1-Day Kyoto Uji & Nara Tour with Tea Ceremony
Description
Embark on a captivating journey through Japan's cultural heartland with our Uji and Nara 1-Day Tour. This immersive excursion combines the serene beauty of Uji with the ancient wonders of Nara. Begin in Uji, the heart of Japanese tea culture, with an authentic tea ceremony and a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Byodo-in Temple. Marvel at its restored Phoenix Hall, showcasing vibrant ancient architecture. The afternoon takes you to historic Nara. Be awestruck by the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple and explore Kasuga Taisha Shrine's lantern-lined corridors. Enjoy a unique experience in Nara Park, where friendly deer roam freely.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Uji Bridge is thought to have been originally built sometime in the 7th century and is counted among the oldest bridges in Japan. A small protrusion off one side of the bridge known as san-no-ma offers great views
Enjoy an authentic tea ceremony in Uji, a famous tea town known as the birthplace of Japanese tea
Built near the end of the Heian Era, this temple houses a Buddha statue and other images, and is surrounded by a beautiful garden. The temple is registered on the World Heritage List as a part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. An image of this temple's Phoenix Hall is featured on the 10 yen coin
Time for lunch is allotted in Kyoto. Customers are free to enjoy their preferred meals. Lunch is not included in the tour booking charge
This Nara Period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers. From 2025, the Main Sanctuary special visit area will be newly added to the itinerary. You can get closer to the Main Sanctuary and view the hanging lanterns in the corridor
A World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world's largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold
Get to see wild deer up close while walking through Nara Park
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled
- Public transportation will be used on this tour. All trains have non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed
- The tour may not be able to enter the Phoenix Hall at Byodo-in Temple in case of congestion. In this case, JPY 300 will be refunded at the location
- The tour may be unable to drop by Nakanoshima Park in case of high water level in the Uji River, etc
- The tea ceremony experience may vary between tea ceremony procedures with matcha green tea and tea ceremony procedures with sencha green tea depending on the day. Selections may not be made. Also, this may be conducted with other customers. Recording videos is not allowed in the tea room
- Participants will walk from the parking lot to Todai-ji Temple (about 25 min one-way). Please inform us at the time of booking if any person in your group is using crutches or a wheelchair, or has a chronic illness that makes it difficult to walk for long distances
- At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the tour will also enter the Main Sanctuary special visit area. However, in case the special visit area cannot be entered due to events or operational circumstances, the Kasuga Taisha Museum or Manyo Botanical Garden will be visited instead for 2025 tour. For 2026 tour, the Kasuga Taisha Museum or Todaiji Museum will be visited instead
- Refunds will not be issued in case the tour visits aforementioned alternative destinations
- Seats may not be designated
- The morning portion of this tour is a walking tour, not a bus tour. Please participate in shoes which are easy to walk in
- The tea experience will be held in a tatami room, so please wear socks
- Children up to 5 years old may join free of charge, but will not be provided with bus seats. If bus seats are required, please make a booking under the child rate
- Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour
- The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations
Reviews(1)
These are two separate trips that are combined within a day. Guides were extremely knowledgable and thoughtful. They answered questions and went out to f their way to help with transportation event after the tour ended.
