Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available
Description
Nara becomes extremely crowded in the afternoon, making photos difficult. In our tour, we visit the main sites—Kofuku-ji, Todaiji, Nara Park, and Kasuga Grand Shrine—before the crowds arrive. ⬇︎PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY⬇︎ * Please arrive 10 minutes early. Late guests cannot be accepted and no refunds will be given. * For the Kyoto/Osaka Station Pickup option: the one-way train fare to Nara is included. The return ticket is not included. *This tour has up to 12 guests. *In this tour, we will walk about 10,000 steps. (stairs and hills included) *We will be using the public train (not a private vehicle) to go from Kyoto/Osaka to Nara which each takes around 1 hour. * Tour duration: – Kyoto/Osaka Departure: 4.5 hours – Kintetsu Nara Station Meeting: 3.5 hours Please provide a phone number that is reachable in Japan and on WhatsApp so that we have a smooth interaction before the tour date. Travel agents must enter the guest’s phone number, not the agency’s.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kofuku-ji Temple was established in Nara at the same time as the capital in 710. It is famous for it's five-storied pagoda, the second tallest wooden pagoda in Japan just seven meters shorter than the five-storied pagoda at Kyoto's Toji Temple. See this temple for yourself at sunrise!
Kasuga Grand Shrine is famous for it's lanterns, which have been donated by worshippers. There are approximately 3000 stone and bronze lanterns, standing as one of Japan's most historical shrines. It holds significance as the sacred grounds that inspired the presence of deer in Nara Park.
Nara Park is home to thousands of wild deers. These deers are considered to be sacred because it's said that one of the 4 gods in Kasuga Shrine rode the deer to Nara. The cute thing about these deers is that they bow at you when you feed them! It's an experience that everyone should try!
Todaiji Temple is famous for its Great Buddha Statue, the biggest Buddha statue in Japan. Until recently, this temple's man hall was the world's largest wooden building. It looks beautiful but once you know the history to why it was built and it's historical significance, you will be shocked!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We will walk about 10,000 steps during this tour.
- Not recommended for guests over 75.
- Guests under the age of 6 cannot join.
Reviews(1,092)
⭐ Amazing Nara Day with Guide FUTABA!* We had the best time in Nara thanks to our guide *FUTABA*! She made the trip so special and personal. FUTABA’s knowledge of Nara’s history, temples, and deer culture was incredible. She didn’t just tell us facts - she shared stories and little details that made Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and Nara Park come alive. Her English was clear and she was so patient with all our questions. What I loved most: She knew the perfect spots to feed the deer safely, the best angles for photos with no crowds, and even she helped me to find out vegetarian food at local shop . She was kind, punctual, and really cared that we were enjoying ourselves. If you’re visiting Nara, book FUTABA. She turned a regular sightseeing day into such a memorable experience. Domo arigato FUTABA-san! 🙏🦌
Great experience to navigate Nara for the first time! We had Ryuya as a guide and he was very informative and fun to talk to!
An amazing opportunity to see the sacred deer of Nara and the great Buddha. Taking advantage of the early morning to avoid the crowds is a pro tip. Our guide Josh was fabulous!
Hardware was such a nice guide. We really enjoyed it.
This was such a wonderful experience! Jo was our your guide and so kind and knowledgeable. His English is perfect and made the tour easy to understand.
Ko was such a wonderful tour guide. It made it very helpful that his English was perfect. He was so kind and knowledgeable.
It was an amazing experience with Moe, she showed everything about Nara. Also, she was very kind and interactive with us, such an amazing guide. I recommend it 100%.
Moe was the best guide we could have asked for to explore Nara; she took us to all the major sights and explained the historical details, and on top of that, she was very friendly and cheerful.
We had a wonderful experience. I would recommend this tour to everyone who doesn't know from where to start exploring Nara.
Ko was an outstanding guide. Extremely knowledgeable and personable. He was always attentive to the needs of the group. We had a family with small children and he was wonderful with them. He made everyone feel extremely welcome and comfortable. I loved visiting Nara in large part because he was an excellent guide. Im very much looking to bringing friends back to experience it.
