Things to Do in Nara

Join a tour from Osaka or Kyoto. See Nara’s tame deer, step into Fushimi Inari’s mystical Senbon Torii, stroll through the whispering bamboo of Arashiyama, visit Togetsukyō Bridge and Nonomiya Shrine.

**Important Notice**If you need to change the participation date or number of participants after making a reservation, please cancel your original booking and place a new one. Changes made without canceling the original reservation will not be accepted. Discover the wonders of Nara on this immersive tour, visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Todaiji Temple, with its impressive Nandaimon Gate and the iconic Great Buddha Hall, and the serene Kasuga Taisha Shrine, known for its beautiful main shrine. Experience the breathtaking views from the summit of Mt. Wakakusa, a grass-covered mountain offering a panoramic vista that will leave you in awe. Our expert English-speaking guide will lead you throughout the day, providing insightful commentary and stories about these historical sites. As a special bonus, you will receive a “Nara-Yamatoji 2-Day Pass,” which allows unlimited rides on local buses within the designated area, along with an exclusive original handkerchief.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites and gorgeous natural settings await you on this private walking tour of Nara. Get ready for an unforgettable visit!

Embark on a private Kyoto tour with an English guide and hotel pickup. Plan your day visiting temples, hidden gems, scenic spots and secret streets at your own space or customize your itinerary.

Discover the best of Nara on our PRIVATE morning tour, before the popular spots get crowded! Meet the friendly deer, admire Japan’s largest Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple, and enjoy a sake tasting to experience local flavors. Explore Japan’s first capital in a fun, relaxed, and efficient way — perfect for a half-day trip from Kyoto or Osaka!

Temples, pyramids, parks and viewpoints... Discover the delights of Nara on this guided walking tour through its historic centre, which also includes lunch! 

Nara gets crowded in the afternoon so in our tour we start early to avoid the crowds. This tour ends before noon so you will have time to explore other parts of Nara or make a day trip to Osaka/Kyoto.

1. Authentic Experience Unlike standard sushi classes, this experience covers every step, from preparing rice to crafting perfect nigiri. You’ll use authentic tools and techniques under the guidance of skilled instructors. 2. Cultural Insight Learn not only how to make sushi but also its cultural significance in Japan. It’s more than a cooking class—it’s an exploration of tradition. 3. Personalized Instruction With small group sizes, you’ll receive guidance tailored to your skill level, whether you’re a beginner or experienced. 4. Hands-On Fun Grate fresh wasabi, slice sushi-grade fish, and assemble sushi in an engaging, interactive environment. 5. Graduation Ceremony Celebrate your achievements with a fun graduation ceremony and a certificate of completion. 6. Take-Home Skills Learn techniques and recipes to make sushi at home, impressing friends and family. 7. Unique Setting Held in the heart of Japan, this class offers an unforgettable cultural experience.

Discover Kansai with the Kintetsu Rail Pass. You'll have unlimited train travel for 1, 2 or 5 days to explore this area of Japan at your own pace.

Learn tea ceremony and matcha basics One-on-One with a Tea master in a 120-year-old Japanese house. Take your time, ask freely, connect deep Japan. Families with young children are welcome!

Kyoto is a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and well preserved traditional Japanese culture. Your tours are designed to help visitors explore and appreciate the beauty of Kyoto while enjoying a fun and memorable experience. As Kyoto’s famous landmarks are spread out often requiring extensive walking, navigating hills, and locating hidden spots a private tour by car offers a more comfortable and efficient way to explore the city. Led by your knowledgeable guide, Riku, and organized by a dynamic young team, this tour is dedicated to creating unforgettable memories for every guest. For tours departing from Kyoto, we will visit Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, Gion, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. For tours departing from Osaka, the itinerary includes Kinkakuji Temple, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. For the Kyoto & Nara Tour, we typically visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, and Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove).

Travel around Kansai and Hiroshima with unlimited train, bus, and ferry rides using the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, perfect for exploring both regions.

See the best of Kyoto and Nara on a day trip with hotel pick up and drop-off from Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. Visit the Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Fushimi Inari Nara Park,Todai-ji Kasuga

Taste five expertly selected teas locally sourced in Nara prefecture Talk with locals for inside tips on places to visit while in Japan Private, one-on-one instruction from a skilled tea master Hands-on matcha practice with personalized feedback Enjoy authentic wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)

If you want to stay connected during your visit to Japan, this eSIM card is perfect. This is the best way to stay connected!

From Kyoto to Arashiyama, Nara Park, and Fushimi Inari Taisha—enjoy each spot at your own pace. Savor a Kobe Beef lunch and Pork Shabu-shabu, crafted with rich flavors for a memorable experience.

We offer sake tours in Nara, the birthplace of sake, where you can experience its historical brewing and culture. Accompanied by a sake-loving guide, you can interact with locals, enjoy local sake and cuisine, and have the special experience of toasting in front of World Heritage sites. We promise you an unforgettable journey, fully immersing you in the charm of Nara.

Travel with the peace and comfort of knowing that, should you need assistance on your trip, Civitatis has your back - don't let anything spoil your trip!

Discover Nara & Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart in one day: feed and wander among deers, walk into Fushimi Inari's red torii gates, explore Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest, Shrines, and Togetsukyo Bridge.

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.

Discover Japan's ancient beauty on a private journey through Kyoto's temples and Nara's deer park, where history, nature, and culture meet in perfect harmony.

The ancient capital of Nara, older than even Kyoto, is easily reached by train from Osaka or Kyoto. The enormous Main Hall of Todai-ji Temple with its Great Buddha inside, the deer park where you can feed crackers to the semi-wild deer, everything is more laid-back and quieter than Kyoto with much fewer tourists. Stroll through the vast temple grounds and back into the city where the tour takes you to a typical Izakaya standing bar to try some local sake and food. A wonderful way to spend a leisurely afternoon!

Immerse yourself in the traditional beauty of Japan with a tea ceremony experience in Nara. Learn about the history and cultural background of the tea ceremony.

This tour is recommended for those visiting Nara for the first time, and allows you to fully enjoy the charm of Nara in one day. This tour is a greedy plan that goes around all famous tourist spots in Nara City, such as Todaiji Temple, famous for the Great Buddha, and a historic shrine Kasuga Taisha, in addition to Kofukuji and Naramachi. It condenses various genres such as history, culture, and food, and is definitely a great satisfaction. If you want to spend the best day in Nara, please join this tour! [Standard tour visit spot] ・ Kofuku-ji Temple ・ Toadai-ji Temple ・ Todaiji Temple Nigatsudo ・ Kasuga Taisha Shrine [Customized tour selectable spot] Kofuku-ji Temple / Todai-ji Temple / Nigatsu-do Hall / Kasuga Taisha Shrine / Nara Park / Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine / Naramachi District / Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple / Isuien & Neiraku Museum / Toshodai-ji Temple / Heijo Palace Site Historical Park / Wakakusa-yama Hill / Yakushi-ji Temple

Discover the rich history and natural beauty of Nara on a morning tour from Kyoto. Visit Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and interact with the city's famous deer.

This bike tour is based on our most popular tour, Nara Highlights, but without Yoshikien Garden and reserved for families with kids who can ride a bike. No E-bike nor Child seats are available. As it is a private family tour, you can be sure that your guide will take extra care of your group, and adjust and adapt the tour based on your preferences. Pour la demande de guide francophone: Nous ne pouvons pas garantir la francophonie pour un tour partagée, car mélangeant plusieurs nationalités, la priorité deviendra l'anglais. Tous nos guides parlent au minimum anglais et japonais, ce qui veut dire que le français sera une langue supplémentaire. Le guide pourra donc alterner entre anglais et français si nécessaire. Pour garantir la disponibilité du guide francophone à la date souhaitée, veuillez nous contacter à l'avance, afin que nous puissions confirmer qu'un guide francophone est toujours disponible pour votre date de réservation. Merci pour votre compréhension.

Explore Nara and Uji on a day trip from Osaka. Visit the Todai-ji Temple, feed the deer in Nara Park, and relax in the Genji no Yu hot spring.

Experience the essence of Kyoto in one day with this all-inclusive bus tour covering the city’s most iconic sights. Begin at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where towering bamboo creates a calm, magical atmosphere. Continue to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)—a stunning gold-covered temple beside a reflective pond (entry with ticket only). Visit Nijo Castle and explore its elegant rooms, lush gardens, and famous “nightingale floors” (ticket required). Head to Kiyomizu-dera, perched on a hillside with sweeping views of Kyoto and charming nearby shops (entry with ticket only). Finish at Fushimi Inari Shrine, where thousands of red torii gates lead you through peaceful forest trails. Highlights: ✓ Top Kyoto landmarks in one day ✓ Entry options available (based on ticket purchase) ✓ Comfortable, scenic bus transport ✓ Perfect for first-time visitors

Discover the sights of Kyoto that interest you the most on this customizable sightseeing tour. Alongside a private driver-guide, make an itinerary of your desired attractions.

Nara city is rapidly gaining popularity as a tourist destination. As the capital of Japan in the 8th century, it can offer a variety of old temples and shrines, but also the charm of its former merchants’ quarter with quaint old houses serving as shops or restaurants. In this tour we will visit the biggest and most famous temple and shrine dating back to the 8th century as well as the old townscape.

Discover the origins of sake on a guided tour of Nara. Visit three working breweries, learn about the history of sake, and enjoy tastings of different varieties.

Nara's charm is not only deers but also its traditional country lifestyle, which has been inherited from generations to generations.Half a day off-the-beaten walk to an oldest road "Yamanobe no michi" will lead you to deep cultural understanding on satoyama villages. You will come across small farm stands and people's life.

Discover Kyoto on a private car tour with a native guide. See historical temples, admire stunning shrines, and try local activities.

Start your exploration at Nara Park. Here you can have the experience of feeding rice crackers to deer. Deer are considered messengers of the gods in Shinto beliefs, and hundreds of them roam freely here. Then visit Kasuga Taisha, a shrine known for its deep historical roots and surrounded by a mysterious forest where divine spirits are believed to reside. The shrine is famous for its thousands of hanging lanterns, which illuminate the streets with their serene light, especially during festivals. Also you can visit to Todaiji Temple, which is one of heritage site. It is a most famous temple in Nara, not only allows visitors to see with their own eyes one of the world's largest wooden structures, designated as a national treasure, but also to feel its 1,300 years of history.

Explore the cultural heart of Japan with a private, immersive tour through Nara’s most iconic UNESCO Heritage Sites. Engage with deer, visit the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and see the Todai-ji Temple.

Immerse yourself in a traditional Japanese house ┗ Savor the serene, tranquil setting that creates a truly special atmosphere. Taste two types of Nara single-origin matcha ┗ Compare flavors and aromas, and discover your personal favorite. Witness the tea master’s demonstration ┗ Observe expert skill and hospitality firsthand as the tea master prepares matcha. Learn tea ceremony basics ┗ Explore its history, etiquette, and the proper use of tea utensils. Whisk your own matcha ┗ Get hands-on experience using a bamboo whisk (chasen) to prepare matcha yourself. Blend focus and relaxation ┗ Find a perfect balance of concentration and calm as you create your own cup of matcha.

Explore the best of Nara with a private guide on a 6-hour tour. Enjoy the full freedom and flexibility of customizing your own itinerary.

You will be guided directly by a skilled craftsman from Nara as you experience authentic handmade udon making using Japanese wheat, along with tempura cooking featuring fresh local vegetables. More than just a cooking class, this experience lets you learn about Nara’s food culture and its local connections, with the highlight being enjoying your very own “Tempura Udon” that you’ve prepared yourself.

Explore the best of Nara on E-bikes, including some gems off the beaten tracks, and insights with your local guide.

Embark on an enriching journey through Nara, a city where history and nature intertwine beautifully, on this private, exclusive tour. Your family will be captivated by the majestic Todai-ji Temple, home to the world’s largest bronze Buddha. Roam the verdant paths of Nara Park, mingling with friendly deer that symbolize the city’s harmony with nature. Discover the spiritual serenity of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, adorned with ancient lanterns, and feel the historical significance at the UNESCO-listed Horyu-ji Temple. Explore the charming streets of Naramachi, a district echoing with tales of the past. Witness the architectural splendor of Kofuku-ji and Yakushiji temples, each an oasis of Buddhist heritage. Uncover the hidden beauty of Shinyakushiji Temple, and delve into Japan’s rich cultural history at the Nara National Museum. Stroll through Heijō Palace Site Historical Park, imagining the grandeur of bygone eras. Visit Toshodai-ji Temple, a symbol of Nara’s enduring spiritual legacy.

Discover the essence of Kyoto and Nara in a single day from Osaka. See ancient temples, friendly deer, and traditional streets, and immerse yourself in Japan’s timeless spirit and cultural beauty.

Escape the busy streets of Osaka and embark on a serene journey to the historic city of Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan. First, visit Kofuku-ji Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll witness the towering pagoda that stands as a symbol of Nara's spiritual heritage. The temple grounds are full of fascinating architecture and serene spots for reflection. From here, head to the expansive Nara Park, famous for its friendly deer that roam freely throughout the area. Have the chance to feed the deer and enjoy a peaceful walk through the park, with views of the surrounding mountains. A highlight of the tour is a visit to the awe-inspiring Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. Be amazed by the grandeur of this temple, as well as the history and cultural significance that it holds.

from Kyoto to 4 popular destinations – Kinkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Nara Park. Upgrade your tour with a Kobe Beef lunch.

1. Cook with "Local Friends" (Mune & Hitomi) Connect with friendly, English-speaking hosts who have traveled the world. It feels less like a class and more like visiting a friend's home. 2. Authentic 70-Year-Old Typical Japanese Home Step into a real, private residence (not a commercial studio). Experience the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional house built over 70 years ago. 3. Master 3 Styles of Onigiri & Enjoy a Full Meal Go beyond the basics by making Traditional, Typical, and Innovative rice balls. Includes miso soup and side dishes for a satisfying Lunch or Dinner. 4. Perfect Location: 5 Mins from Nara Station Ideally located just a short walk from JR/Kintetsu Nara Stations. Easy to access for day-trippers from Kyoto (35 min) or Osaka (40 min). 5. Deep Cultural Immersion & "Real Talk" Experience authentic daily life in Japan. Relax in a private setting and ask honest questions about Japanese culture, lifestyle, and history.

Explore three of Nara's UNESCO World Heritage sites: Kofukuji, Todai-ji, and Kasuga Grand Shrine. Stand before the Great Buddha, see a classic pagoda, and meet the sacred, free-roaming deer.

・You can easily try on beautiful traditional kimonos and yukatas. ・Everything you need is provided, so you can visit us empty-handed. ・Our shop is located near Nara Park, Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji, and Kasuga Taisha. ・We safely store your clothes and belongings while you’re out. ・There are many sightseeing spots and restaurants nearby.

Bespoke 8-hour journey through Kyoto with your private guide and driver. Fully customize your itinerary to include cultural immersion (Zen, Tea, Artisan) and iconic landmarks with ultimate comfort.

This is a WALKING TOUR. On this tour, you will explore the best of what Nara has to offer, including the most famous sites, such as Nara Park, and Todaiji Temple, but also some "Off the beaten path" places, such as the original shop of the former Katana maker and actual famous Knifemaker "Kikuichi", and the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Continue with cultural activities, including an introduction to Origami, the "Deer Challenge", and Calligraphy. If time allows it, you can wear a Kimono and/or a variety of costumes/outfits and go for a memorable photoshoot. Explore the site of the oldest temple in Japan, Gangoji Temple, and listen to the scary origin story of the demon of Gangoji. Finally, go to a traditional Japanese cafe to experience a true Tea Ceremony led by a certified Tea Master, away from the crowded and overpriced tourist traps, with freshly made matcha green tea, right in front of you, and a traditional handmade "Wagashi", a Japanese sweet for Tea.

Experience a tea ceremony comfortably using tables and chairs in a traditional Machiya house in Kyoto. Discover the Japanese culture surrounding the tea ceremony.

This private and customizable tour for Nara city (in Nara Prefecture) is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace. Discover 2-3 attractions in Nara City at your own pace on this fully customizable 4-hour private tour with an English-speaking (or other language) tour guide. Create a dream tour that’s perfect for your interests and preferences. After booking, you'll receive a form with varied themes, allowing easy selection based on your interests. Whether it's culture, history, cuisine, nature, or special events, you can highlight your preferences and must-see spots, streamlining our planning process.