Nara Tours from Osaka
Cultural Experience, Holy Place, UNESCO Heritage Site, Town / City
Nara, located in Japan's Kansai (Southern) region, was the country's first permanent capital city, established in the year 710 AD. Nara is easily accessible from Osaka via either high-speed train or bus and it's well worth the effort—especially if you're returning to Osaka in the same day. The abundance of UNESCO World Heritage sites, the accessibility of some of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples and the beautiful Japanese gardens make this compact little city a great attraction. A half-day or full-day tour is a great way to absorb some of these quintessential Japanese sights.
Topping the list of the 'Must See’s' is the Todai-ji Temple. Built under the flourish of Buddhism, the Todai-ji Temple is the world’s largest wooden building, and houses an enormous bronze Buddha (Japan’s largest, in fact). So impressive is this temple, the Japanese elite decided to move the capital of the country from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 in order to reduce the influence the temple was having in their government.
And located just outside of the Tadai-ji Temple is the Isui-en Garden. A great escape for those feeling overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Japan’s busy streets, these beautiful rolling hillsides flecked with Japanese cherry trees and intricate little bridges make the pebbled paths a welcome respite for those peace-loving visitors.
Another highlight of any trip to Nara is the Naramachi Center. This former merchant center is filled with rustic, beautiful little townhouses that will come to mind whenever anyone from here-on-out mentions Japan. These cute, narrow streets are now home to a list of boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants and give Nara a personal, cultural feel – a great way to wind up any stop in beautiful Nara.
Latest Replies All Nara Tours from Osaka Reviews »
It was a very good experience. The tour was nice, very well organized and very efficient. The tour guides were professional, explained everything clearly, and had a very accurate timing management.
Thanks Viator and JTB for this wondeful trip.
It was very good as we were able to visit many places. The tour group was just the right number - 6 people so we were able to interact well with each other. The tour guide knew her Japanese history and her humor made the whole tour fun. It would have been better though if the lunch served was Japanese food.
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This tour is ideal if you have a limited time to visit, and want to see the highlights of Kansai region. The tour guides were very helpful and knowledgeable. It is well worth the cost and time. They keep you on a tight schedule, but the time allocated was adequate for our interests. The buffet lunch was just okay, though.
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