Nara Prefecture Tours

If you don’t speak Japanese, it can be hard to navigate Japan like a local. This tour of Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, is designed to  help you do just that. Leave the crowds of Kyoto behind and discover the peaceful city of Nara: its temples, shrines, traditional houses and divine deer. Explore the backstreets and alleys of the merchants district, and try authentic street food.

Maximize your time in Nara with a private walking tour that puts you in touch with the real city—via a local who loves it. It’s simple: explain your travel wants, meet your Nara local, and enjoy a tour that puts Nara at your feet. Learn ways to get around, places to see, and hidden local hotspots, and get the info needed to get the most from your visit.

Explore Nara with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of Nara and introduce both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient Japanese city. Nara's proximity to Kyoto and Osaka, and its rich collection of traditional sites, make it an ideal destination for a day trip from either of its larger neighbors. Your private guide can help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of this ancient Japanese city. You can start your day at your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Join the highlights Tour at Nara Cycle Tours and meet other travelers, or do it in private and your guide can make this day special for your own group.

Nothing better than to discover Nara by the explanations from an -almost-local person! The first fixed capital of Japan, a high city of tradition and history, you will learn more about the history of this city and Japan. I lived in Nara for 3 years and it is my favorite place in Japan. You will discover an ancient capital which became a calm countryside city. Nothing to hurry, nothing to worry!

This is a Nara private tour using by public transportation from Kyoto. The guide will pick you up at the hotel. No problem with train and bus transfers, as the guides are with you! The destinations of the tour includes Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, deer park, and other UNESCO World Heritage Site temples! For details of the tour, you can look at the what to expect section and inclusions excursions section of this web page.

This is the perfect tour for first-time visitors to Nara who want to get a good overview in a short space of time. You won’t have to worry about navigating as a guide takes you around a shortlist of Nara’s best sights. See the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Todai-ji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, visit the traditional houses of Naramachi, and see the city’s many semi-wild deer.

This tour helps you uncover the best of Japan’s ancient capital—Nara in half a day. Visit multiple temples, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Todai-ji Temple, and Kofukuji Temple. Learn about the semi-tame deer that freely roam Nara Park, and visit a sake brewery too. You’ll save hours researching Nara’s highlights by having a guide to lead the way and take you to a shortlist of the city’s best sights.

Come with me to discover Yoshino, in the South of Nara prefecture! Surrounded by nature and inside mountains, Yoshino is the place to visit especially during the beautiful sakura season, better between April 13~15. But even out season, Yoshino is a high place of History, mostly with Kukai, Buddhist monk from the 9th century the Southern Imperial Court of Japan (14th century).

Kansai WIDE Area Pass is valid for unlimited travel in the valid area on the map ･ Valid trains are below; - Non-reserved seats on Bullet Train "SANYO SHINKANSEN" (Shin-Osaka⇔Okayama) ･ The pass can be used for non-reserved seats on the "Hello Kitty Shinkansen". - Non-reserved seats on Express Trains HARUKA, KUROSHIO, THUNDERBIRD, KOUNOTORI, SUPER HAKUTO, SUPER INABA, etc. - Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines * For reserved seats, please purchase a Limited Express Reserved Seat Ticket from a JR-WEST Ticket Office or other location before boarding.

Located in the southern part of Nara Prefecture, "Yoshinoyama" is known as one of the most famous cherry blossom areas in Japan. Yoshino mountain is covered with 30,000 cherry trees blooming in the spring. Its elegant and elegant landscape continues to attract many people, from ancient times to the present age. From ancient times, Yoshino cherries held a special place, even as a sacred ground for an examination of the path connecting God and nature. In the old days, it was written numerous Japanese texts how beautiful a sight it was that the Emperor of that time and all cultural people loved. This tour is about 5 hours of walking along the mountain path of Yoshino while thinking about the history of eternity. There are no steep slopes, but the entire journey will be about 8 km, so it's a tour for those who are ok with walking. Follow along with the local guide that lives in Nara, learning the way the people of the Asuka and Nara period went about Yoshino exploration.

Nara has many tourist attractions to visit. But surely you have no time? Rental bicycles are the best way to get around the sights efficiently. With a bike you can drop in anywhere you like. You can move around comfortably while looking at the beautiful city, without worrying about traffic jam like a car. ■All bicycles are maintained by mechanic. ■You can rent a bike for up to 24 hours at one day price ■Returnable after closing ■There are also many other types of bicycles, such as regular bike or kids bike. Please check our website for details. ■The number of small e-bikes (22 inches and 24 inches) is limited. If you need small e-bikes, please confirm by email to our shop in advance. ■Child seat is available for free. But please note that only children weighing less than 22 kg can sit in it.

Interested in an elegant mixture of ancient and modern Japanese culture? The ancient city Nara with a history of longer than 1,000 years would be the best place for you! Especially, the Naramachi area still has beautiful traditional houses and modern shops renovated from ancient facilities. You will have a Japanese breakfast at a renovated traditional Japanese style house. There is a lot that makes this tour a special one: a traditional Japanese style house which is older than 300 years, toys children used to play with back then, a breathtaking statue of Buddha, and more! Don’t forget to book your tour to appreciate the great harmony of the ancient and modern Japanese culture!

This tour is the occasion to present you a Japanese village with a glorious past. Asuka dates from Japanese protohistory. Yamato land sometimes established there its capital which were not fixed in the 6th~7th century before moving "for good" to Heijo-kyo in 710. Asuka is nowadays a big village with 5620 inhabitants. Relatively close to nearby cities, farmers and townsmen willing for better living standards live together. This village is still proud of its past and shows it to us. This ancient capital place also aims to be registered as UNESCO World Heritage in 2024 as "Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan’s Ancient Capitals and Related Properties". Furthermore, unlike other cities, Japanese urbanism is well respected. We can visit an old town as it was during Edo Period (1600-1868) between all the historical sites. This Edo atmosphere is also worth it.

Private Hassle Free Transfer. Professional Drivers with Greeting Sign. Free Cancellation --24Hours Notice. Have a Flexible Private Ride to Highlight Your Journey 24hours Customer Support Team to help you through the jounary

 Let's enjoy the city of Ikaruga, a world heritage town by bicycle! If you are within the usage time, you can freely stroll around your favorite places. In Ikaruga-cho, there are many attractions such as Horyu-ji and Hoki-ji, which are world heritage sites, as well as Horin-ji, Yoshida-ji, Fujinogi tumulus, and Tatsuta-gawa. Luggage storage during the rental cycle is free of charge, so you can enjoy cycling casually with your hands. All bicycles are equipped with shifting gears, so you can easily go uphill! An electric bicycle (one) is also available, so please choose according to your preference. ◆ ◇ Lending location ◇ ◆ ・ Nara Ikaruga Tourism Waikaru (Free parking and luggage storage available) ◆ ◇ Use time ◆ ◇ 9: 00-18: 00 ◆ ◇ Price ◆ ◇ 1,500 yen a day In addition, there are plans for 1 hour (300 yen), 2 hours (600 yen), 3 hours (800 yen), and 5 hours (1,200 yen). ◆ ◇ Return ◆ ◇ Final return is 18:00 (on time) ☆ Guidance of neighboring facilities ☆ Horyuji Temple Hours: 8: 00-17: 00 (16:30 in winter) Admission fee: General 1,500 yen / Elementary school student 750 yen Horinji Temple Hours: 8: 00-17: 00 (16:30 in winter) Admission fee: 500 yen for adults / 400 yen for middle and high school students / 200 yen for elementary school students Hokiji Temple Opening hours: 8: 30-17: 00 (16:30 in winter) Admission fee: General 300 yen / Elementary school student 200 yen Yoshida Temple Opening hours: 9am to 6:30 pm Admission fee: Adults (high school students and older) 300 yen / Junior high school students 200 yen / Elementary school students 100 yen You can also experience making a red stamp book at Yoshidaji Temple. For details, see the following page. ※ Please confirm before you leave ※ (1) Bicycles are thoroughly inspected, but please check by yourself before departure. (Brake, transmission, pedal, tire pressure, etc.) ② When you leave your bicycle, be sure to lock it. ③ In case of theft or damage, please pay our actual expenses. ら Please return the key to the counter when you return. ら Please call 0745-75-8055 if you have any troubles such as puncture or breakdown.

"Experience Nature" Totsukawa special experience Totsukawa is the largest of Japan's 183 village districts. No less than 96% of the district is covered by forest. We have created a program which offers the chance to see what life is like for the local people who live so close to nature in this little visited corner of Japan. You are certain to be given the warmest of welcomes by the local folk, and to gain insights into the ways in which they live in harmony with nature. This is a special plan that allows you to enjoy traditional dishes like meharizushi and the Totsukawa Oh-odori dance (a registered intangible important folk cultural property) with local people. *This is a 1-night, 2-day trip where you will interact with local people and feel true Japanese culture. *We are offering a ticket to enjoy some of the onsen hot spring baths in Totsukawa Village, as a present just for people who apply in 2020. (first come first serve, limited availability)

Yoshino, famous for its cherry blossoms, is also the birthplace of a mystic religion called Shugen-do that draws elements from Buddhism, Shintoism, and animism. While walking through this temple town you might be able to see practitioners clad in their peculiar costumes and hear the sound of the giant conch being blown. The three fierce-looking main statues of Zao-do Hall are exhibited only for a limited period of time a year in spring and in fall. We can look at them really closely and in peace and quiet. Moreover we will visit a sweets shop that makes a special kind of sweet typical of this region and the gorgeous room where emperors ruled from 1336 to 1392. Nature, culture, and history all come together in this exciting and extraordinary tour that will give you new insights into Japan.

Hiking tour in Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest, surrounded by beautiful nature, various plants and animals, and amazing picturesque views. Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest is located in the main area of Nara City and very close to Nara Park. It has remained untouched for thousands of years and has been carefully protected as the sacred forest of the Kasugataisha Shrine. There are over 800 types of trees, wild animals, rare birds and insects. Takisaka-no-Michi path, one of the famous hiking courses in the forest, passes a waterfall and small caves carved with Buddha figures. It is said to be a training path for monks in Nara and you can see the objects of faith along the way. The path leads to Yagyu Village known as the birthplace of the Yagyu Shinkage School of swordsmanship. The statue of Kubikiri Jizo appears along the way. It has been sliced at the neck by a sword. According to folklore, it was used by the master swordsman to test his blade.

This private and customizable tour for Nara is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

- Nara has various collection of traditional sites of Japan - Visit this town to explore the history sides of Japan - While enjoying the views of incredible traditional sites, you have to capture those moments - Hire a photo service in Nara taken by special photographer who can speak English - This photography service lets you to choose the sites to take your photo shoot

There is also a Japanese garden attached to the tea room, where you can enjoy tea while watching the views of various expressions in each season. Please enjoy Japanese tradition through tea. ※ About waiting At the end of the Edo period about 200 years ago, Hakushin-ya was erected in Horyuji Temple Zenjuin by Horyuji Temple Monk Kokuken. According to Horyuji's records, Kukken, who was familiar with the tea ceremony, wrote letters to fellow monks and invited everyone to enjoy tea. ◆ 集合 Meeting place ◆ ◆ ・ Nara Ikarugato Tourism Waikaru (free parking available) ◆ 開 催 Opening time ◆ ◇ ・ 10 o'clock to 16:30 The start time is every 30 minutes. ◆ 料 金 fee ◆ ◇ 2,500 yen per person (tax included) ・ The fee includes experience fee and sweets fee. ◆ 流 れ Flow of experience ◆ ◇ Remove the watch or ring so as not to damage the bowl. ↓ Greeting with the lord. ↓ Let's stretch the spine and learn how to do it. ↓ Matcha green tea is on. The trick is to stand the teapot vertically and move it back and forth. ↓ I have sweets before drinking. ↓ Let's have some tea. ↓ I thank the lord and finish. ◆ 流 れ Flow of the day ◆ ◇ Gathering at Nara Ikarugato Tourism Waikaru (Please come 10 minutes before the start time) ↓ Confirmation of reservation, entry of experience participation application form ↓ Move to Experience Facility If you come by foot or by bus, the staff will transfer you to the experience facility by car. ↓ Experience start! ↓ It is finished by having tea, it will be disbanded. Staff will pick you up on foot.

Enjoy meeting the local folk living in Totsukawa Village. Experience the Bon Odori Musashi O-Odori dance which has been held for more than 300 years. The Musashi O-Odori is a dance which has been passed down from generation to generation, and has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. You can wear the actual Bon Odori costumes for the traditional dance, and hear lectures given by locals. A great opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of the friendly locals in Totsukawa.

･ Sanyo-San'in Area pass is valid for unlimited travel in the valid area on the map ･ Valid trains are below (Reserved seats) - Reserved seats on SANYO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka⇔Hakata) ･ This pass can be used for "Hello Kitty Shinkansen". - The Limited EXPRESS 'HARUKA, KUROSHIO, THUNDERBIRD, KOUNOTORI, YAKUMO, SUPER HAKUTO (INCL.Kamigori⇔Chizu) etc.' - Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines - JR WEST MIYAJIMA FERRY (Miyajimaguchi⇔Miyajima)