Nara · Day Tour
Japan's capital before Kyoto, and the deer have been there almost as long.
From
¥22,000 per person
approx. US$139
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmation
A private Nara tour with a local guide. Todai-ji and its Great Buddha, the deer in Nara Park, the lantern-lined approach to Kasuga Taisha and the Isuien garden are the usual candidates. Which you see and how long you spend is decided with you rather than fixed in advance.
Nara was the capital in the eighth century, before the court moved north, and it holds the buildings and the institutions from that period. Todai-ji's main hall is one of the largest wooden buildings anywhere, and it is a reduced version of the original. Your guide explains what the Great Buddha cost the state to cast, which nearly bankrupted it.
Around a thousand deer live in the park and they are not a tourist attraction by origin. They were regarded as messengers of the gods of Kasuga Taisha, and killing one was a capital offence for centuries. They bow for crackers now, but the reason they were never driven out is a religious one.
The approach to Kasuga Taisha runs between thousands of stone lanterns donated over eight centuries. Isuien, a short walk away, borrows the temple gate and the hills behind it as part of its own composition, and almost every day tripper misses it entirely.
Most people give Nara three hours between Kyoto and Osaka. A guided day gives you the park, the temples and lunch somewhere local, at a pace that leaves you time to actually look at the Great Buddha.
Meet your guide near the station.
The Great Buddha and the main hall.
The deer and the grounds.
The lantern-lined approach and the shrine.
A garden away from the crowds, if time allows.
Agreed with you in advance, usually Kintetsu Nara Station or your accommodation. Your guide will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand.
The price covers your private English-speaking guide. Entry fees, transportation and meals are paid as you go, and by convention you also cover your guide's. Bring cash.
Yes. Nara is around forty minutes from either, and most guests come across for the day.
They are wild animals and they push when food is involved. Your guide will show you how to handle the crackers, and it is easier to let an adult hold them.
Several kilometres, mostly flat, with a slope up to Kasuga Taisha.
Yes, for an additional fee, if requested in advance. The park itself is walked either way.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Bookings are confirmed instantly.
Nara · Day Tour
4 hours · From ¥7,700
