Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Ukigumo Enchi (open field) play with the deer, Kasuga-taisha Shrine, 20 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill:, Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage):, Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall, 10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower, 50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall, 10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate) and 40 Yoshikien Garden.

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 Nara itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.

Nara in One Day: Kasuga-taisha & 40 Yoshikien — Guide Junichi

September, 2025

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

10:49 Kintetsu-Nara Station (Start of Tour → 17:00 end of tour)
　　　　taxi
11:10 Ukigumo Enchi (open field) play with the deer
walk 15 minutes
11:30-12:00 Kasuga-taisha Shrine
walk 5 minutes
12:10-20 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill:
former katana sword manufacturer's shop，Kobaien.
walk 5 minutes
12:30- Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage):
12:30-13:00 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall
(lunch at Emado Chaya)
walk 5 minutes
14:00-10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
walk 5 minutes
14:20-50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall
walk 5 minutes
15:00-10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate)
walk 5 minutes
15:20-40 Yoshikien Garden
walk 5 minutes and taxi
16:00 back at Kintetsu-Nara Station (End of Tour)

Tour Itinerary in Detail

From there the group visited Ukigumo Enchi (open field) play with the deer at 11:10, Kasuga-taisha Shrine at 11:30, 20 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill: at 12:10, Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage): at 12:30, Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall at 12:30, 10 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower at 14:00, 50 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall at 14:20, 10 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate) at 15:00 and 40 Yoshikien Garden at 15:20.

What Is a Private Nara Day Tour Like for Guests from North America? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America. Right up until the tour began, there were sudden bursts of rain that made me a little worried, but we were blessed with calm weather throughout the tour. One of the guests was a little afraid of the deer at first but quickly mastered how to make them bow. From then on, they walked energetically and at quite a good pace almost until the very end. At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, when I explained that the votive wooden plaques are called "ema," it got a great laugh because it sounded like a name. I had received information from a guide who had led the same guests earlier that they liked soba and tempura, but it seemed they preferred udon this time. Many thanks to the earlier guide for sharing that information.

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

Tour Report by Junichi

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.

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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 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…

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…