Kyoto Day Trip to Nara with a Local – Private & Personalized
Description
Travel to Japan’s 8th century capital and immerse yourself in Nara’s ancient heritage and leafy green surroundings. With one of our hosts by your side, you will make the short journey from Kyoto to this city, which plays home to some of the most significant Zen temples and Shinto shrines in all of Japan. When lunch rolls around (which it inevitably does), you can enjoy authentic Kansai cuisine at a tranquil spot. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take a train from Kyoto Station with your host who will eliminate any travel stress by organizing your tickets - no one likes looking at train timetables when they’re on holiday IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
The head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples. The main hall, the Daibutsuden houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu), 15 meters tall. Another popular attraction is a pillar with a hole in its base that is the same size as the Daibutsu's nostril. It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will be granted enlightenment in their next life. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
See the iconic deer roaming through the city’s streets and parks like Nara-koen Park. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
This garden, stretched between Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji temples is so quiet that you will feel almost outside the world in your little bubble of zen-peace. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Nara’s most celebrated shrine, it was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, one of Japan's most powerful family clans. Kasuga Taisha had been periodically rebuilt every 20 years for many centuries until Edo period. Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshippers. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two Lantern Festivals (February and August). IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Don’t miss the astonishing five-storied pagoda (Japan’s second tallest wooden pagoda) and three-storied pagodas, historical landmarks of Nara. IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
Ada met us very close to our hotel, which was convenient for us - she went out of our way to do this. She then took us by train the Nara, where she expertly narrated cultural, architectural, and historical features. We had lunch together, which was quite convivial. She then went out of her way to bring us to another temple of interest back in Kyoto, not in the agenda, because we had some extra time. She is Spanish, but her English is excellent as is her Japanese - which made communication easy. All told, this was an excellent experience, and we highly recommend that you consider her as your guide.
We’re so pleased to hear how smoothly everything flowed, from the convenient meeting point to exploring Nara and even fitting in that extra temple stop. It’s wonderful that the cultural insights and shared lunch made the experience feel so memorable, your recommendation truly means a lot to us!
Milo was such a professional guide, showing the best of the historic side of Japan, we really appreciate is work and passion.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad that you enjoyed your experience with Milo. He’s truly passionate about sharing the historic side of Japan, and it’s wonderful to know his professionalism and dedication made a positive impact on your journey.
Our guide Taiga was beyond amazing! Our favorite guide in our time here in Japan. Funny knowledgeable and beyond awesome!!! We loved being with him and he made our day super special!
What a joyful message—thank you! We're so happy Taiga made such a strong impression and brought such great energy to your day in Japan. It means a lot to know he made it truly special for you!
Kenya was a kind and informed guide. We appreciated the historical and cultural context he provided. He accommodated our requests and had great coffee recommendations. English was excellent. We would seek his guidance again.
We're thrilled to hear that Kenya's knowledge, flexibility, and excellent coffee picks made your experience memorable. Thank you so much for your thoughtful words!
Alex was an incredible guide! We had a wonderful time exploring Nara and learning about Japanese culture. Alex was patient enough to wait for us arriving quite late due to a mix-up in my notes. Such an amazing day! Highly recommend this tour and Alex!
We're thrilled to hear that Alex provided such an incredible tour of Nara and helped you explore Japanese culture. We hope to welcome you back for another wonderful experience in the future!
Kenya was so kinda and we had a great experience with his knowledge!! He was so helpful and knows what we expect! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted Kenya made your experience memorable.
We had a wonderful day in Nara Our guide Taiga was funny, knowledgeable and professional He was wonderful with our kids, they loved him I highly recommend this trip and in particular our guide Taiga
Our guide Rhea Sarah, was introduced to us via email by City Unscripted before we took our tour, so that our itinerary could be discussed in detail with her before we embarked on an incredible journey to Nara. Every little detail of our day was expertly handled by her, including reservations at Nara's exquisite Awa Naramachi restaurant. From fetching us from our Kyoto hotel to dropping us off as close to our hotel as possible at the end of the day long tour, she never left our side. With Rhea Sarah, it felt as if we were spending time with a friend, rather than a tour guide. She ensured that every moment of our day was unforgettable and went above and beyond to make sure that she fulfilled all our wishes. She also recommended many things we could do during the rest of our time in Kyoto. Thank you Rhea Sarah and City Unscripted for giving us everlasting memories!
Milos made it a fun day. He took us to all the major sites and was very informative. We had a new friend by the end of the day.
Our guide Alex Delivered a very informative and fun day. He has a vast knowledge of the history and culture of both Kyoto and Nara which he shared with us at Nara and during our escorted train trip to and from Nara & Kyoto. He brought Nara to life for us with extensive detailed information on each historic site. His friendly manner and excellent English allowed for great discussions on the past and current culture of Japan. It made for a very educational and enjoyable day despite the large crowds.
