Osaka: Nara Park & Nakatanidou — Guide Hiro
September, 2024
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Meet up @ Sowaka
- 10:40 Nara Park
- 10:55 Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall
- 11:40 Nigatsu-do
- 12:10 Kasuga Taisha
- 12:40 Manyo Botanical Garden
- 13:10 Lunch @ Kasuga Nichaya
- 14:20 Kofuku-ji
- 15:00 Nakatanidou
- 17:00 Dismiss @ Shijo Kawaramachi
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Osaka began at 9:00, when the guide met the guests at @ Sowaka, and finished at 17:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Kasuga Nichaya at 13:10.
From there the group visited Nara Park at 10:40, Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall at 10:55, Nigatsu-do at 11:40, Kasuga Taisha at 12:10, Manyo Botanical Garden at 12:40, Kofuku-ji at 14:20 and Nakatanidou at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Gion-Shijo to Tambabashi by train (280JPY); Tambabashi to Kintetsu Nara by train (680JPY); Kintetsu Nara Station to Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall by bus (250JPY); Kasuga Taisha Omote-sando to Kintetsu Nara Station by bus (250JPY); Kintetsu Nara to Tambabashi by train (680JPY); Tambabashi to Gion-Shijo by train (280JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 2,420JPY per person.
What Is a Private Day Trip from Kyoto to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. As it was the final day of their first trip to Japan, they had been very satisfied with the itinerary up to that point. At Nara Park, the deer were a little aggressive, but the guests enjoyed interacting with them throughout. They were also very interested in the historic buildings and Buddhist statues, asking detailed questions. The tour was a round trip from Kyoto, and on the train back one of the guests said, "I've come to prefer the calm atmosphere of Nara over Kyoto, which is too crowded." Since I forgot to take photos in Nara, I have attached a snapshot taken at Shijo-ohashi Bridge just before we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Gion-Shijo～Tambabashi | 280JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Tambabashi～Kintetsu Nara | 680JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Kintetsu Nara Station～Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall | 250JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Kasuga Taisha Omote-sando～Kintetsu Nara Station | 250JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Kintetsu Nara～Tambabashi | 680JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Tambabashi～Gion-Shijo | 280JPY |
| Total | 2,420JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Osaka tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Sowaka at 9:00, and the tour finished at @ Shijo Kawaramachi at 17:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 9:00 to 17:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nara Park, Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha, Manyo Botanical Garden, Kofuku-ji and Nakatanidou.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,420JPY per person across 6 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Hiro is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Osaka itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Thanks for joining our tour. I’m Hiro Nakagawa, assigned to be your guide for this tour. I was eligible as a National Licensed Tour Guide in 2017. I have guided many tourists from overseas since then. Japan is a beautiful country with full of various attractions. Please enjoy your time in this country to the fullest. I will help you with that. What are you interested in this country? I will introduce this country’s long history, traditional culture, beautiful seasonal highlights, and delicious food to you. Please let me know your preferences. If it’s other than which I mentioned, I’m preparing it for you as much as possible. Let’s enjoy the trip together!
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Japan Guide Agency guide Hiro did an excellent job in escorting my wife and I for a day tour to Mt. Koya, from the Osaka Cruise Terminal. We enjoyed the sanctity of the Mt. Koya area, the peaceful shrines, and the forests of tall trees. Hiro had all the transportation well designed-out, and was able to get us back to the Osaka cruise terminal at the time I had requested. Very satisfied with his service.
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Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was…
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Kyoto great tour experience.
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Enjoyed the sites we were taken. Hiro was very humble person. Under the extreme heat
conditions Hiro was very thoughtful & helpful. Thank you Hiro for today we appreciate your
time. Regards Markovski Family.
Jun 18, 2025
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Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
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My wife…
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Cool surprises on our Osaka and Kyoto tours with Hiro.
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My wife and I enjoyed not one by TWO full day tours with Hiro, one in Osaka and one in Kyoto. Hiro knows his stuff and passed along a lot of interesting history. In both cases he came prepared with detailed itineraries including public transit times to make sure we hit all the sites we most wanted to see. When rain became a factor in Kyoto, he adjusted our schedule to optimize for the weather – indoors during heaviest rain and outdoors when weather improved. In Kyoto, he warned us away from eating in one tourist area and instead found an amazing noodle shop for lunch, a completely unique experience. In Osaka, when we found one site he had chosen for us closed – the Museum of Housing & Life – he proposed another site that proved to be very nice. We went to the museum on our own the next day and found it fascinating and fun. He also took us to an outstanding okonomikayi place for lunch. Friendly, well-organized and accommodating, we really enjoyed our tours with Hiro.
May 26, 2025
SK G
Excellent tour
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Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable…
May 26, 2025
SK G
Excellent tour
Tripadvisor review: Osaka 6hr Private Walking Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Mr. Hiro provided an excellent experience. Personable and professional, he accommodated all our expectations.
Highly recommended!
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