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
- 7:00 Meet at DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station (Start of Tour →15:00)
- 7:10 Kintetsu Kyoto Station
- 7:17 Express train for Tenri departs Kyoto
- 8:00-8:02 Yamato-Saidaiji: Transfer from track 1 to track 2
- 8:08 Arrive at Kintetsu-Nara Station
- taxi
- 8:30-50 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park
- walk 5 minutes
- 9:00-10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
- walk 5 minutes
- 9:20-50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
- walk 5 minutes
- 10:00-10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
- walk 5 minutes
- 10:20-40 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall
- walk 5 minutes
- 10:50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill
- coffee time at Wakakusayama Palette
- walk 5 minutes
- 11:30-12:00 Kasuga-taisha Shrine
- walk 5 minutes & taxi
- 12:20 Kameya (right at the west end of Sarusawa Pond) lunch
- Nakatanido
- walk 5 minutes
- 13:20-14:00 Naramachi (old merchant quarters)
- walk 5 minutes
- 14:10-50 Kofukuji Temple
- walk 5 minutes
- 15:00 back at Kintetsu-Nara Station (End of Tour)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Kyoto began at 7:00, when the guide met the guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station (Start of Tour →15:00), and finished at 15:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Kintetsu Kyoto Station at 7:10, Express train for Tenri departs Kyoto at 7:17, Yamato-Saidaiji: Transfer from track 1 to track 2 at 8:00, Kintetsu-Nara Station at 8:08, 50 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park at 8:30, 10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate) at 9:00, 50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall at 9:20, 10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower at 10:00, 40 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall at 10:20, at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill at 10:50, Kasuga-taisha Shrine at 11:30, Kameya (right at the west end of Sarusawa Pond) lunch at 12:20, Naramachi (old merchant quarters) at 13:20 and 50 Kofukuji Temple at 14:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Kintetsu-Nara by train (760JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 760JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Guided Tour Like When Pre-Trip Communication Is Difficult? A Licensed Guide's Report
Pre-trip communication with the guests was quite difficult, as it was hard to get clear replies. In cases like this, the guests are often not native English speakers, and that turned out to be true here as well. The guests were from Asia, and although they spoke English without a noticeable accent, written communication such as email seemed to be less comfortable for them.
The conversation suggested a strong familiarity with endoscopic procedures. It made me wonder whether certain professional roles differ from how they are structured in Japan. By coincidence, I myself am scheduled to undergo both gastric and colon endoscopy tomorrow, so it was an interesting coincidence.
One of the guests explained that the name Guillermo, which originally shares the same root as William, changed form over time. It is a classic example of the correspondence between French and Norman French. It is as fascinating as the correspondence in English between the nearly identical words guardian and warden.
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 | Kyoto～Kintetsu-Nara | 760JPY |
| Total | 760JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Kyoto tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station (Start of Tour →15:00) at 7:00, and the tour finished at back at Kintetsu-Nara Station (End of Tour) at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 7:00 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Kintetsu Kyoto Station, Express train for Tenri departs Kyoto, Yamato-Saidaiji: Transfer from track 1 to track 2, Kintetsu-Nara Station, 50 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park, 10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate), 50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall, 10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower, 40 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall, at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill, Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Kameya (right at the west end of Sarusawa Pond) lunch, Naramachi (old merchant quarters) and 50 Kofukuji Temple.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 760JPY per person across 1 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?
Junichi 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 Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello! Thank you for choosing Nara! I bet you’ll love Nara. I specialize in Nara because Nara is the unique place where in one day you can cover the history and religions of Japan from the ancient times to the post war era while enjoying rambling in the UNESCO World Heritage park, having communication with lovely deer, surrounded with the beautiful nature.
I grew up in Nara, went university in Kyoto, enjoyed teaching at high schools and a university in Osaka. The three former capitals of Japan are home to me.
After retiring from teaching I began guiding so that I can meet various people from various corners of the world with a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Each time I guide, I find it hugely rewarding because I learn a lot from my guests sharing the history, culture and all that I know about Nara, Kyoto and Osaka.
I used to be a marathon runner, mountain climber and skier though I am not much of them anymore.
What I especially recommend is to stay in Nara a couple of days and enjoy communicating with friendly deer while visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nara in early morning, temples and shrines at night are well worth experiencing.
May 16, 2026
I3520JTcristinat
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nara with family
Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and…
May 16, 2026
I3520JTcristinat
Tripadvisor review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Nara with family
Excellent tour with Junichi!!! Perfect English speaking guide and highly knowledgeable.
Highly recommend this tour!!!!
May 3, 2026
Maria_J
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Enjoyable day in Nara
We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi…
May 3, 2026
Maria_J
Viator review: Nara 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Enjoyable day in Nara
We spent 6 hours in Nara with Junichi Taguchi and were impressed by how much we were able to see and learn in that time. Traveling as a group of seven adults, we visited Kasuga Taisha, enjoyed lunch at Mizuya Chaya, and explored Tōdai-ji—including the Great Buddha Hall and surrounding grounds. We also spent time at Yoshikien Garden and Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography, along with encounters with Nara’s famous bowing deer.
Junichi shared clear, informative context throughout the day, adding depth to each stop without ever feeling overwhelming. His pacing was thoughtful, and he kept our group moving smoothly while still allowing time to take things in.
A well-organized and engaging tour—highly recommend Junichi for anyone visiting Nara.
Apr 11, 2026
64sandig
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day…
Apr 11, 2026
64sandig
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Osaka DEP. with Licensed Guide
????? Absolutely Outstanding ? Junichi Made Our Nara Day Unforgettable!
We had the pleasure of touring Nara with Junichi today, and he was simply phenomenal from the very first moment! Warm, welcoming, and a true professional, Junichi made us feel instantly at ease. His genuine enthusiasm and excellent English made every part of the day enjoyable and easy to follow.
Junichi’s knowledge is encyclopedic, yet he explains everything in such a clear, engaging, and understandable way. At Kofuku-ji Temple, he brought the history and significance of the site to life with fascinating details. We then enjoyed a relaxing lunch together before heading to Nara Park, where we had the delightful experience of feeding the famous bowing deer ? such a fun and memorable moment!
What really stood out was how flexible and attentive Junichi was. When we felt a bit pressed for time, he smoothly adjusted the itinerary and took us to a wonderful sake tasting facility instead of the next temple. We sampled several excellent sakes and couldn’t resist taking some home with us! From there, he led us to an incredible traditional kitchen knife shop run by an artisan whose family has been crafting blades for 750 years (originally making samurai swords). The craftsmanship was breathtaking, and we ended up purchasing a beautiful knife.
Later, Junichi took us to see an original Japanese merchant’s house, which was a real eye-opener ? the minimalistic lifestyle and beautiful architecture were fascinating.
The entire day was perfectly paced, insightful, and filled with wonderful surprises. Junichi’s caring attitude, deep knowledge, and ability to adapt made this one of the best private tour experiences we’ve ever had. We are so grateful we got to spend the day with him.
If you’re visiting Nara, do yourself a favor and book with Junichi ? you won’t regret it! He’s an absolute gem.
Highly, highly recommended ? 5 stars without hesitation!
Mar 30, 2026
dpadillachavez
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
Great day at Nara!
Best tour on Nara, Junichi…
Mar 30, 2026
dpadillachavez
Tripadvisor review: Nara 8hr Private Tour – Kyoto DEP. with Licensed Guide
Great day at Nara!
Best tour on Nara, Junichi is great during the tour! He definitely knows and shows the best
parts of the city.