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
- Planned to start around 12:30 or 13:00. However, in reality
- Guest arrived after 14:00 → Taxi →
- 14:30 Great Buddha Hall → Nandaimon Gate → Taxi →
- 15:30 Kintetsu Nara → Taxi
- 16:20 JR Nara → 16:38 Yamatoji Line →
- 16:49 JR Horyuji: Said goodbye on the train → Train stopped due to fire along the line
- Exchanged messages on WhatsApp until around 19:00
タイトル: What's a Private Nara Tour Like When Guests Arrive Late by Shinkansen? A Licensed Guide's Report
本文: This was a tour full of unusual circumstances. The original plan was to start at 13:00. Through the pre-tour correspondence, it gradually became clear that the guests would leave Tokyo in the morning, arrive in Kyoto by Shinkansen, transfer to Nara for the tour, and afterward head to a hotel near Shin-Osaka. They said they might arrive in Nara earlier, but that it would not be certain until the day itself.
In the end, I was able to meet the guests in Nara at 14:00. When I asked why the Shinkansen could only be arranged for such a time, they explained that they had arrived at Haneda from North America that morning and taken the Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama. They had probably not been able to make a reservation in advance due to the flight schedule. From around 9:00 that morning, I was kept busy by a flurry of exchanges over a messaging app.
The tour start was delayed by another 30 minutes or so while the guests put their luggage in coin lockers and exchanged money. On top of that, since one of the guests was not feeling well, the Nara tour ended up covering only the Great Buddha Hall, the Nandaimon Gate, the deer, and a few scattered cherry blossoms. Rather than the Nara guiding itself, the "guiding until reaching Nara" and the "guiding after the tour ended" were the more demanding parts.
I saw the guests onto the direct rapid train from Nara Station to Shin-Osaka (I rode along with them partway), and about an hour after I returned home, I received a message on the messaging app saying, "The train has stopped. It's already been about an hour!" There was a fairly large fire beside the tracks, and both the Yamatoji Line and the Osaka Higashi Line had suspended operations.
I had parted ways with the guests before 5:00, but the trains apparently did not resume until around 8:20 in the evening. I truly hope they managed to reach their hotel safely!
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 | Train | Nara～Horyuji | 240JPY |
| Total | 240JPY | ||
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.