Nara Prefecture Tours, Tickets, & Excursions

Stroll through 3 of historic Nara’s most iconic landmarks with a professional, English-speaking guide. Get to know the temples and scenic gardens of Nara. Meet your guide at the JR Nara Station, and walk at a relaxed pace to visit Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, the Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple, and Kofuku-ji Temple. Meet the divine deer of Nara along your way.

Located in the southern part of Nara Prefecture, "Yoshinoyama" is known as one of the most famous cherry blossom areas in Japan. Yoshino mountain is covered with 30,000 cherry trees blooming in the spring. Its elegant and elegant landscape continues to attract many people, from ancient times to the present age. From ancient times, Yoshino cherries held a special place, even as a sacred ground for an examination of the path connecting God and nature. In the old days, it was written numerous Japanese texts how beautiful a sight it was that the Emperor of that time and all cultural people loved. This tour is about 5 hours of walking along the mountain path of Yoshino while thinking about the history of eternity. There are no steep slopes, but the entire journey will be about 8 km, so it's a tour for those who are ok with walking. Follow along with the local guide that lives in Nara, learning the way the people of the Asuka and Nara period went about Yoshino exploration.

Make a mini Tatami mat with a craftsman at “Oda Tatamiten”, the long-established Tatami handicraft shop for 120 years!

Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794 when it was relocated to Kyoto, and the entire town is now registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara". In the vast Nara Park where deer roam, there are historical temples and shrines such as Todaiji Temple where the Great Buddha is enshrined, Kofukuji Temple with many national treasures, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine with vivid vermilion. This is a virtual tour via ZOOM that allows you to experience the feeling of traveling in Nara while at home. An English-speaking guide will take you around the city of Nara while taking a walk, and you can enjoy the scenery of the beautiful city of Nara. This tour is livestream, so there is also time to enjoy a conversation with the guide. Have a nice livestream virtual tour of about 1 hour.

In this tour, you will visit a hidden spot "Kousegawa Valley", which is at the upper stream of famous Mitarai Valley. An experienced canyoning instructor from the local tour company "Wild Wind" will take you to full-fledged canyoning such as sliding down, jumping off, and climbing a waterfall or a mountain. Refresh yourself to your heart’s content at these hidden mountain streams. After canyoning, you unwind yourself in a hot spring. A ticket for "Ten-no-kawa Hot Spring" is included, where spring water is re-boiled using a firewood boiler. This hot spring offers you very relaxing time.  Upon your request, it is possible for you to skip activities such as sliding down, jumping off, and climbing. You can enjoy the tour even if you are not athletic or a good swimmer. Please feel free to consult us.

Join the highlights Tour at Nara Cycle Tours and meet other travelers, or do it in private and your guide can make this day special for your own group.

Return from Osaka with fun-filled memories after a costumed photo shoot in Nara, an extra-special experience that comes with multiple souvenir photos. A hair and make up stylist creates an authentic Japanese look before you don the costume of an Edo-style samurai, princess, or courtesan. You'll receive a USB stick with your photographs on so you don't have to carry photos around for the rest of your vacation.

If you don’t speak Japanese, it can be hard to navigate Japan like a local. This tour of Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, is designed to  help you do just that. Leave the crowds of Kyoto behind and discover the peaceful city of Nara: its temples, shrines, traditional houses and divine deer. Explore the backstreets and alleys of the merchants district, and try authentic street food.

Explore Nara away from all tourists, on a bike, reach the top of Wakakusayama Mountain, explore a lost temple in the forest, admire hidden Buddhist statues carved in stone... A tour that mixes sport, nature and Japanese history for a very unique experience and amazing memories.

Maximize your time in Nara with a private walking tour that puts you in touch with the real city—via a local who loves it. It’s simple: explain your travel wants, meet your Nara local, and enjoy a tour that puts Nara at your feet. Learn ways to get around, places to see, and hidden local hotspots, and get the info needed to get the most from your visit.

We have everything from cute kimonos to trendy kimonos. Everything you need is available here. Please come home with me. Japanese-style bags and slippers are included in the rental fee. You can also add a hair set as an option.

Hiking tour in Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest, surrounded by beautiful nature, various plants and animals, and amazing picturesque views. Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest is located in the main area of Nara City and very close to Nara Park. It has remained untouched for thousands of years and has been carefully protected as the sacred forest of the Kasugataisha Shrine. There are over 800 types of trees, wild animals, rare birds and insects. Takisaka-no-Michi path, one of the famous hiking courses in the forest, passes a waterfall and small caves carved with Buddha figures. It is said to be a training path for monks in Nara and you can see the objects of faith along the way. The path leads to Yagyu Village known as the birthplace of the Yagyu Shinkage School of swordsmanship. The statue of Kubikiri Jizo appears along the way. It has been sliced at the neck by a sword. According to folklore, it was used by the master swordsman to test his blade.

Make one of the most popular Japanese foods, "Sushi" by yourself on the 1.5 hour cooking class with a Japanese teacher at Umemori Sushi School in Nara. Make your own favorite sushi with us and take a photo of them. After making Sushi, let us enjoy them with other Japanese food (optional). We believe that this will be an unforgettable memory for you.

Kyo Yuzen is one of the Japanese traditional dyeing technique. You will use the Kyo Yuzen sketch technique to illustrate a pattern on a 100% dyed silk stole. Several colors will be layered on top of each other making for a colorful design, soft feel and high-quality texture. Why not try making a one-of-a-kind original stole using this traditional Japanese method. The instructor has been recognized from among the artisans engaged in creating traditional crafts, as designated by METI (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry), as a “Traditional Craftsman” because of her commitment to maintaining a high level of quality. She will carefully explain the process in simple terms so that even the beginner can understand.

A local instructor will take you around Asuka Village by bicycle at a leisurely pace. Even if it is your first visit to Asuka, they say you’ll feel nostalgic somehow, and foreign visitors are no exception. It may be because the historical and cultural assets, together with its surrounding nature, have been cherished for a long time and protected by the Ancient Capitals Preservation Law. During the tour, you’ll enjoy solving the mysteries of ancient tombs and ancient stone structures; imagining the ancient city of 1,400 years ago; and strolling along beautiful terraced rice fields that are beyond description. You’ll also visit and see everyday life in the country side with peaceful views of the satoyama settlement. This cycling tour offers you exquisite experiences; seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking, and imagining.

Nara has many tourist attractions to visit. But surely you have no time? Rental bicycles are the best way to get around the sights efficiently. With a bike you can drop in anywhere you like. You can move around comfortably while looking at the beautiful city, without worrying about traffic jam like a car. ■All bicycles are maintained by mechanic. ■You can rent a bike for up to 24 hours at one day price ■Returnable after closing ■There are also many other types of bicycles, such as city bike or kids bike. Please check our website for details. ■Child seat is available for free. But please note that children weighing less than 22 kg can sit in it. ■There are only a few small electric bicycles (22-inch), so if you need a smaller size please email us in advance.

Learn to make sushi, one of Japan’s most popular foods, with a hands-on sushi lesson from a cooking instructor. Put on a traditional Happi, and look like a sushi chef as you shape your own beautiful sushi rolls. Then sit down for a delicious meal of sushi and udon you prepared yourself.

Explore Nara with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of Nara and introduce both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient Japanese city. Nara's proximity to Kyoto and Osaka, and its rich collection of traditional sites, make it an ideal destination for a day trip from either of its larger neighbors. Your private guide can help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of this ancient Japanese city. You can start your day at your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

There is also a Japanese garden attached to the tea room, where you can enjoy tea while watching the views of various expressions in each season. Please enjoy Japanese tradition through tea. ※ About waiting At the end of the Edo period about 200 years ago, Hakushin-ya was erected in Horyuji Temple Zenjuin by Horyuji Temple Monk Kokuken. According to Horyuji's records, Kukken, who was familiar with the tea ceremony, wrote letters to fellow monks and invited everyone to enjoy tea. ◆ 集合 Meeting place ◆ ◆ ・ Nara Ikarugato Tourism Waikaru (free parking available) ◆ 開 催 Opening time ◆ ◇ ・ 10 o'clock to 16:30 The start time is every 30 minutes. ◆ 料 金 fee ◆ ◇ 2,500 yen per person (tax included) ・ The fee includes experience fee and sweets fee. ◆ 流 れ Flow of experience ◆ ◇ Remove the watch or ring so as not to damage the bowl. ↓ Greeting with the lord. ↓ Let's stretch the spine and learn how to do it. ↓ Matcha green tea is on. The trick is to stand the teapot vertically and move it back and forth. ↓ I have sweets before drinking. ↓ Let's have some tea. ↓ I thank the lord and finish. ◆ 流 れ Flow of the day ◆ ◇ Gathering at Nara Ikarugato Tourism Waikaru (Please come 10 minutes before the start time) ↓ Confirmation of reservation, entry of experience participation application form ↓ Move to Experience Facility If you come by foot or by bus, the staff will transfer you to the experience facility by car. ↓ Experience start! ↓ It is finished by having tea, it will be disbanded. Staff will pick you up on foot.

This is a Nara private tour using by public transportation from Kyoto. The guide will pick you up at the hotel. No problem with train and bus transfers, as the guides are with you! The destinations of the tour includes Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, deer park, and other UNESCO World Heritage Site temples! For details of the tour, you can look at the what to expect section and inclusions excursions section of this web page.

You can enjoy Japanese Calligraphy experience. We will give you a small lecture on how to use calligraphy tools and how to write Japanese words with those tools.Your Calligraphy lesson will be in a traditional Japanese tatami room where you can enjoy a view of a Japanese garden and historic atmosphere. After you complete it, you can take it home in a frame. It must be a memorable souvenir for you.

This is the perfect tour for first-time visitors to Nara who want to get a good overview in a short space of time. You won’t have to worry about navigating as a guide takes you around a shortlist of Nara’s best sights. See the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Todai-ji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, visit the traditional houses of Naramachi, and see the city’s many semi-wild deer.

Shiroyama Ryokan, which has a 50-year tradition, is located in the middle of Ikoma Mountain, where you can enjoy a tea experience while watching the night view of Ikoma. A full-fledged tea experience by a teacher who is also a professor, you can enjoy incense. Comes with 2 cups of green tea and 2 types of Japanese sweets (fresh and dried sweets).

- Nara has various collection of traditional sites of Japan - Visit this town to explore the history sides of Japan - While enjoying the views of incredible traditional sites, you have to capture those moments - Hire a photo service in Nara taken by special photographer who can speak English - This photography service lets you to choose the sites to take your photo shoot