Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

Name: Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)
Price: 12500 JPY
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.93 (901 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

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.

Additional Info

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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Kofuku-ji Temple

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!

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Kasuga Grand Shrine

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.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Transportation Fee from Kyoto/Osaka to Nara (Only if you select the option)

English-Speaking guide

Food and Drinks

Transportation Fee for returning from Nara to Kyoto/Osaka

Todai-ji Temple

Options

Kyoto Station Pickup

Kyoto Station Pickup: We will meet at Kyoto Station Central Ticket Gate, the northern side of the station where you can see Kyoto Tower outside.
Starting point:
Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan

Kintetsu Nara Station Meet Up

Kintetsu Nara Station: We will meet you at in front of the Gyoki Bosatsu statue near Exit 2 or East Exist of Kintetsu Nara Station. (NOT JR Nara)
Starting point:
Kintetsu-Nara Station, Japan, 630-8215 Nara, Nishimikadochō, 東向中町29

Osaka Station Pickup

Starting point:
Osaka Tourist Information Center, Japan, 530-0001 Osaka, Kita Ward, Umeda, 3-chōme−1−１ JR大阪駅中央コンコース

Reviews

4.93

901 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

865

A trip with the deer
Coastal32254827616,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very good. We got to visit multiple landmarks.
Great tour
486lanceb,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ko was super knowledgeable, patient, friendly and a fun guide to spend the morning with. He knows Nara, the historical aspects and the Japanese cultural and religious traditions as well as anyone.
Nara starting in Kyoto
michaellT6611BP,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was amazing. Aki was amazing. She speaks perfect English and explained us everything. Huge recommendation for this tour!
Completely satisfying overview of key Nara sights
Douglas C,May 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We loved this tour. You get to see all the key sights in the Nara area and there is plenty of time to feed and interact with the deer along the way. It was Golden Week and Emperor’s Day so we expected more people overall and while there were a lot of people around, our guide, Tyki, knew how to weave us through, find little pockets of space, and point out all the important points along the way. My partner and I really appreciated Tyki’s style. He seemed to know exactly how much we wanted to hear and how quickly or slowly we wanted to move through a space. We got to see everything we wanted in a few hours. Tyki was very knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions. He had a really relaxed but confident vibe and offered honest insight that made the whole thing enjoyable. We would highly recommend this tour.
A great experience, not to miss.
Mark D,May 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
Be prepared to walk and bring cash. This for the food for the deer and entrance fee to get into the temple. Mei was a great tour guide.
Nara Park
ameenaa516,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great tour with Tyki! He was informative and efficient. Your began in Osaka where we took the train to Nara. We walked around the park and took us to a few places, so we were there for a few hours. He was a great conversationalist and gave us a few food recommendations.
10 out of 10
marcelacV4289VD,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It's a really goog experience, our guide was Aki, she has and amazing english pronunciation, has a lot of knowledge and help us out to go back to our destination
Trip to Nara on our honeymoon
brittanyaG2929XV,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Josh was an incredible guide on our morning trip to Nara!! We loved spending time with the deer and visiting the beautiful temples including the great Buddha. Josh was knowledgeable and taught us a ton about Japanese culture which helped make our honeymoon special. Highly recommend Josh and this trip to Nara!!
Nara Early Morning Half Day Tour
Abbie O,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour. Josh was a great tour guide. Really knowledgeable, friendly and set a good pace. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Unforgettable Nara Experience with
Daryanaz D,May 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Ko was an absolutely amazing guide, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience in Nara. He is incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much fascinating history and context that really brought everything to life. At the same time, he was very friendly and easy to talk to, which made the whole tour feel relaxed and enjoyable. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a fantastic time; showing us hidden gems around Nara, taking great photos of us, and making sure we didn’t miss anything special. We also really appreciated how organized everything was; the night before, he sent detailed and clear instructions on where and when to meet, which made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. Ko was fantastic, and this was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Highly, highly recommend!!

From ¥12,500

4.93

(901 reviews)

Free cancellation

Check availability

Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour

Related Experiences

Operated by GuideMe Japan

Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

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

Additional Info

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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Kofuku-ji Temple

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Kasuga Grand Shrine

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Transportation Fee from Kyoto/Osaka to Nara (Only if you select the option)

English-Speaking guide

Food and Drinks

Transportation Fee for returning from Nara to Kyoto/Osaka

Todai-ji Temple

Options

Kyoto Station Pickup

Kintetsu Nara Station Meet Up

Osaka Station Pickup

Starting point:
Osaka Tourist Information Center, Japan, 530-0001 Osaka, Kita Ward, Umeda, 3-chōme−1−１ JR大阪駅中央コンコース

Reviews

4.93

901 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

865

A trip with the deer
Coastal32254827616,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very good. We got to visit multiple landmarks.
Great tour
486lanceb,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ko was super knowledgeable, patient, friendly and a fun guide to spend the morning with. He knows Nara, the historical aspects and the Japanese cultural and religious traditions as well as anyone.
Nara starting in Kyoto
michaellT6611BP,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was amazing. Aki was amazing. She speaks perfect English and explained us everything. Huge recommendation for this tour!
Completely satisfying overview of key Nara sights
Douglas C,May 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We loved this tour. You get to see all the key sights in the Nara area and there is plenty of time to feed and interact with the deer along the way. It was Golden Week and Emperor’s Day so we expected more people overall and while there were a lot of people around, our guide, Tyki, knew how to weave us through, find little pockets of space, and point out all the important points along the way. My partner and I really appreciated Tyki’s style. He seemed to know exactly how much we wanted to hear and how quickly or slowly we wanted to move through a space. We got to see everything we wanted in a few hours. Tyki was very knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions. He had a really relaxed but confident vibe and offered honest insight that made the whole thing enjoyable. We would highly recommend this tour.
A great experience, not to miss.
Mark D,May 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
Be prepared to walk and bring cash. This for the food for the deer and entrance fee to get into the temple. Mei was a great tour guide.
Nara Park
ameenaa516,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great tour with Tyki! He was informative and efficient. Your began in Osaka where we took the train to Nara. We walked around the park and took us to a few places, so we were there for a few hours. He was a great conversationalist and gave us a few food recommendations.
10 out of 10
marcelacV4289VD,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It's a really goog experience, our guide was Aki, she has and amazing english pronunciation, has a lot of knowledge and help us out to go back to our destination
Trip to Nara on our honeymoon
brittanyaG2929XV,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Josh was an incredible guide on our morning trip to Nara!! We loved spending time with the deer and visiting the beautiful temples including the great Buddha. Josh was knowledgeable and taught us a ton about Japanese culture which helped make our honeymoon special. Highly recommend Josh and this trip to Nara!!
Nara Early Morning Half Day Tour
Abbie O,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour. Josh was a great tour guide. Really knowledgeable, friendly and set a good pace. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Unforgettable Nara Experience with
Daryanaz D,May 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Ko was an absolutely amazing guide, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience in Nara. He is incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much fascinating history and context that really brought everything to life. At the same time, he was very friendly and easy to talk to, which made the whole tour feel relaxed and enjoyable. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a fantastic time; showing us hidden gems around Nara, taking great photos of us, and making sure we didn’t miss anything special. We also really appreciated how organized everything was; the night before, he sent detailed and clear instructions on where and when to meet, which made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. Ko was fantastic, and this was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Highly, highly recommend!!