasuga Grand Shrine; Chu-Mon(Inner Gate), Hon-Den(Main Sanctuary), Many lanterns(2000 stone lanterns), Homotsu-Den(Treasury)

Option 1: Isuien Garden --- Traditional Japanese garden of nearly three acres. Ceremonial Tea House

Ending Point

At your hotel in Nara or JR Nara station

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), lunch, dinner(if the tour is extended), entrance fee, etc...

Tour Important Information

Entrance fee:

Todaiji Temple: 500 yen

Kasuga Grand Shrine: 500 yen

Isuien Garden: 900 yen

Important message from the supplier

No special conditions

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 - Makoto Y.

Joined 2017

Makoto Y.
4.94 / 5
(133 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Makoto Y.

Hello, I’m Makoto (Mac) and I'm a national-licensed tour guide.

My previous career as an automotive engineer, gave me the opportunity to learn English and to live in the US, Germany, and England. After I retired, I learned more about the Japanese history especially focusing on Nara and Kyoto to become a historical specialist of the Nara area. I now live in Ikaruga town in Nara prefecture, where the UNESCO World Heritage, Horyuji temple is located. I regularly offer guides on the Fujinoki tumulus, which is located near the Horyuji temple. It contains very interesting Archaeological findings from the end of the Kofun Period.

Recently, there are many foreign tourists who come to Japan, and I hope they enjoy learning about the culture and history of Japan. I would like to help tourists have a broader and deeper understanding of the Japanese culture and that is the reason why I decided to become a tour guide to help and support their experience in Japan.

Nara is the place where Japan started. The capital was located in Asuka, Fujiwara and Nara before it moved to Kyoto. Therefore, there are many places to visit in Nara to trace the original history of Japan, which I have a depth of knowledge.

Let’s explore the roots of Japan together!!

Reviews

Wonderful tour with Mr Makoto Y.

Great experience with Mr Makoto today. He was kind enough to meet our train, and use his personal car to drive us around. His knowledge of the areas was outstanding. He personally created brochures for our tour that helped us understand and gain an appreciation of the culture, the important time frame in history of Buddhism in Japan, and the importance of preserving and appreciating the many National Treasures of this area. Excellent Thank you Mr Makoto Best regards Judy and Craig

Judy F.

Makoto Y.

Dear Judy and Craig, Thank you for your nice comment. I have enjoyed guiding you very much as you are so keen to learn about Japanese history and culture. Especially I am happy to introduce Houryuji temple, asset of my home town. I hope you have nice time in Japan and nice trip back to U.S. Thanks again for choosing me of your guide. Makoto

Deserves More than 5 Stars

We had the pleasure of Makoto-san's presence and guidance for two wonderful days of visiting the Japan of the 3rd to 8th centuries (before Nara). Most tourists are interested in later periods, the Nara age (710-781) and the centuries when Kyoto was the capital (796-1868). But I'm a Japanese history buff, and wanted to see unusual places (tombs and other archaeological sites) that were important before that. Although Makoto said it was a first-time request, he obviously did exhaustive research on the topic, and created a perfect 2-day itinerary. He also learned enough about me to add some special places of interest (I'm a. fan of sumo wrestling, and it is supposed to have started in the area we toured.). His English was great, his work ethic spectacular, and his personality youthful and engaging. I would have awarded him more than Five Stars, if there were more stars to give. He knows his stuff, tries to know his clients, and went far beyond expectations for us. I'm so grateful for the memorable two-day visit we had in the Nara basin, thanks to Makoto-san!

Gordon B.

Makoto Y.

Dear Gordon-san, Thank you very much for your nice review comment. This tour gave me a good chance for me to think about me and how Japan has started. I still remember how we spent two days, which was an adventure and exciting experience for me too. I have learned about the Japanese history again after retirement, and this was good opportunity for me to learn about the birth of Japan. Thanks again for giving me of this nice opportunity. Makoto

Tracing the pre-Nara beginnings of the Japanese State (and Sumo!)

We had the pleasure of Makoto-san's presence and guidance for two wonderful days of visiting the Japan of the 3rd to 8th centuries (before Nara). Most tourists are interested in later periods, the Nara age (710-781) and the centuries when Kyoto was the capital (796-1868). But I'm a Japanese history buff, and wanted to see unusual places (tombs and other archaeological sites) that were important before that. Although Makoto said it was a first-time request, he obviously did exhaustive research on the topic, and created a perfect 2-day itinerary. He also learned enough about me to add some special places of interest (I'm a. fan of sumo wrestling, and it is supposed to have started in the area we toured.). His English was great, his work ethic spectacular, and his personality youthful and engaging. I would have awarded him more than Five Stars, if there were more stars to give. He knows his stuff, tries to know his clients, and went far beyond expectations for us. I'm so grateful for the memorable two-day visit we had to the Nara basin, thanks to Makoto-san!

Gordon B.

Makoto Y.

Dear Gordon-san, Thank you very much for your nice review comment. I am so happy that you enjoyed my tour especially Sumo Birth places in Nara. Your are really Sumo doctor, and I have learned much about Sumo, which I did not know before. Also I am happy that you love Mt. Miwa and Mt. Nijo, which are watching us with warm heart from the beginning of Japan history. You have already Japanese heart, and I have enjoyed the conversation so much. Please come back to Nara again. Thanks again for your choosing me of your guide. Makoto

Want to Personalize?

$124/ per group

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