Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Toshi

Title: What Is a Private Nara Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan, touring together. The meeting point was originally given by email as Kintetsu Nara Station, but a message came in via a messaging app suddenly changing it to JR Nara Station. Since I had been waiting at Kintetsu Nara Station, I hurried directly to JR Nara Station and managed to meet the guests successfully at 10:45. From there I explained the itinerary and we began the tour of Nara. As part of the group was traveling with a stroller, we had to move at a slow pace. There was a request to see the mochi-pounding at Nakatanidou, but the timing did not work out, so we passed by for the time being and headed to Nara Park. At Nara Park, the guests spent plenty of time interacting with the many deer, which I believe made for a wonderful memory. From Nara Park we proceeded smoothly to the Nandaimon Gate of Todaiji Temple and then to the Great Buddha Hall. At the Great Buddha Hall, some of the guests waited at the exit rather than entering the grounds, so I guided the remaining members. One of the guests showed great interest in the Great Buddha Hall and asked questions. However, since few of the guests understood English, the group leader, one of the guests, translated my explanations. After the Great Buddha Hall, the guests had lunch at a nearby restaurant, and then, despite the heat, we moved to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where I explained Shinto and shrines and guided them through the main hall while talking about the Shinto-based aspects of daily life that form a core part of Japanese culture. After Kasuga Taisha Shrine, we moved by bus to the shopping street, hoping to let the guests watch the mochi-pounding at Nakatanidou, but it had already finished, so the guests purchased some mochi to enjoy on the train home. From there we walked to JR Nara Station and parted ways at the station. I hope the guests enjoyed today's tour of Nara.

Points for improvement: When meeting at Nara Station, the guests were not aware that JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station are located apart from each other, which made setting the meeting point difficult. This issue was not unique to today's guests; on the bus, other foreign travelers were also having conversations suggesting they faced similar difficulties. I therefore strongly felt the need to remain careful about setting meeting points in the future.

Click here for more details: Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.