Kyoto
English, Japanese (Native)
8 hours
Private tour (only you and your group)
Up to 15 people

Nara Golden Route (Todaiji, Kofukuji, Kasuga Shrine)

Day Trip

Nara was the Imperial capital of Japan between 710 and 784 A.D.

I guide you historical spots including Nara Park, Todaiji temple, Kasuga shrine, and Kofukuji Temple.

In Nara Park, you can enjoy feeding crackers to deers.

We see the great image of Buddha at Todaiji Temple.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the largest Shinto shrine in Nara. This shrine is famous for its 2,000 stone lanterns and its 1,000 bronze lanterns. We see the typical example of Shinto.

Hideo Y.

4.57 / 5
(167 reviews)

Meeting Point

at your hotel

10:30 AM

Kofukuji Temple

It has the second tallest 5-stroried pagoda in Japan.

11:30 AM

Nara Park

You enjoy feeding deer crackers

12:00 PM

Todaiji Temple

The great image of Buddha in the Buddha Hall

02:00 PM

Nigatsudo

We command a panoramic view of Mara city from the second floor.

02:40 PM

Kasuga Great Shrine

You see a lot of bronze lanterns and golden lanterns.

03:30 PM

Nara Machi (lunch)

Old town

Ending Point

at your hotel

What to Expect

Nara was the Imperial capital of Japan between 710 and 784 A.D. The city has many places of historical interest including Nara Park, Todaiji temple, Kasuga shrine, and Kofukuji Temple.

The Great Buddha Hall, the main hall of the Todaiji Temple, is one of the largest wooden structures in the world and the seated figure inside is the world's largest bronze image of Buddha.

Guess how high the right hand of the gread image of Buddha is ?

Guess how many snail-shaped hairs Buddha has ?

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the largest Shinto shrine in Nara. This shrine is famous for its 2,000 stone lanterns and its 1,000 bronze lanterns which stand on both sides of the approach to the shrine. The lanterns are lit twice a year on the night of the Setsubun Festival and August 15.

Naramachi is an area which flourished as a prosperous town with many businesses and shops including ink production, linen textile, sake brewing and the like. The area still retains the nostalgic scenery of people's lives in the 19th century, especially in the narrow lanes winding around the area. Nara Craft Museum has a wide range of traditional Nara crafts such as itto-bori (wood carving), Akahada-yaki (ceramics), calligraphy brushes and inks.

You can enjoy Japanese foods such as kaiten-zushi (converyor belt sushi restaurant), eel and Japanese sweets for lunch.

In Nara Park, there are about 1,200 tame deer. Visitors can feed the deer with crackers sold at stalls in the park. They are believed to be divine messengers of Kasuga Shrine. The deer love the crackers so don't be surprised if you get surrounded by them!

Kofukuji Temple, which in 2010 celebrated the 1,300th anniversary of its founding, is famous for the Five Story Pagoda, the Nan-endo (Southern Octagonal Hall)and the statue of Ashura. The beautiful five-story pagoda is about 50 meters in height, the second highest pagoda in Japan.

By the way, have you ever heard of the statue of Ashura in the Kofkuji National Treasure Museum ?

Ashura is one of the most famous statues in Japan, especially very popular among women. Visitors will be able to see Ashura on open display, not behind a glass case.

Why don't you come see the Great image of Buddha, the tame deer and the statue of Ashura ?

Want to personalize this tour?

  • Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
  • Click below to tell us what you are looking for:

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

guide fee

What‘s not included

transportation fee (you and guide), lunch, entrance fee

Important Information

I guide you Sapporo, Furano, Otaru, Hakodate in Hokkaido / Aomori in Hokuriku / Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Kagoshima in Kyushu / Kochi, Matsuyama in Shikoku / Tottori, Shimane, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato in Japan Sea side. Please get in touch with me!!

Thank 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

Reviews

K

Karen G.

5 / 5
Sep 3, 2024

Great day tour

We did a day tour with Hideo today and had a great day. We could not have done this on our own. So many train changes he was extremely patient and knowledgeable. We are doing another tour with him o. A couple of days. Highly recommend l. Thank you

Hideo Y.

Thank you for an excelent review, Yes, we changed trains 7 times including transfers. We visited Arashiyama Bmboo Forest and Kimono Forest. I could show you daruma and beckoning cat in Fushimi Inari Taisha. I'm very happy to guide you one more time.

P

Patrick P.

5 / 5
Aug 24, 2024

Very Flexible

Hideo-San did a great job. Good communication before we met him. On the tour, he was knowledgeable and told us many interesting things. He is also very easy to be with and talk to. We asked him to make some last minute changes to our itinerary, and he was very flexible. I also greatly appreciate that he helped us change train tickets and walked us all the way to our train in the station. We will not forget our memorable time with him in Hiroshima.

Hideo Y.

Thank you for posting an excellent review. I always try to cope with guests' requests as much as possible. This time you don't have so much time, so first we started the tour 30minutes earlier. We visited Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum. On the tour day Hiroshima is not so hot and humid, so I could show you many memorial monuments in the Peace Memorial Park. I could help change Shinkansen tickets directly from Hiroshima to Kyoto using JR pass. I'm sure you come back to Japan again. I wish you every success in your job.

A

Angela M.

5 / 5
Aug 23, 2024

Wow Wow Wow! 5* plus

We had the pleasure of touring Kyoto and Kobe over 2 days with Hideo. With his breadth of knowledge about Japanese culture, history, geography and religions, he was able to supplement our itinerary with facts and stories, also using printouts and pictures. This gave us a deeper understanding of the shrines, temples, famous buildings, and other landmarks. Through Hideo’s knowledge and experience, we were able to fully experience everything that these two beautiful cities had to offer, and embrace ourselves in Japanese culture with Hideo recommendations of food markets and restaurants. Before the trip he thoroughly answered all of our questions and concerns online, and tailored a perfect itinerary for our group ( 3 adults and 3 teenagers). Hideo took time to answer our questions, and was extremely patient with our group, also ensuring hospitality for an elderly person in our tour group, for example arranging wheelchairs. Overall a wonderful 2 days A most memorable experience

Hideo Y.

I'm very happy to receive your excellent review. I also enjoyed guiding your family. Your 3 students climbed up to Iwatayama Monkey park to give vegetables to monkeys while we adults visited beautiful Kiyomizu Temple. You also took a lot of pictures such as Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kinkauji Temple (Golden Pavilion), and Ryoanji Temple. I'm sure you enjoyed Tea Ceremony wearing Kimono, having sweets and matcha green tea. Lastly, we visited Osaka Dotonbori. In front of Glico signboard, we took photos you do the same pose as marathon runner. We saw flashy signboards such as crab restaurant, unique Kushikatsu restaurant, Billiken and the like. Congratulations on your students' passing the entrance exam. I hope you come back to Japan again. I wish you and your family all the best for your good health and continued success.

A

Alicia V.

5 / 5
Aug 18, 2024

Great day with Hideo!

We spent the entire day with Hideo, we met us at the cruise ship port and stayed with us until after dinner. Our day with him was the best day of our 14 day visit to Japan! He is kind, knowledgeable, and easy to be around. He made great recommendations and we would use him again for future tours.

Hideo Y.

I'm very happy to receive your excellent review. First we visited Engyoji Temple. It is the set of "The last samurai." And we entered the Himeji Castle called "White Egret Castle." Finally we had Kobe Beef for dinner. Thank you for joining my tour. I hope you come back to Japan again. I wish you and your family good health and happiness.

$239/ per group

More tours by Hideo Y.

Kyoto Golden Route (Nijo Arashiyama Kinkakuji Fushimi Inari)

Kyoto
8 hours

Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan from 794 over one thousand years. I would like to introduce you Nijo Castle, Arashiyama bamboo Forest, Tenryuji Temple, Kinkakuji Temple (Golden pavilion), and Fushimi Inari Taisha. Fushimi Inari Taisha has 1,000 shrine gates, It had been ranked top among most popular scenic spots in Japan by foreign tourists for 6 years in a row. Your entrance fee is 2,300 yen /person..

FROM$239/ per group

Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima

Hiroshima
8 hours

Hiroshima has 2 World Heritage sites: the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima. Hiroshima is now internationally known as the first city destroyed by the atomic bomb ever used in human warfare. Within the Peace memorial Park at the epicenter of the explosion, you can find war memorial museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The shrine is also a brilliant vermilion hall and it creates a sharp contrast against the wooded hills in the background and the blue sky above.

FROM$338/ per group

Osaka Castle, Dotombori, Shin-Sekai

Osaka
8 hours

I take you to Osaka Castle, Dotombori, Sginsekai and Shinsaibashi Shopping Street. Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi HIDEYOSHI. Oh, it's my residence, isn't it !! You can commands a panoramic view of Osaka city from the observatory. In Dotnobori you have popular Osaka local foods such as Okonomiyaki. Takoyaki, and Kushikatsu. Shin-Sekai is a downtown area with a strange mix of nostalgic atmosphere. We mainly use subway for about 820JPY and Your entrance fee is 600JPY/person.

FROM$239/ per group

Kochi Golden Tour

Kochi
6 hours 30 min

Chikurinji Temple is designated as the 31st of the 88 Shikoku sacred sites pilgrimage. Ryugado-cave is one of the 9 Selections of Stalactite Caves in Japan. Ryoma is selected one of the three most popular figures in Japanese history. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the beach is known for a good spot to view the moon. Kochi Castle is one of the 12 wooden castles.

FROM$296/ per group

Popular Tours in Kyoto

Your most memorable tour in Kyoto

Kyoto
8 hours

Kyoto is an ancient capital that has existed for over 1000 years. There are many shrines and temples, and you can also see traditional Japanese culture such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement. You can also see the beautiful scenery that will take your breath away. Please feel Kyoto, which can be said to be the origin of Japan, with all five senses.

FROM$225/ per group
Kazuhiko G.
4.76 / 5
(172 reviews)

Charming must -see in north west area of Kyoto city

Kyoto
8 hours

This tour covers 4 must-see sightseeing spot . Firstly, we visit the golden pavilion. We go to Arashiyama. We walk through Tenryuji garden and bamboo forest. In the afternoon, we'll visit Nijo castle. (We enjoy watching a live demonstration of Japanese sweet making with green tea(Mattcha).Finally you can learn about Kyoto’s traditional and wonderful kimono

FROM$169/ per group
Mana F.
4.85 / 5
(85 reviews)

Customized Private Tour in Kyoto

Kyoto
8 hours

This is customized private tour in Kyoto which guests can create easily by selecting any spots from a list of popular tourist destinations. The list consists of 16 tourist destinations (S01-16) that are very popular especially among foreign tourists. After the guest's selection the guide will arrange best itinerary with tour cost and feedback proper offer to the guest for formal booking.

FROM$366/ per group
Kenji M.
4.71 / 5
(83 reviews)

Must see spots in Kyoto and Nara in a day (8 hours)

Kyoto
8 hours

It's a little bit difficult, for the first comers to Japan, to visit popular sightseeing spots in both of Kyoto and Nara. In this tour, you can visit Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, three most popular sightseeing spots in Nara and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, the most popular sightseeing spot for visitors from abroad, in Kyoto. Deer will wait for you in Nara Park!

FROM$232/ per group
Tomoe S.
4.94 / 5
(109 reviews)