Private Tour
Nara: Half-Day Private Tour of 4 Must-See Spots & Deer Park
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Embark on a half-day tour of Nara’s rich heritage. Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and interact with the sacred wild deer of Nara Park, believed to be divine messengers for over 1,200 years.
Your tour starts with Kofuku-ji Temple, known for its five-story pagoda, then continues to Todai-ji Temple, where you’ll see the awe-inspiring Great Buddha statue. Your guide will share stories about these historic sites and Japanese Buddhism.
Next, enjoy panoramic views from Nigetsu-do Temple, and walk to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, famous for its lanterns and deer. After exploring Nara Park, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. End the tour with a visit to a traditional old town, contrasting modern Tokyo, and see a merchant’s house to experience Nara’s past.
This tour offers a unique mix of culture, nature, and history in Nara.
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
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Deer Cracker
Local guide
Todai-ji Temple visitation fee
Interaction with wild deer
Kohfuku-ji Temple visitation fee
Private transportation
Lunch
What To Expect
Kofuku-ji Temple
The five-story pagoda and other beauty of the 1,300 year old temple.
Todai-ji Temple
Todaiji Temple is famous for the Great Buddha. Of course, the Daibutsu is very impressive, but there are many other attractions here that will fascinate you, such as the Nigatsudo Hall, which was built to lean out from the cliff.
Options
From Osaka (G-567)
From Osaka (G-567): Travel to Nara from Osaka-Namba Station with your guide.(G-567)
Starting point:
Lawson Namba 2-chōme, 2-chōme-2-3 Namba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076, Japan
Nara: Half-Day Private Tour of 4 Must-See Spots & Deer Park
Starting point:
Kintetsu-Nara Station, Japan, 630-8215 Nara, Nishimikadochō, 東向中町29
7h tour (G-566)
7h tour (G-566): The additional option includes deer interaction and a visit to a renowned Japanese garden in Nara.(G-566)
Starting point:
Kintetsu-Nara Station, Japan, 630-8215 Nara, Nishimikadochō, 東向中町29
From Kyoto (G-568)
From Kyoto - G-568: Travel to Nara from Kyoto Station with your guide.(G-568)
Starting point:
Kintetsu, 31-1 Higashishiokōji Kamadonochō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8215, Japan
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A beautiful day traveling with a friend from Nara!
Kathy B,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00My friends and I took the half day Nara tour with Akino and had the loveliest time! We were fortunate to have perfect outdoor weather and Akino was so knowledgeable and familiar with all the places we visited. She efficiently navigated us through the various temples and shared a lot of interesting information that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the rich history of Nara. Chatting and shopping along the way , it felt like we were visiting an old friend who was sharing her home town with us!
Half day at Nara
JeanPaul S,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time Yoshi our tour gide was great!! We loved the temple and the shrine visists and feeding the deer.
Private guided tour to Nara.
Alan E,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It’s was an amazing whole day private guided tour. It covered many aspects of Japanese culture history and tradition including visits to two world heritage temples. Feeding and observing the deer was fun.
Amazing tour of Nara!
Brian W,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great tour to get to explore Nara. Our fantastic guide, Yayoi, made sure to make the tour memorable and enjoyable. Yayoi was very knowledgeable and passionate about Japan and all the different locations we visited. She also provided advice on other places we could visit and would constantly check in with us to see how we were doing on the tour.
All right.
Almudena S,
Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very good experience with our guide Yoshi. He explained a lot of things to us and made the tour great. Highly recommended.
Maki was a great guide ,...
Tim C,
Jul 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Maki was a great guide , she was on time and handled all the organising. She knew all about the history , temple dimensions, age , etc
Thanks to our guide...
Suryanarayan C,
May 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Thanks to our guide Yoshi, we had a great time in Nara. Yoshi is a very interesting person. He is a senior marketing professional with extensive international experience in Europe. Upon returning to Japan, he has taken up occupation as a part time tour guide. Being a history buff, Yoshi was very knowledgeable of Japanese history, influence of Buddhist and Shinto religions etc. This was very relevant in Nara given its historical importance as the ancient capital of Japan. Nara is a very interesting place and I would definitely recommend a visit if your travel in Japan takes you to Kyoto and/or Osaka.
An Unforgettable Day!
leeannh717,
Apr 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely the best day on our trip! Countless memories and a wonderful guide that really knew how to maximize our time! Could not recommend this experience enough!
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