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
- 9:30 pick you up at he lobby of your hotel "THE MITSUI KYOTO"
- (take taxi to Kyoto Sta.)
- 9:50 Kyoto Sta.
- 10:40 Kintetsu Nara Sta.
- 10:50 Nara Park (You enjoy feeding crackers to deer)
- 11:30 Todaiji Temple
- 12:20 Tamukeyama Shrine
- 12:30 Lunch
- 13:10 Nigatsu-do
- 13:50 (take taxi)
- 14:20 Kasuga Taisha Skip、(walk to Nara machi)
- 15:10 Nara Machi
- 15:30 Kintetsu Nara Sta.
- 15:50 Niaahinokyo Sta.
- 16:00 Yakushiji Temple
- 16:40 Kintetsu Nishinokyo Sta.
- 17:30 Kintetsu Kyoto Sta.
A Private Nara Day Tour from Kyoto Over New Year's: A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was a visitor from North America. After spending three days sightseeing in Tokyo and visiting major sites in Kyoto the previous day, they were scheduled to travel to Hiroshima the following day.
There had been a request to change the hotel. The guest had sent an email directly, but I did not notice it. The original accommodation had been Hotel, but it had been changed to another Hotel. Not realizing this, I called the guest at 9:00 and learned that the hotel had been changed. I took a taxi to the guest's Hotel, and the tour started at 9:30.
During the New Year's period (January 1–3), the loop bus in Nara was suspended, and city buses to and from Kasuga Taisha Shrine were also not running.
We took a taxi from Todai-ji Temple toward Kasuga Taisha Shrine, but there was a very long line at Kasuga Taisha with entry restrictions in place. We waited about ten minutes, but the line did not move at all, so we skipped it. We could not catch a taxi either, so we walked to Naramachi. The guest wanted to buy a small Buddhist statue, but several shops were closed for the New Year holiday, and we could not find one.
We then took the Kintetsu line to Nishinokyo and visited Yakushi-ji Temple, after which I saw the guest off at Kintetsu Kyoto Station, ending the tour.
Click here for more details: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kintetsu Kyoto～Kintetsu Nara | 760JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kintetsu Nara～Nishinokyo | 300JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Nishinokyo～Kintetsu Nara | 760JPY |
| Total | 1,820JPY | ||
Hello, I’m HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as a famous shogun who unified Japan for the first time in 1590.
I was born in Kobe, worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce you Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama.
In Kyoto, I can guide you Nijojo Castle, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Tempe (Golden Pavilion), Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
In Osaka, I’ll show you Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Dotonbori, and Umeda Sky biilding. We have locall foods such as Kushikatau, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
In Kobe, I’ll take you to former foreign residential area, Sannomiya Shopping Street, Chinese Market, and Arima Onsen.
In Nara, I’ll guide you Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, and Yakushiji Temple.
In Wakayama, I take you to Koyasan, the center of Esoteric Buddhism.
I enjoy guiding foreign tourists.
I can show you Japanese history, especially samurai period, and Shinto and Buddhism.
I’ve been looking forward to guiding you !!
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with…
Jun 1, 2026
Stephan_F
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great overview of the…
Great overview of the highlights of Kyoto with an excellent guide. Just beware that the
different sites may be located at different ends of the city so you will spend time on trains.
Also, in the summer a parasol is probably a good idea as it can get hot.
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with…
May 28, 2025
terrym866
Kyoto guided tour was as promised. Very knowledgeable guide and driver .
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Tour was as promised , well planned and executed. The guide was very knowledgeable and
friendly and went out of his way to make sure we were pleased.
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking…
Oct 17, 2024
katiya2017
Walking visit in Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Full-Day Private Tour (Osaka departure) with Government-Licensed Guide
We booked a full day walking tour excursion from Osaka to Kyoto from our cruise ship. Hideo Yoshida met us promptly and escorted us all day from Osaka to visit 4 of Kyotos most famous sites.
He proved to be a true Japanese gentleman, very polite , very knowledgeable and knew the train system well. We must have changed at least 10 trains and it would have been impossible to navigate this without him. Also we had our most delicious sushi and sashimi lunch in Japan in a restaurant he recommended.
Thank you Hideo for providing us a wonderful insight in Kyotos history.
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with…
Sep 29, 2024
Roy_M
Excellent tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a very good private tour with Hide Yoshi – he made a good plan for us and whisked us around Kyoto to the key sites very efficiently. He had good knowledge about the places we visited and had prepared materials and photos to show us. He really helped us to get the maximum out of our time in Kyoto and is a really nice person. Also took us for an excellent lunch! Highly recommended.