Nara Day Trip from Kyoto: Customized Tour — Guide Kazu
February, 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
- ① 10:00 Meet at DoubleTree By Hilton Kyoto
- ② 10:05 Itinerary explanation and brief overview of Kyoto and Nara
- ③ 11:00 Depart from Kintetsu Nara on the "Aoniyoshi"
- ④ 11:40 Stroll around Naramachi (Nigiwai no Ie, Jizo Bosatsu, Koshin-do, Goryo Shrine)
- ⑤ 12:30 Gango-ji Temple
- ⑥ 13:30 Lunch (vegetarian menu)
- ⑦ 14:15 Head to Todai-ji Temple while strolling through Nara Park
- ⑧ 15:30 Todai-ji Temple
- ⑨ 16:30 Leave Kintetsu Nara and head to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- ⑩ 17:30 Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- ⑪ 18:45 Disband at Sanjo-dori

Title: Can You Take the Kintetsu Limited Express to Nara on a Private Kyoto Day Trip? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Asia, visiting Japan for the first time. They especially wished to ride the Kintetsu Limited Express "Aoniyoshi" to Nara, and the receipt is attached. The original plan was to visit Kasuga Taisha after Todaiji, but the guests had become tired from walking, so I suggested that we stop by Fushimi Inari Taisha on the way back to Kyoto. They were delighted and we happily changed the plan on the spot. In the end, we parted ways on Sanjo Street. I explained a great deal about the history of the ancient capital of Nara and various aspects of Japanese culture, and the guests also had many other questions. They asked about the values and political views of Japanese people living in today's world. For example, they asked what motivates Japanese people to live and what their goals in life are, given that Japan, as a developed nation, possesses culture, religion, politics, economy, infrastructure, a high level of civic awareness and education, and wonderful nature. They also asked why, when Japanese people are generally regarded around the world as friendly, kind, considerate, and courteous, the country ended up doing something as tragic as the Pacific War, and what kind of ideology lay behind it. I answered strictly as my own personal opinions. I was surprised that the guests, who run a company, had come to Japan hoping to ask Japanese people such things directly.
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 | 1,860JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Kintetsu Nara~Tambabashi | 680JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Tambabashi~Fushimi Inari | 170JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Fushimi Inari~Sanjo | 220JPY |
| Total | 2,930JPY | ||
Hello, this is Kazu Akiyama, your tour guide. Nice to meet you and welcome to Japan. Thank you for joining me on the tour. Now I am a retired salaried worker, living in Osaka. I have been very much interested in not only learning Japanese history, culture, religion myself, but also talking about them (sometimes going off topics) in English with tourists from all over the world as well. I am so excited being with you as your guide on coming day! I am very much looking forward to you enjoying with me visiting the must-see places and some of the hidden gems. See you soon. Thank you – Kazu Akiyama
Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable.…
Jul 29, 2026
James_G
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide and very…
Great guide and very knowledgeable. Spoke perfect English and made the day fun and educational. Was able to adjust the tour based on my needs.
Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu…
Jul 13, 2026
peterhR6472GA
Kyoto highlights with Kazu.
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
A wonderful day with Kazu san in Kyoto. From the moment that the tour was booked, his communication with email about planning the day was exceptional.
Kazu gave detailed explanations about the areas we visited and we appreciated all that he had to offer at each of our stops.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him.
Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu.…
Jul 12, 2026
cgalvez73
Fantastic tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Our guide in Kyoto was Kazu. By the end of the day, we felt like we had made a new friend.
Kazu helped us arrange the best day with our short time in Kyoto. He brought us to some “hidden gems” and gave us thorough explanations on history and culture.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
Our tour guide…
Jun 23, 2026
Winni_H
Viator review: Private Kyoto Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Highly recommended when in Kyoto
Our tour guide Kazu was very knowledgeable in terms of the history and explaining many of
the wonderful ancient sites around Kyoto. Definitely a must! Otherwise, I think it would be
difficult to tourists to understand on their own.
