Nara in One Day: Todaiji Temple — Guide Junichi

September, 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

9:40 JR Nara Station (Start of Tour)
10:10-50 Kofukuji Temple → Ukimido Hall →
11:30-12:10 Kasuga-taisha Shrine walk 5 minutes
lunch at Mizuya Chaya walk 5 minutes
12:50 at the foot of Wakakusayama Hill walk 5 minutes
13:00 Todaiji Temple
13:10 Todaiji's Nigatsudo Hall walk 5 minutes
13:30 Todaiji's Shoro Bell Tower walk 5 minutes
13:50-14:30 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall walk 5 minutes
14:50 Todaiji's Nandaimon (South Great Gate) walk 5 minutes
15:00-20 Yoshikien Garden taxi
15:30-16:20 Nara-machi (Old Quarters of the town): sake tasting etc.
walk 20 minutes
16:50-17:05 back at JR Nara Station (End of Tour)

Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Nara Like for a Solo Traveler? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guest was a solo traveler visiting from North America who traveled to Nara for a one-day private tour. It was a rare case where the guest came all the way to Nara on the morning of the tour. Beforehand, communication was difficult, as emails went unread, and I felt relieved when we finally managed to get in touch by SMS — but that relief was premature. Although the pickup was scheduled for 11:00 at JR Nara Station, at 8:51 a message arrived saying "just boarded the train from Kyoto to Nara," so I hurried over to JR Nara Station by 9:30. In the end, the tour started an hour and a half earlier than planned. The guest mentioned always traveling alone. The rapid speech made it a bit challenging to catch everything, but it was so enjoyable that the tour ended up running an hour longer than scheduled, and I had a truly wonderful time. I feel I was able to get a small glimpse of a different culture. I also learned that SMS functions can differ quite a lot between Japan and North America.

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…