Nara Early Bird 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

Options

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

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

Reviews

4.89

335 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

317

Nara trip with my son
Lamija S,
May 31, 2025
- Viator
5.00
We had lot of fun feeding deers and learned how to differentiate between temple and a shrine thanks to our amazing guide Futaba. I am highly recommending tour with her, kids friendly.
Bow to the deer
ed w,
May 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Futaba is very knowledgeable and engaging guide. The tour has quite a bit of walking, and Futaba was constantly asking how we were doing. While there are a stops to buy drinks, it would be advisable to bring a bottle of water for the walk. And eat a hearty breakfast; you don’t want be carrying food as the deer will follow you.
Nara!
Nia B,
May 29, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Ryoichi was so helpful in getting us to the meeting spot- was so communicative. We had a great time in Nara. It is a must if you are in Kyoto or Osaka as a day trip. The deer are everywhere
Great tour guide, beatiful area and cute deer
Paula T,
May 28, 2025
- Viator
5.00
I joined the Early Bird tour in Nara and I had an amazing time. I am so grateful that the tour went on despite me being the only person joining this early. Soichiro was the best guide and gave me a great customised private tour. He knew a lot about the place, gave great insight about how to pray at the temples/shrines and took amazing pictures. On the tour we saw a monk doing his prayers and two (!) bambies. The option to travel with him to Nara from Kyoto and back was very helpful since I might have gotten lost otherwise. Additionally, the early bird option was a great way to avoid the huge crowds, walk at our own pace and be back in Kyoto on time for the rest of my schedule. I definitely recommend this tour if you want an efficient tour of Nara with all the highlights.
Such a fun day with Futaba
Shannon S,
May 28, 2025
- Viator
5.00
We had such a nice time in Nara with Futaba! She did a great job of explaining things about the different temples and shrines and knew the best way to have an enjoyable experience with the deer. We did a lot of walking, so you should bring water with you.