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
- 8;45 Meet at hotel
- 9:07 Board JR bound for Nara
- 10:01 Arrive at JR Horyuji Station
- 10:07 Board Nara Kotsu bus bound for Horyuji
- 10:12 Horyuji
- 11:53 Board bus bound for Horyuji Station
- 12:07 Board JR bound for Nara
- 12:20 Arrive at JR Nara Station
- 12:40. Lunch
- 13:25 Nara Park
- 13:45 Todaiji
- 15:25. Kasuga Taisha
- 17:07 Board JR bound for Kyoto
- 17:53 Arrive at Kyoto Station
- 18:00. Tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Board JR bound for Nara at 9:07, JR Horyuji Station at 10:01, Board Nara Kotsu bus bound for Horyuji at 10:07, Horyuji at 10:12, Board bus bound for Horyuji Station at 11:53, Board JR bound for Nara at 12:07, JR Nara Station at 12:20, Lunch at 12:40, Nara Park at 13:25, Todaiji at 13:45, Kasuga Taisha at 15:25, Board JR bound for Kyoto at 17:07 and Kyoto Station at 17:53.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kyoto to Horyuji by train (990JPY); Horyuji to Nara by train (240JPY); Nara to Kyoto by train (720JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 2,550JPY per person.
What Is a Private Day Trip to Nara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Horyuji, Todaiji, and Kasuga Taisha
The guests were a group visiting from Europe. Some of them had visited Japan several times before, but it was everyone's first time in Nara. Heavy rain had been forecast, so I was worried about whether the tour could go ahead as planned, but luckily the trains ran on schedule and we were able to complete the tour without encountering any severe rain. Looking outside from the train heading to Nara, it had been raining the whole way, but by the time we reached Horyuji the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. After Horyuji, we returned to Nara and headed for lunch, though it was already past noon. Since it was a popular tonkatsu restaurant, I was concerned about whether there would be seats available, but we were lucky here too and managed to secure seats for the group. At Todaiji, the deer crackers had sold out by just after 3:00, so unfortunately we could not feed the deer, but everyone enjoyed playing with them. The last place we visited, Kasuga Taisha, had a calm and serene atmosphere after the rain, which everyone was delighted with. The photo was taken at Horyuji.
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 | Kyoto～Horyuji | 990JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Horyuji～Nara | 240JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | JR Nara～JR Nara | 600JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Nara～Kyoto | 720JPY |
| Total | 2,550JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Board JR bound for Nara, JR Horyuji Station, Board Nara Kotsu bus bound for Horyuji, Horyuji, Board bus bound for Horyuji Station, Board JR bound for Nara, JR Nara Station, Lunch, Nara Park, Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Board JR bound for Kyoto and Kyoto Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,550JPY per person across 4 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kazu is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Kyoto itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
I was born and grew up in Kyoto and now live near Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I used to be a schoolteacher of English and welcome a lot of students from foreign countries. I really enjoyed showing them around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I have been a professional tour guide for about 8 years. I always try to let my guests learn Japanese traditional and modern culture. Since I was born in Kyoto, I know a lot about its culture and people. I myself enjoyed several sports, such as soccer, judo, and marathon when I was young. I’m much interested in baseball and sumo. My motto as a tour guide is to let my guests learn about our tradition and culture precisely and really enjoy themselves. I strongly hope you will enjoy the tour in Japan with me.
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep…
Jul 24, 2026
Trail65429092687
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Tour
Kazua Sumi is a very accomplished guide.He has deep knowledge about the history and culture of Japan. He is flexible and accommodates changes if you so desire. He is also very empathetic. I had a sprained back and he ensured we took elevators everywhere. You will be lucky if he is assigned as your guide .
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience…
Jul 23, 2026
489caelinp
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Kyoto Guided Tour
My friend and I had a great experience on the tour. We travelled all around Kyoto with our guide Kazuo Sumi. He is a sweet older gentleman who had a great depth of knowledge about each place we went to. We told him places we wanted to go and he made the itinerary for us. There is no one better to have as your guide!!
Jul 16, 2026
margaretsM7923ON
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Great way to see Kyoto
Wonderful tour and exceptional guide.
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided…
Jul 9, 2026
Sandra_B
Kazuo was great and…
Viator review: Kyoto Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Kazuo was great and provided some excellent recommendations. There’s a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared.