In the morning, we will be visiting Nara, the ancient capital city of Japan before Kyoto. In the late afternoon, we will move to Osaka, the vibrant center of Western Japan.
You can feel two different faces of Japan, old and new in one day. Experience ancient history during the day and enjoy vibrant commercial atomosphere of the urban life in the late afternoon / early evening.
At your hotel in Osaka
I can also do all day tour in Nara
Can add Osaka Castle, but might have to shorten our trip in Nara. I can also do all day tour in Osaka.
Flexible
We will visit one major Buddhist Temple(Todaiji) and Shinto Shrine(Kasuga Taisha), so you can understand two different religions in Japan living in harmony for 1,500 years. You have a lot of time feeding deer, messengers of Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park. We can also visit Isuien Garden or Yoshigien Garden provided we have enough time.
In Osaka, we stroll around the labyrinth of shops and arcades filled with busy noise of people and pachinko parlours. You can nibble grilled scallops and octopus balls or dine at okonomiyaki or kobe beef restaurant with a nice glass of craft beer.
guide fee, guide’s transportation fee
transportation fee, lunch, entrance fee
The entrance fee of Todaiji Temple is ￥800 per person.
If you have a JR Pass, it is possible to use it from Osaka to Nara. But I would advise you we take Kintetsu Line from Namba Station especially if you are staying in the southern part of Osaka. It will cost ￥560, but much more convenient.
I will try to meet your needs and requirements as much as possible. Please let me know if you have special requests. I specialize in tours in Osaka, but I can also do day tours in Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Hiroshima and Koyasan. I can do shopping tour and eating tour. I am very flexible with time and can also do tours at late in the evening.
It will at least require 8 hours to visit both Nara and Osaka. (I can do the tour in two separate days if you prefer.)
It will involve a lot of walking. Please let me know if that is a problem, so I can make other plans.
Ichi provided a great introductory tour of Kyoto. He is incredibly friendly and has a deep knowledge of the city and its history, was very well prepared (even with visual aids) and adjusted the tour based on our interests. He took us to places few tourists have the opportunity to see as well as some major sites. Thanks for a great time!
Thanks for the comments. I hope you had a great journey around Japan. Bon voyage!
Ichi honestly knocked our day tour out of the park! He was prepped to have a 6yro with him for an hour train trip each way - equipped with pokemon go, Japanese language lessons and pokemon origami lessons. We explored Nara and the local sites including places like the top of the Government building which we would never have found on our own! We got a free origami lesson and calligraphy - Ichi specifically organised a person who made this so fun and had us laughing the whole time. As a foodie himself he took us to a great food stop in Osaka and was able to share lots of local knowledge. We have already recommended him to our friends and family and will definitely be locking him in for our next trip! Ichi even sent us a beautiful video of pictures he captured of us throughout the day. Ichi - a massive thank you. You made our day and were a real highlight of our trip X
Thanks very much for your comments. I did enjoy the day with you and your son very much, too. I hope to see you some time in the near future! regards, Ichi
Ichi-san met us early at our hotel and had our family of four off to Nara at a record clip. He kept our daughters entertained and enriched by teaching them how to count in Japanese during the 30-minute train ride from Osaka. He keeps a full bag of puzzles, toys, tools and treats in his backpack. He spent a few years in school in the states and is a fluent speaker, affable and an all-around pleasure to be around. We covered all the sites we wanted to see in Nara and much more (especially the super friendly army of sacred deer and the largest wooden temple). He graciously agreed to interpret for us at lunch and stayed with us as long as we needed him all the way back to Osaka, including tips for shopping. You will not be disappointed with Ichi-san if you are in the area, he has my highest recommendation.
Dear Joseph-san, Thanks very much for your favorable comment on the tour. I enjoyed the day with you and your family very much, too. Thank you very much again for treating me to join you to one of the most wonderful Japanese meals I had as well. Hope you have a wonderful life back in the States. (My recent customer from Canada said Mr T is the only hope America has!?)
We had the most incredible experience exploring Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto with Ichi as our private guide! His knowledge and thoughtfulness added a whole new dimension to the trip. Ichi tailored our itinerary based on our interests and adjusted on the fly when requested. Ichi kept our kids engaged better than we could :), and we learned so much about the Japanese culture in two days than I thought possible. I highly recommend Ichi for anyone seeking an unforgettable and enriching journey through these beautiful cities.
Dear Ron-san, Thank you very much for kind comments. Your family were wonderful as well. I enjoyed every moment with you, and I was hoping if I could spend more time with you. It was a great idea we started early to avoid the strong sun and the rush hours. I was able to do so because you stayed in Osaka, not far away from where I live. Yesterday I was at Gion Festival in Kyoto, and today I just came back from Tenjin Festival in Osaka. Both were interesting, but it was extremely crowded and sweltering hot. Hope your trip in Tokyo was as interesting. Bon voyage. all the best, Ichi