Nara Private Morning Tour With Todai-ji and Sake Tasting
Nara's Great Buddha and free-roaming deer are the reason most travelers make the trip from Kyoto, and this private tour starts early enough to reach them before the tour buses arrive. Walk through Nara Park to Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and the hilltop hall of Nigatsu-do with a local guide, then round off the tour with a sake tasting at the Harushika brewery (own expense).
Highlights
- ✓Cover Nara in a half-day and keep the afternoon free to explore Kyoto
- ✓Forget the selfie sticks and come away with photos taken for you throughout the morning
- ✓Walk straight into Todai-ji with the entrance fee already covered
- ✓Swap impersonal group tours for a more intimate private excursion
What you'll see & do
- ✓Kofuku-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara, is renowned for its iconic five-story pagoda, the second tallest in Japan, and its rich Buddhist heritage.
- ✓Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks. It is home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, and its massive wooden hall, the Daibutsuden, is the largest wooden structure of its kind. A symbol of Nara's rich history, the temple offers a profound cultural and spiritual experience.
- ✓Niigatsudo, part of Todai-ji Temple, offers stunning views of Nara and is famous for its Omizutori ceremony, held every March. This ancient tradition, over 1,200 years old, marks the arrival of spring with torch-lit rituals.
- ✓Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on the eastern side of Nara Park, near Todai-ji Temple. Founded in 749, it was built to enshrine Hachiman, the guardian deity of Todai-ji and its Great Buddha. The shrine has long been associated with samurai and warriors, as Hachiman is considered the god of war and protection. Surrounded by nature, it offers a peaceful atmosphere and is especially beautiful during autumn when the leaves change color.
- ✓Nara Park is a beautiful, expansive park famous for its friendly, free-roaming deer. Visitors can enjoy the unique experience of feeding these gentle animals, making it a memorable part of your visit to Nara.
- ✓Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Nara's most important Shinto shrines. Known for its hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns, the shrine is dedicated to the deity of the Fujiwara clan and is a peaceful, spiritual site surrounded by lush forest.
- ✓(For those interested, sake tasting is available for 700 yen)Harushika Brewery is renowned for producing high-quality sake using traditional methods. Known for its rich, smooth flavor, Harushika sake is crafted from locally grown rice and pure mountain water, offering a true taste of Nara's brewing heritage.
What's included
- ✓Entrance Fees: Todai-ji Temple (800yen)
- ✓Passionate Local English-Speaking Guide
- ✓Professional Photos will be Taken During the Tour/Experience!
What's not included
- ✓Public Transportation Fare: Applicable only for departures from Kyoto.
- ✓Sake Tasting Fee: Applicable only to those who wish to participate.
Good to know
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
The tour duration depends on the departure point—around 6 hours from Kyoto and about 4 hours from Nara. If you opt for the sake tasting, please allow an extra 30 minutes.
This tour is designed as a WALKING experience, using public transportation and plenty of time on foot to explore Nara.
If you are late for the meeting time, you will not be able to join the tour or receive a refund.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Nara Private Morning Tour With Todai-ji and Sake Tasting
Nara's Great Buddha and free-roaming deer are the reason most travelers make the trip from Kyoto, and this private tour starts early enough to reach them before the tour buses arrive. Walk through Nara Park to Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and the hilltop hall of Nigatsu-do with a local guide, then round off the tour with a sake tasting at the Harushika brewery (own expense).
Highlights
- ✓Cover Nara in a half-day and keep the afternoon free to explore Kyoto
- ✓Forget the selfie sticks and come away with photos taken for you throughout the morning
- ✓Walk straight into Todai-ji with the entrance fee already covered
- ✓Swap impersonal group tours for a more intimate private excursion
What you'll see & do
- ✓Kofuku-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara, is renowned for its iconic five-story pagoda, the second tallest in Japan, and its rich Buddhist heritage.
- ✓Todai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks. It is home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, and its massive wooden hall, the Daibutsuden, is the largest wooden structure of its kind. A symbol of Nara's rich history, the temple offers a profound cultural and spiritual experience.
- ✓Niigatsudo, part of Todai-ji Temple, offers stunning views of Nara and is famous for its Omizutori ceremony, held every March. This ancient tradition, over 1,200 years old, marks the arrival of spring with torch-lit rituals.
- ✓Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on the eastern side of Nara Park, near Todai-ji Temple. Founded in 749, it was built to enshrine Hachiman, the guardian deity of Todai-ji and its Great Buddha. The shrine has long been associated with samurai and warriors, as Hachiman is considered the god of war and protection. Surrounded by nature, it offers a peaceful atmosphere and is especially beautiful during autumn when the leaves change color.
- ✓Nara Park is a beautiful, expansive park famous for its friendly, free-roaming deer. Visitors can enjoy the unique experience of feeding these gentle animals, making it a memorable part of your visit to Nara.
- ✓Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Nara's most important Shinto shrines. Known for its hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns, the shrine is dedicated to the deity of the Fujiwara clan and is a peaceful, spiritual site surrounded by lush forest.
- ✓(For those interested, sake tasting is available for 700 yen)Harushika Brewery is renowned for producing high-quality sake using traditional methods. Known for its rich, smooth flavor, Harushika sake is crafted from locally grown rice and pure mountain water, offering a true taste of Nara's brewing heritage.
What's included
- ✓Entrance Fees: Todai-ji Temple (800yen)
- ✓Passionate Local English-Speaking Guide
- ✓Professional Photos will be Taken During the Tour/Experience!
What's not included
- ✓Public Transportation Fare: Applicable only for departures from Kyoto.
- ✓Sake Tasting Fee: Applicable only to those who wish to participate.
Good to know
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
The tour duration depends on the departure point—around 6 hours from Kyoto and about 4 hours from Nara. If you opt for the sake tasting, please allow an extra 30 minutes.
This tour is designed as a WALKING experience, using public transportation and plenty of time on foot to explore Nara.
If you are late for the meeting time, you will not be able to join the tour or receive a refund.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.