Tour for the East end of Silk Road, Nara
Joined 2018
Nara has a long history including the site of the first and large scale capital of Japan in 7 century. However, Japan had reached at the status of national unity before 7 century and had started official envoy to Sui Dynasty of China in AD600. Therefore various new technology and culture had been transferred from China through anciant Korea.Tour will therefore explore the sign of influence of China, Persia or even from Greece transferred through the ancient Silk Road.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Either lobby of the Hotel or train station
Horyuji Temple
After leaving the meeting points, tour first visits Horyoji temple which was built in AD 607 and known as the oldest wooden building in the world. Tour explore various buildings and observe ancient architectural structure. Tour also explore the ancient type of Budha images. Tour will obtain thre knowledge of Shotoku taishi who developed the political syetem of Japan with close link with Budhism.
Yakushiji Temple
Tour will visit Yakushiji temple which was built in AD 680. The temple is famous for the beautiful Budha images. The base of Yakusi Sanzon clearly indicates the influence from China, Hindu, Persia and Greece. Cultural influence from those ancient areas is also clearly indicated in the objects of Shosoin ( Storehouse of imperial palece built in 7 century) which can be publicly seen in 2 times a year.
lunch
Toshoudaiji temple
Toshodaiji Temple was built in BC 700 for monk Ganzin. The monk Ganjin was invited by the emperor of Japan for training the way to provide precepts to Japanese monks as the Budhism has not yet fully developed in those days. The monk Ganzin failed to travel to Japan for 5 times and finnaly arrived at jJapan at his sixth time trial. However, his eyesight was lost through his tough travels. He was repeccted by Japanesey people and died in Japan. The pillar of the tepmle looks those of Parthenon of Greece (entasis).
Either lobby of the Hotel or train station
Ending Point
The same as above.
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
lunch, transportation and entrance fees
Tour Important Information
The tour can be appropriate for the customers who wish to explore more about Nara, other than Todaiji temple, nara part and deers.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide you the tours in Kyoto and Osaka. However such tours will be prepared in customized manner in accordance with your request, if my transportation fees from Nara to either Kyoto or Osaka are paid by you.
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 2018
About Tour Guide Yasuhisa K.
I have worked in the multi-national organizations including UN agency for around 30 years and stationed at various cities including Rome, Bangkok and Hanoi. Although I have retired from those international carriers, I wish to keep the international cooperation and develop the friendship with people who visits our country. As I like history and am practicing Noh song and wood curving of Buddha images, I have decided to live in Nara where is surrounded by many historical places and traditional cultures, when I returned back to Japan in 2017. I wish to offer you custom made trip ideas to be able to enjoy the atmosphere of old city, Nara. I am also planning to develop trip plans to enjoy the local cultures. Please call me Yasu.
Reviews
“Kyoto Day Tour”
Thank you Yasuhisa san for the very interesting tour! it was a pleasure to get to know the history of the places we visited! Yasu san is an excellent guide and a very gentle person! We highly recommend to get to know Kyoto with Yasu san!
Yasuhisa K.
Dear Naila & Massimo Thank you very much for your nice review for my tour today. I am also very happy to be able to guide you who are such nice persons. Have you enjoyed your dinner in Kyoto? We enjoyed a dinner of pork cutlet, "Tonkatsu" at the restaurant in Isetan. I am sorry that I can not accompany with you for the tours in Nara and Osaka. We leave for Fukuoka tomorrow morning. Hoping that you enjoy your stay in Japan. Yasu
“Fantastic, experienced guide for families”
We are two young families with kids and Yasu-san was an absolute gem. Firstly he has superb time management. Even with meltdowns, bruised knees and a ton of crowds at peak tourist season coming with the territory, he still managed to get us through a ton of sights and get us to great vantage points for photos. Also, his knowledge is fantastic, every sight was explained with care and he even shared some of his exciting life experiences with us. The children took to him instantly and he was very gracious with them.
Yasuhisa K.
Dear Mel Thank you very much for nice words for the tour on 6 Dec. I am also very happy to know that you have enjoyed the tour. You have nice children. They were so cute! It was an interesting topic that we were managed to go in Kinkakuji at the closing its door as the last group. Yasu
“Best Guide EVER!”
If you are reading this review stop searching and book Yasu. He quickly figuered out our group ( 6 adults and 4 kids) and adapted the plan on the fly . Yasu is the PERFECT guide in all aspects, friendly , patient , knowledgeable , speaks perfect English. We booked Kyoto and Nara tours with him , and truly made our trip memorable. We are very grateful to have spent 2 days with him. Thank you Yasu , we love you.
Yasuhisa K.
Dear Danny and his nice group Thank you very much for your kind words for the tour in Kyoto. Although it was an unfortunate incident that we had a strong rain in the ending part of the tour, it was good we almost completed the tour program before the rain. I am happy to know that you enjoyed the tour and enjoyed to be able to guide such a nice group. Yasu
$158/ per group
More tours by Yasuhisa K.
One day tour in Kyoto (Arashiyama area)
Tour will start from the Hotel in Kyoto. Frst visit is Kinkakuji temple (Golden Pavillion ),then, to Ryoanji tmple where is famous for rock garden. Tour will stop at Arasiyama area to take lunch and visit Togetsu bridge, Bamboo grove, Tentyuji temple and others. The last visit is NIjyo castle. As these places are normally crowded. using chartered taxi is highly recommended in order to effectively use your valuable time in Kyoto.
One day tour in Nara
Highlights of the tour are feeding deers in Nara Park and overwhelmed by the great Budha, Daibutu. Tour also visits several historcal sites. As all historical sites are located in the Nara park, we will mainly walk through the park ( 5~8km ) The tour also can customized in line with the customer's interest, historical sites, cultural sites or shopping.
Walking along historical trail of Nara(1):Samurai road
Walking along historical trail between Nara and Yagyu where was used to be the mecca of swordsmanship "Kenjyutu" during Edo era. As Yagyu family was a leader of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, one of the stile of Japanese swordsmanships, many samurais visited Yagu to learn the skill through the trail. You can enjoy such old trail thinking about samurai who were eager to improve the skill of swordsmanship.
One day tour in Kyoto (Higashiyama area)
Tour will visit several places in Higashiyama area (east part of Kyoto) including World Heritage sites. As Kyoto is normally crowded, It is strongly recommended to uae a chartered taxi, in order to effectively use the customers' valuable time in Kyoto.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Nara
One day tour in Nara
Highlights of the tour are feeding deers in Nara Park and overwhelmed by the great Budha, Daibutu. Tour also visits several historcal sites. As all historical sites are located in the Nara park, we will mainly walk through the park ( 5~8km ) The tour also can customized in line with the customer's interest, historical sites, cultural sites or shopping.
Tour of the Great Buddha of Nara
(Highlights) The Great Buddha of Nara is a magnificent structure weighing some 500 tons. Originally built in 752 AD, the stature is 15.9 meters high excluding the pedestal and its face 4.8 meters long. Subsequently, it was damaged by natural disasasters, fires and wars and was repaired several times. It was completely rebuilt in the Edo period (1603-1867). You will be amazed at the splendid image of the Great Buddha calmly seated on the pedestal with the look of a perfect repose and passionless calm. His right hand shows mercy and left hand, the wisdom of the universe. The building housing this huge image, The Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, is the largest existing wooden structure in the world, having an area of 54 meters by 49 meters and a height of 45 meters. It was burned down by a fire twice, but was rebuilt in the Edo period. (How to enjoy) You will be amazed at how huge the Buddha image is. Immerse yourself in the solemn atmosphere it creates amid the odor of burning incense, wonder at the ancient technology and the wisdom and the devotion of people. After all, you will never end up not being deeply impressed with the aura the "Daibutsu-sama" Great Buddha emits. Everywhere around the Great Buddha Hall, in the meantime, you can enjoy mixing with tame deer which do you no harm but ask you for food, "shika-sembei", which is being sold at the nearby stalls for 150 yen a pack containing some 50 grams of the deer food. You will feel very happy feeding, stroking and hugging the cute animal whose number exceeds, perhaps, 100. (Others) The transportation fare between Kyoto and Nara on a Kintetsu train is 620 yen (plus 510 yen if you take a limited express train). The entrance fee to Todaiji temple is 600 yen.
Dear deer Nara! ~Nara Park & Nara-machi~
We will visit Nara Park, where historic monuments and nature create calm and peaceful atmosphere. You'll see wild deer roaming hear and there. Walking in Nara-machi district will give us a chance to see an old merchants' townscape.
Nara Sightseeing & the World of Buddhist Statuary
Through this tour you will be intrigued with the charm of Buddhist statuary, which represents people's wishes and prayers. Figures of statues vary according to the development of eras from Asuka period to Muromachi period. At the same time you can visit Nara Park, where you can feed deer. Also you can visit a nice sake tasting place after the tour if you like.
