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Nara Best Spots Private Tour
4.8
14 Ratings
Kyoto
Discover Nara's rich heritage with expert guides. Explore temples, gardens, and iconic deer. Customize your tour for an unforgettable experience.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Kyoto Station - Meet your guide at 9:00 at JR Kyoto Station (in front of Tourist Information) for an 8-hour tour or at JR Nara Station (in front of a ticket gate) for a 6-hour tour. Please select some must-see spots from the list below. On average, you can visit 3 to 4 spots during this tour.
- Kasuga Grand Shrine - Nara’s most renowned shrine, located within an ancient forest known for its mystical ambiance and lush, lantern-lined paths. Established in the 8th century when Nara was the capital, the shrine was built to pray for Japan’s prosperity and the well-being of its people. The harmony of nature, tradition, and spirituality at Kasuga Taisha Shrine offers a serene experience and a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural heritage.
- Nara Park - A vast park in central Nara, famous for its friendly, free-roaming deer considered messengers of the gods. The park provides a unique chance to interact with wildlife amidst stunning historical landmarks. It’s an expansive oasis perfect for feeding the deer, exploring ancient temples, or enjoying a leisurely walk.
- Mt. Wakakusa - A gently sloping mountain behind Nara Park, offering panoramic views of the ancient city of Nara and its surrounding beauty. This grass-covered mountain is popular for its scenic hiking trails leading to a summit about 350 meters high.
- Kofuku-ji Temple - A testament to Nara’s ancient religious and cultural significance, this temple was once the family temple of the powerful Fujiwara clan and consisted of over 150 buildings in the 8th century. Visitors can explore the history and artistry of the Heian period through its museum, which houses an exquisite collection of Buddhist art. The temple’s five-story pagoda (under restoration until 2031) is an iconic Nara landmark.
- Naramachi - Literally meaning “Nara Town,” this charming historic district invites visitors to step back in time as they wander through narrow alleys lined with traditional residential buildings, warehouses, shops, and cafes. Once a merchant district, Naramachi now features beautifully preserved residences turned museums, unique local crafts, and peaceful strolls.
- Isuien Garden - An attractive Japanese garden featuring the use of Todaiji Temple’s Nandaimon Gate and Mt. Wakakusayama as “borrowed scenery.” The garden’s name, meaning “garden founded on water,” comes from its ponds fed by the nearby Yoshikigawa River. The Yoshikien Garden is located just across the river.
- Yoshikien - A pleasant Japanese garden in central Nara next to Isuien Garden, named after the Yoshikigawa River. Built on the site of Kofukuji Temple’s former priest residences, Yoshikien features three unique gardens: a pond garden, a moss garden, and a tea ceremony garden. Visitors can see three different styles of Japanese gardens in one spot, with Isuien Garden just across the river for more examples.
- Shinyakushiji Temple - Founded in the 8th century to pray for the emperor’s recovery from illness, this temple houses a remarkable principal image of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine, surrounded by twelve guardian deities, each a masterpiece of early Japanese sculpture. The temple offers a peaceful and reflective ambiance.
- Nara National Museum - Located in Nara Park, this art museum primarily displays Japanese Buddhist art. Established in 1889, the museum retains its original building and features a new wing connected by an underground passage. Both wings display the museum’s permanent collection, including Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls, and ceremonial objects mainly from Japan. The new wing also hosts temporary exhibitions, including an annual autumn exhibition of treasures from Todaiji Temple. A ticket grants access to both wings, with English explanations available throughout the museum.
- Todai-ji Temple - One of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples, and a landmark of Nara. This UNESCO World Heritage Site captivates visitors with its rich history and architectural magnificence. Home to the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue, Todai-ji Temple is both a spiritual haven and a masterpiece of ancient Japanese craftsmanship.
What's Included
- Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
What's Not Included
- Transportation to/from attractions (for you & guide)
- Entrance fees (for you & guide)
- Lunch (for you & guide)
- Other Private Expenses
- Private Vehicle
- Hotel Pick-up
Additional Information
Explore the highlights of Nara with our friendly local guides who are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their city. They will take you around the sites in most efficient way and provide you with in-depth insights into each site, ensuring you get the most out of your visit.
Nara, the first capital of Japan, is a captivating city that offers a journey back in time to the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Famous for its serene temples and a shrine, stunning garden, and the iconic free-roaming deer. This tour allows you to choose several locations of your choice.
Join us for an unforgettable stop in Nara, the heart of Japan.
Please choose 3 to 4 must-see spots from “What To Expect” that you wish to visit.
- A moderate amount of walking is included. Please wear comfortable walking shoes
- This is a walking tour. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between spots.
- The tour will take place rain or shine.
Location
Kyoto Station
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(14 Ratings)
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V7123oxigors
Apr 30, 2024
1-day Nara adventure - Recently me and my wife took a trip to Kansai. We visited Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Nara was my favorite. In this tour, we got to visit several spots, interact and feed the cute deer, and had very good local food. The city is quite compact, but in a good way, making this the perfect 1-day tour. Our guide Mr Kiyoto was able to adapt and lead the group to the perfect destinations based on our preferences. It was quite the interactive tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lizaw318
Apr 26, 2024
Wondeerful Day Trip - Wondeerful Day Trip!
My trip to Nara was full of surprises. I remember initially being worried that the guide was going to take me to a bunch of temples and I wouldn’t have enough time to see the deer. I was wrong. The cute deer were everywhere around Nara park, and the temples and shrines were quite interesting. For 200yen, there were several places to buy cookies so you could feed the deer yourself. The deer are very polite so you don’t have to worry. At the end of my tour, the guide took us to a very good smoothie shop.
Overall the trip was very enjoyable. Thank you Japan Wonder Travel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I8327txbw
Apr 25, 2024
Plenty of options to explore, excellent and friendly guide - My guide was excellent and provided great commentary and answered all of my questions while touring around Nara. You get to choose from a list of places to visit, so there should be a good fit for anyone. I did the 8hr tour which started at Kyoto Station and it was plenty of time, at no point did I feel rushed.
There were many great photo opportunities and my guide was helpful in capturing those moments (meeting the Nara deer!)
You also get to have lunch with your guide (you choose where, but your guide can give you suggestions), which ended up being a really awesome experience as I got to pick a restaurant I normally would not have visited due to the language barrier.
Having a guide to help give a more in depth explanation of things (especially if you aren’t Japanese) really enhanced my understanding of Nara and Japan. This tour was one of the top highlights of my trip, would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser20904828413
Apr 26, 2024
Need more spots for 6 hour tour! - Only three spots for 6 hours are not enough because Nara is a very compact town to travel around.
You should add at least one more.
And also the five-storied pagoda in Kofukuji has been under construction,so you should add the information to the selection list.
It will be going like for 7 years!
Anyway my guide was active and helpful.
BTW He was late at meeting spot because he was at Kintetsu Nara,not JR Nara
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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