Nara in One Day: JR Nara & 30 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
- 9:00 JR Nara Station
- (bus)
- 9:20-30 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park
- (walk 10 minutes)
- 9:40-10:20 Kasuga-taisha Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage)
- (walk 10 minutes)
- 10:40-50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill:
- former katana sword manufacturer's, craft shop etc.
- (walk 10 minutes)
- 11:00- Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)
- 11:00-11:30 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall
- (walk 5 minutes)
- 11:40-50 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower
- (walk 10 minutes)
- 12:00-30 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall: entrance 800 yen
- (walk 5 minutes)
- 12:40-50 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate):
- walk 5 minutes
- 13:00-30 Yoshikien Garden
- walk 5 minutes
- 13:40-14:00 Irie Taikichi's former residence
- walk 30 minutes through the park and bus
- 15:00 (End of Tour) back at JR Nara Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered JR Nara Station at 9:00, 30 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park at 9:20, Kasuga-taisha Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage) at 9:40, 50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill: at 10:40, Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage) at 11:00, Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall at 11:00, 50 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower at 11:40, 30 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall: entrance 800 yen at 12:00, 50 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate): at 12:40, 30 Yoshikien Garden at 13:00 and Irie Taikichi's former residence at 13:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: JR Nara Station by bus (250JPY); Kasuga-taisha Omotesando by bus (250JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 500JPY per person.
Was It a Private Day Trip from Kyoto to Nara? A Licensed Guide's Report on a Tricky Pickup
This turned out to be a rather challenging case.
(1) Although this was booked as a Nara tour, the agent contacted me requesting a pickup at a high-end ryokan in Arashiyama, Kyoto. I suggested switching it to a Kyoto-departure Nara tour instead. However, the agent replied that, for certain reasons, they did not want to change the booking, and asked me to keep it as a Nara tour while still doing the pickup at the accommodation, saying they would cover the cost. Since going back and forth would not have been productive, I followed the agent's wishes. For that reason, the "tour route for the day" omits the portion from the accommodation to Nara.
(2) I had confirmed with the guests the night before that I would be waiting at the accommodation at 9:00, but on the day they arrived more than 30 minutes late. The spot where I was waiting was the location that comes up when you search for the ryokan online, at the south end of Togetsukyo Bridge. However, this is not the main building of the accommodation but only a waiting area for the boat that takes guests to the main building. There is no way for a guide to reach the main building. According to the staff, the guide from the previous day had faced exactly the same problem. This accommodation requires special caution! I believe all guides need to be made aware of this.
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 / Nara Kotsu～Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga-taisha-mae / Nara Kotsu | 250JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Kasuga-taisha Omotesando / Nara Kotsu～JR Nara Station / Nara Kotsu | 250JPY |
| Total | 500JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited JR Nara Station, 30 Ukigumo-enchi in Nara Deer Park, Kasuga-taisha Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage), 50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill:, Todaiji Temple (UNESCO World Heritage), Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall, 50 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower, 30 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall: entrance 800 yen, 50 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate):, 30 Yoshikien Garden and Irie Taikichi's former residence.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 500JPY per person across 2 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 Nara 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.