Nara Prefecture Tours

Discover both the traditional and contemporary sides of the ancient Japanese city of Nara. This private half-day walking tour allows you customize your itinerary to your own interests and soak yourself in the history and culture of the dynamic city. Select which places you want to see, from Nara Park and Mt. Wakakusa to Todai-ji Temple and Nara National Museum.

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!

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.

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.

Cover the highlights of Nara during this guided half-day biking tour. Mingle with other travelers as you cycle between locations, from the iconic stone lanterns of Kasuga Taisha to Nara Park’s resident deer. Tick off more sights in less time from two wheels. Bottled water and a safety helmet are included.

This bike tour is based on our most popular tour, Nara Highlights, but without Yoshikien Garden and reserved for families with kids. Either your children can ride a bike or not, we are here for you. Explore Nara, the park, visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine and its thousand lanterns, the Kikuichi traditional Japanese knife shop With a guide who will keep you safe and will show you the city in a very unique way. Welcome to Nara with our Family Bike Tour. As it is a private family tour, you can be sure that your guide will take extra care of your group, adjust and adapt the tour based on your preferences.

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.

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 a guided walking tour covering all must-sees of Nara Park area. Instead of looking down at your smartphones or guidebooks for information, look up and around to enjoy the city. Our guide is sure to tell you history, picture spots, about deer and so on. The tour usually ends around 1 pm; you have enough time to explore the city on your own afterwards.

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.

In Old Japan, many enjoyed a visit to the temple via a long, crowded highway where the town flourished around it. It is in Nara this atmosphere remains to this day! Firstly, we will visit "Hase temple." Drop by an old liquor shop or Japanese confectionary shop to experience the travels of the past. Go up the 399 stairs of Hase temple where a dynamic view and main hall awaits! The view from the theatre is super, there is also no doubt you will be overwhelmed by the size. Later we will visit Odamo, a castle town that flourished along the Ise road to Ise-Shrine. There are several old stores, including sake breweries, Japanese confectionary stores and old private cafes. A great atmosphere!

Make one of the most popular Japanese foods, "Sushi" by yourself on the 1.5 hour cooking class with a Japanese teacher at Umemori Sushi School in Nara. Make your own favorite sushi with us and take a photo of them. After making Sushi, let us enjoy them with other Japanese food (optional). We believe that this will be an unforgettable memory for you.

Nara city is rapidly gaining popularity as a tourist destination. As the capital of Japan in the 8th century, it can offer a variety of old temples and shrines, but also the charm of its former merchants’ quarter with quaint old houses serving as shops or restaurants. In this tour we will visit the biggest and most famous temple and shrine dating back to the 8th century as well as the old townscape.

Kyo Yuzen is one of the Japanese traditional dyeing technique. You will use the Kyo Yuzen sketch technique to illustrate a pattern on a 100% dyed silk stole. Several colors will be layered on top of each other making for a colorful design, soft feel and high-quality texture. Why not try making a one-of-a-kind original stole using this traditional Japanese method. The instructor has been recognized from among the artisans engaged in creating traditional crafts, as designated by METI (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry), as a “Traditional Craftsman” because of her commitment to maintaining a high level of quality. She will carefully explain the process in simple terms so that even the beginner can understand.

Don’t miss the famous Buddhist image of Todai-Ji temple and the three thousand bamboo lamps at “Kasuga-Taisha” if you come to Nara! We will take you there and give detail explanation about them on this tour. You will first visit the popular hall of the great Buddha which is a national treasure and world cultural heritage. “Nigatsu-do” which is located behind Todai-Ji temple is not so popular, but the view of the whole city from there is superb! After hiking through a forest with wild deer and visiting a famous Japanese sword shop, we will get to “Kasuga Taisha”. The three thousand bamboo lamps there is beyond description! Don’t forget to book your photogenic tour!

How about visiting the oldest five-storied pagoda in the world and world heritage, Horyuji Temple with your otomo guide? Horyuji Temple has brought the dawn of Japanese Buddhism and is the oldest world heritage in Japan. There are many historical Buddhist image and structures that will make you excited and overwhelmed! The five-storied pagoda there is the oldest one in the world, but its quake-proof technique of the structure is the same as used in TOKYO SKYTREE! You will also visit an ancient tomb, a unique temple, the countryside with fields and rice fields, and a café peculiar to a historical city! Don’t forget to book your tour to visit the oldest world heritage in Japan!

Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage, Mt.Yoshino in Nara has many shrines and temples to see. It is a spiritual place where the monks used to practise to gain enlightenment. In this tour, you will climb Mt.Yoshino and see World Heritage sites such as "Kinpusan Temple" with its large Buddha statue, and "Yoshino Mizuwake-Jinja" hidden in the mountains. Don't miss the spectacular view from the top! If Spring, the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom and you will see a view like no other. Want to get away from the busy city, and experience serenity? This is the plan recommended for you, you will feel refreshed after seeing the vibrant nature and historic shrines.

Are you excited to hear there is a 1300 years old remain under reconstruction? If yes there is no way to skip this tour! Its been more than 60 years since a research team started digging and reconstructing Heijo Palace but it is said that only one-third of it is revealed so far. But in 2018 a memorial park was built where you can visit reproduced huge buildings by bikes and Segway! You will also a dynamic video showing the ancient days on a five dimension screen in a VR theater. You can enjoy the thousand-year-old remain and the latest technology at the same time on this tour! Don’t forget to book your tour to visit a famous remain, with your otomo guide!

Walking in a World Heritage area ～the Hatenashi Pass on the Koheji route connecting Mount Koya and Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. The Koheji, one of the Kumano Kodo routes, has been used for centuries as a path, through steep mountains, connecting Mount Koya and Kumano. Trekking this route from Kumano Hongu to Totsukawa offers an opportunity to fully appreciate nature, with many beautiful sites, including Hatenashi hamlet, the so-called Tenku no Sato (Village in the Sky), and old paved paths. Of course, we wold be happy to advise if you would like us to help you arrange a different course. *This is a 1-night, 2-day trip where you will interact with local people and feel true Japanese culture.

Kashihara-jingu shrine is quite new (1889) and was built during Meiji imperial restauration. The emperor wanted his power to be reaffirmed and so built this shrine, even giving some buildings from Kyoto imperial palace, in the very place where were held the first imperial government (660 BC). Emperor Jinmu is enshrined in this place. After visiting Kashihara-jingu, we go to Imai-cho, Japanese traditionnal city. At first, temple town, it became a trade city during Edo period. Its architecture did not change and now, we still can visit this town as it was during Edo. Visiting Kashihara, we can know more about Japanese History while having a great time outside.

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.