Nara in One Day: Nara Park & Kofuku-ji — Guide Hiro
December, 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
- 10:00 Meet up @ JR Nara Station
- 10:15 Nara Park
- 10:30 Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall
- 11:30 Nigatsu-do
- 12:20 Kasuga Taisha
- 13:02 Shin-Yakushi-ji
- 13:50 Naramachi + Lunch
- 14:40 Kofuku-ji
- 16:00 Disband @ JR Nara Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ JR Nara Station at 10:00, the group explored Nara until the tour ended at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Nara Park at 10:15, Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall at 10:30, Nigatsu-do at 11:30, Kasuga Taisha at 12:20, Shin-Yakushi-ji at 13:02, Naramachi + Lunch at 13:50 and Kofuku-ji at 14:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: JR Nara Station to In front of Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall & Kasuga Taisha by bus (250JPY); Tamukeyama & Nigatsu-do to Kasuga Taisha Main Shrine by bus (100JPY); In front of the Prefectural Office to JR Nara Station by bus (250JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 600JPY per person.
Can You Do a Private Day Tour of Nara from Kyoto? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America, all visiting Japan for the first time. They traveled from Kyoto in the morning, and we met on time at JR Nara Station to begin the tour. Some of the guests were very interested in history and culture, asking many questions at every place we visited. Others were more interested in the deer, other animals, and sweets, so I tried to manage the schedule carefully to accommodate everyone's interests as much as possible. On this day they were moving to a hotel in Osaka and had a dinner reservation, so I was able to see them off at Nara Station before 16:00 as planned.
Click here for more details: Nara Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | JR Nara Station～In front of Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall & Kasuga Taisha | 250JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Tamukeyama & Nigatsu-do～Kasuga Taisha Main Shrine | 100JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | In front of the Prefectural Office～JR Nara Station | 250JPY |
| Total | 600JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Nara tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ JR Nara Station at 10:00, and the tour finished at @ JR Nara Station at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:00 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Nara Park, Todai-ji Great Buddha Hall, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha, Shin-Yakushi-ji, Naramachi + Lunch and Kofuku-ji.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 600JPY per person across 3 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 Nara 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 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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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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May 26, 2025
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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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