Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available)

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Nara gets very crowded during the afternoon and it could be hard to take great photos. Therefore, in our tour we go to the main sites of Nara (Kofuku-ji Temple, Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Grand Shrine) before the crowd comes.

⬇︎PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY⬇︎

*Please be at the meeting spot, 10 minutes early than the scheduled time. Since we have other groups in the tour, we CANNOT accept any late guests. and will not be given a refund.

* For guests that book the Kyoto Station Pickup option, the fee from Kyoto to Nara Station is included in the tour but the fee on the way back 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 train to go from Kyoto to Nara which takes around 1 hour.

*Please note that the 4-hour tour duration applies only to the Kyoto Station Departure Option. For the Kintetsu Nara Station Meet-up, it is 3 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.

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Transportation Fee from Kyoto to Nara (If you select the Kyoto Station Departure Option)

English-Speaking guide

Food and Drinks

Transportation Fee for returning from Nara to Kyoto

Todai-ji Temple

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

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

Reviews

4.91

420 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

400

Great tour with tons of...
Audrey G,
Jul 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Great tour with tons of fun sights. Our tour guide, Futaba, was very knowledgeable and followed our pace during a very hot day.
Magical, Deer-full, Personalized
Peter C,
Jul 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Magical tour, our guide Seishiro was great and helped us learn about culture. It was like having a knowledgeable friend take us on the tour. When the deer came, it was overwhelming, but Seishiro helped to guide us through the feeding etiquette. The shrines, temples, statues and landscape were stunning, and so impressive in person. Photos do not do them justice.
A Wonderful Tour Experience in Nara!
Demetris M,
Jul 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Our guided tour was absolutely perfect! Futaba, our tour guide, was incredibly kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. She patiently answered all of our questions and shared fascinating insights throughout the tour. We truly enjoyed every moment and highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for an easy, enjoyable walking tour that offers a deeper understanding of Nara’s temples, shrines, and rich history. We also appreciated learning more about the religious and cultural aspects of Japan. Thank you, Futaba, for making our visit so memorable—we had a fantastic time!
Amazing Tour of Nara!
Eric P,
Jul 9, 2025
- Viator
5.00
My wife and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect tour of Nara! What an incredible experience! If you are visiting Japan, this is a must-book tour! You’ll enjoy learning about the ancient grounds, interacting with the deer, and enjoying the beautiful landscape! Our guide, Futaba, was absolutely perfect. She was fun, engaging, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. Futaba not only led a super enjoyable tour, but she also recommended a local restaurant and helped my wife and me find it! So cool! Book this tour now and request Futaba!
Hina the Guide
Shankar T,
Jul 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Who knew deer could bow? We sure didn't-until Hina showed us how it's done in Nara! She was fun, full of great stories, and somehow managed to keep us entertained and educated at the same time (even with a few curious deer trying to eat our maps). 10/10 would follow Hina through a temple or deer park again!