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One day trip of Horyu-ji Temple
Joined 2017
-Horyu-ji Temple was founded by Prince Shotoku in 607(Asuka period).
-The location is about 16 km(10 miles) southwest of Nara city
-The temple structures are the oldest wooden buildings in the world.
-The temple was the first place in Japan to be designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
-It would take three hours minimum to see the major areas of the temple.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At JR Horyu-ji station
Horyu-ji Temple West Complex: Kondo(Main Hall), Five-storied Pagoda, Kodo(Lecture Hall) etc.
Treasure House: Kudara Kannon(Buddha statue come from Kudara), Yumetagai Kannon(Dream Changing Kannon)
Horyu-ji Temple Eastern Complex: Yumedono(Dream Hall)
Chugu-ji Temple: Next to Horyu-ji Temple, Famouse Miroku Bosatsu statue with a mysterious smile.
Houki-ji Temple: Three storied Pagoda(oldest three storied pagoda)
Fujinoki Kofun tumulus: built late 6th century. Superb horse fittings gold plated
Ending Point
At JR Horyu-ji 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
guide fee,
Lunch, entrance fee,
-Entrance fee of Horyu-ji temple is 1500 yen/person.(excluding guide)
-Entrance fee of Chuguu-ji is 500 yen/person(excluding guide)
Tour Important Information
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
Joined 2017
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
“Secret Osaka: The Seven Hills”
Makoto led us to a different side of Osaka. We took a long walk up and down the seven slopes of Tennoji, where some 200 shrines and temples are located. It was slow, quiet and uncrowded. With Makoto's expert guidance we visited about a dozen of the most famous temples. We had a chance to observe neighborhood life, from painting groups seated on temple steps to a monk blessing a brand new BMW. Makoto was well-organized and provided us with copies of the temple descriptions. We asked many questions and he patiently shared his knowledge of the temples. It was a very warm autumn day and Makoto was sensitive to our needs for rest and shade, and to find cold bottled water from vending machines tucked in passageways. I also wish to acknowledge GoWithGuide for its selection and listing of guides. Makoto was one of three GoWithGuides who showed us around different part of Japan. All of them were excellent.
Makoto Y.
(108 reviews)Dear Elena and Rob, Thanks for your nice review comments. This tour is really different side of Osaka, but this area contains the full of Osaka history. I also enjoyed guiding you as I learned the Osaka history too. I am so happy to know that you have enjoyed the tour. Thanks again for your choosing me of your guide this time. Makoto
“Fantastic overview of Kyoto”
We have used private guides many times, but this was without a doubt the best organized personal tour we have taken by far. Makoto was super organized and knowledgeable. He gave us historical background, orientation to the layout of Kyoto, introduced us to taxi, bus and subway use, taught us a few Japanese terms and even gave us hand fans to use because it was hot on the trains. He helped us plan the remainder of our time in Kyoto as well with tips on where to eat and what to see. He also helped us with a personal problem, one of our group lost their wallet. He took us to a police station to report the loss, notified our hotel, and checked with the taxi company we used. We found the wallet with his help. Being Japan, the wallet contents were untouched when returned. Finally, he gave us a small parting gift of a one of his own watercolor pictures of Japan. It was a great experience and Makoto gave us a great introduction to Japan and its people.
Makoto Y.
(108 reviews)Dear Marjorie, What a nice comment you have gave me. I really appreciate your comment, however, I was so happy to know that you finally found the wallet. Please be advise that the action, I took for the wallet search, can be done by anyone and not special. Your comment encouraged me to be a better guide, and I will keep my efforts. Thanks again for you to choose me of your guide. Makoto
“Could be better ”
The sites we visited were excellent and Mak provided good explanations and history for each of them. However, despite frequent communication prior to and on the morning of the tour, he did not make clear that there were 2 separate train stations in Nara and the one we would arrive at from Kyoto, depended on the type of train we caught. Thus, despite arriving in Nara for a 10 am start at 9:50, we didn’t actually meet and the tour didn’t start until 10:30. Also, we felt rushed. Mac would march of at speed without constantly checking that we were keeping up with him. This stopped us from looking at everything we might want to and taking photos etc. it also made me stressed in that I had keep an eye on Mac and make sure that my wife was also in view. Finally, despite starting late (@ 10:30) we finished early at 2:45, ie just over 4 hours. This is advertised as a 6 hour tour. Admittedly, he did ask us at the end if we wanted us to be taken back to the station, or if we wanted to look around by ourselves, we chose the latter. This was because he was showing us a shopping street, by marching us at pace along it, ie not giving us the opportunity to browse.
Makoto Y.
(108 reviews)Dear Gan, Thank you for your honest opinions and for taking the time to write them. This would be good information for me to improve my guide skill. Some points, I would like you to understand is: 1) My tour schedule sheet, I gave you in advance, clearly mention the meeting point is JR Nara station, not Kintetsu station. Even I showed you the JR platform to go to JR Nara station at the site. In my carrier of the guide, no customer made the mistake of the JR Nara station and Kintetsu station. 2) I have covered all the spots, planned to visit. I have asked to enter Kasuga shrine inside, but you prefer not to enter. I planned to arrange the tea ceremony session, but you declined due to the knee problem of your wife. These two factors are major reason to finish the tour earlier than the schedule. Anyway this is good experience for me, and I consider not to repeat the same issue again. Best regards, Makoto
