Kyoto: Tour Horyuji Temple & Disband @ JR Nara Station — Guide Toshi

Title: What's a Private Day Tour from Osaka to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

At 9:00, I met the guests at their hotel, and after introductions we boarded a taxi and set off for Nara. The guests asked me to plan a "leave-it-to-the-guide" tour, so I first headed to Horyuji Temple to introduce Prince Shotoku, who is regarded as the father of Japanese Buddhism. Although road congestion along the way took more time than expected, we were able to enjoy a lot of conversation in the car. The guests were especially fond of sumo and had enjoyed two days of the Osaka tournament during this trip. I gave an unhurried tour of Horyuji Temple, and at the end we visited a memorial honoring figures such as a Harvard University professor who helped ensure that the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto were spared from bombing during the Pacific War. At the next destination, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, I explained the relationship between the shrine and the deer the guests had been looking forward to seeing, and after entering the precincts I explained Shinto. Afterward, the guests enjoyed a rice porridge lunch, and then had a wonderful time feeding the deer in Nara Park. I then guided them through the Nandaimon Gate and the Great Buddha Hall, and finally we walked to Kaidan-do, where we boarded the car to move toward Kyoto. The guests carried a goshuin stamp book and diligently collected stamps at each place we visited. As the Nara sightseeing came to an end and we were about to head to the hotel, the guests remembered from our conversation in the car that I live in Nara, and said, "You can just take the car straight back to the hotel, so there's no need for you to come all the way to Kyoto. Let's part ways here." Following their kind suggestion, we said our goodbyes at Nara Station.

Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto by Private Car with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Toshi

After a rather long teaching experience at Japanese college, I converted my career about 6 years ago into working as a tour guide for the tourists visiting Japan.
As my career overseas, I’ve been in the UN and the Japanese Embassy, all in the USA, totaling more than 6 years.
And then I had made a big change in my career from a diplomat to an academic researcher. For that career to achieve, I studied abroad and won a doctorate degree in linguistics from Indiana University and landed a teaching position at college in Japan.
With all these interesting and exciting experiences I’ve made myself ready to enrich your tour and make it both enjoyable and worthwhile.