Nara: the must-see place in Japan.
Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital.
In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
At you hotel lobby
At your hotel in Osaka
There are two train services from Osaka to Nara
It's very beautiful. You will experience the ancient atmosphere here. You will learn something about Japanese culture.
If you're lucky (I'm often lucky), you'll see a wedding ceremony here.
There are many friendly wild deer in the beautiful natural garden
Buddhism has a long history in Nara. Sangatsudo has unique Buddha statues such as the Fukukenjaku-kannon. Please enjoy my presentation.
You can enjoy the view of Nara city from there. You will find the stage used for the dynamic "omizutan" ritual held in February.
Lunch at a casual local restaurant near Nigatsudo Temple
Let's go down to the most important area of Nara
You will see two of the most important sites here. The largest Buddha statue(Great Buddha) and the largest wooden building(Todaiji) in the world, are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can take photos inside.
You will play with many lovely deer.
You will see the most popular statue in the museum. This is the best today.
Take a train from Nara Station
Your hotel or where you never get lost
At you hotel lobby or the station
Nara is a pleasant place. You will have a happy time there. You can feed crackers to many deer in Nara Park, and you will see wonderful Buddha statues in temples and museums. As Nara has more ancient history, Buddha statues are unique and attractive. If you only have one free day in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara!
-Guide fee
-Hotel pick-up
-Transportation fee (you and the guide) about 2000~3500 yen/per person (train, bus)
-Lunch (you and the guide) about 2000~4000/per person
-Admission fees (you only) 2000yen/per person
Available in the all year around
We walk about 2 miles down hills,
There are nice train services between Nara and Osaka. If you like, you can choose a nicer train service between Namba to Nara with a 520 yen additional fare.
Had an absolutely incredibly time with Shuji and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.
Hi Peter! Thank you for this most excellent review! Yes, we really had wonderful experiences in the factories of the Sakai traditional blades. I owe it to your curiosity and love for Japanese culture. Thank you very much. You are a great traveler. See you again sometime!
Our guide Shuji took excellent care of our family. He was very considerate planning the tour so the children and adults can enjoy the place. He made suggestions so it was easy for the kids to navigate (5 and 7 years old). He recommended which place to eat and advice us which place to avoid. He was very patient answering my nephew's questions about fishing! Unfortunately it rained but it was towards the end of our tour. We would highly recommend our guide Shuji. Thank you for the wonderful tour. Lynette and family ( Philippines)
Thank you for your kind review. We visited Nara considering the sudden heavy rain and the condition of 5 and 7-year-old children. The most challenging thing for me was the series of questions from 7-year-old boys about fishing. Yes, I also had a pleasant day in Nara. Thank you very much. See you sometime.
We had a great day visiting Himeji and its garden with Shuji. He was very accommodating and discreet. It was a perfect day!
Thank you for the wonderful review. As you suggested starting early, we were able to enjoy Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden during the cooler hours. And we got amazing seats for lunch. It really was a lovely tour. I would love to go on a tour with you all anytime. I hope you enjoy the tours for the rest of your stay in Japan.
We spent a day with Shuji in Kyoto and went at the end with him to Osaka where he lives. It was a great day. He is very knowlegeeable about Japanese history and culture (he taught world history before retiring). His Englsh is great. The Kyoto part was exploring three temples that were further out and we might have missed without his guidance. Osaka was a brief tour of the central area, including the night life and street food. He recommended a great restaurant for us after. Highly recommended. Kent and Luca
Dear Kent and Luca, Thank you so much for the great review. We really had a wonderful time. Since you had already visited many places in Kyoto, I was able to take you to my most favorite hidden gems. And thank you very much for your barrage of jokes! I hope I can see both of you again. Shuji O.