Arashiyama & Nara Highlights: One-Day Private Tour Adventure
Description
The itinerary is based on hiring a car or a van for 8 hours - Cash to the driver on the tour day: Up to 5 passengers: ¥110,000 ,if more than 5 please let me know in advance. 1- Within a day of your stay in Kyoto, I am going to show you the must-see spots of Nara and Arashimaya. 2- Understanding the culture and life in Japan from a foreign prospective. 3- Tour itenerary is planned to cover the top sightseeing spots of Nara and Arashiyama and long enough to go around the cultural and historic places too, however, I can customize it based on your will. Itenerary is shown here, however, you can still customize it in arrangement with the guide. 09:00 Meeting at your hotel in Kyoto 10:00 bamboo forest and Tenryu-ji temple garden 11:00 Hozu-gawa river and Togetsu bridge 13:00 move to Nara 14:30 Nara deers park 15:30 Todaiji temple 16:30 Kasuga Shrine 17:30 Back to Kyoto 19:00 Tour finish
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the charm of Nara Deer Park on your tour, where friendly deer roam freely in a picturesque setting. This expansive park allows you to interact with the gentle deer, known for their calm demeanor and eagerness to greet visitors. Purchase special deer crackers to feed them and enjoy a memorable, interactive experience. The park’s beautiful landscape, featuring lush green lawns and seasonal blooms, provides a perfect backdrop for a relaxing stroll. Embrace the unique opportunity to connect with these sacred animals in one of Japan’s most beloved natural spaces.
Experience the grandeur of Todaiji Temple on your tour, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its majestic Great Buddha Hall. Inside, you'll find one of the world's largest bronze Buddha statues, an awe-inspiring sight that exemplifies Japanese Buddhist art and architecture. Explore the temple grounds, where ancient wooden structures and serene landscapes enhance the spiritual atmosphere. Todaiji Temple’s historical significance and architectural beauty make it a must-visit destination, offering a profound glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural and religious heritage.
Visit Kasuga Shrine on your tour, a captivating Shinto shrine renowned for its enchanting atmosphere and beautiful lanterns. The shrine is famous for its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns that line the pathways, creating a magical glow as you explore its lush, forested grounds. Admire the intricate design of the shrine's buildings and enjoy the tranquil setting, which reflects the serene spirit of Japanese spirituality. Kasuga Shrine's rich history and picturesque surroundings make it a highlight of your visit to Nara.
Explore Kyoto’s natural and cultural treasures with our tour featuring the Bamboo Forest, Nonomiya Shrine, and Tenryu-ji Temple Garden. Begin your journey in the Bamboo Forest, where towering green stalks create a tranquil and otherworldly atmosphere, perfect for a peaceful walk. Next, visit Nonomiya Shrine, a historic Shinto shrine known for its serene setting and ancient traditions. Discover its beautiful architecture and lush surroundings.
Conclude with a visit to the Tenryu-ji Temple Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its exquisite Zen garden and stunning landscape views. Enjoy a serene stroll through meticulously designed gardens, reflecting the beauty of traditional Japanese landscape artistry.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(12)
We had an exceptional day at Nara Deer Park that exceeded all our expectations with our great guide Yukari. Walking among the freely roaming deer while exploring the parks and the temples around was a truly unique and peaceful experience. Make sure you get a perfect weather for the tour, and make a visit to the museum.
Thank you so much. Yukari is one of our best guides in the company. Wishing to serve you again in Kyoto
This day tour of Nara and Arashiyama was a fantastic way to see the highlights of both areas in a single day. The guide provided interesting insights into Japanese culture and history, making the experience both informative and enjoyable. The pace was just right, allowing plenty of time to take in the sights without feeling rushed.
Thank you for your feedback. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed seeing the highlights of Nara and Arashiyama and found the tour both informative and comfortable. We appreciate your comments and hope to host you again soon.
Fabulous and highly recommended!! We went to the deer park and the big temple in Nara with our fabulous guide Yoshiniki who was a very nice lady and great guide. She gifted Origami to our kids in the morning so the kids gave her a lot of attention during the tour. We had Sushi for lunch based on Yoshiniku recommendation that was just perfect. We ended the tour in Arashiyama and were dropped off by our private car in Kyoto. Yoshiniki deserves all the best, she made the tour a great experience to our kids!
Thank you for the fabulous review! We are thrilled that Yoshiniki made the tour such a wonderful experience for your family, from the thoughtful origami to the perfect sushi recommendation. We will share your kind words with her.
We booked this tour to have one full day in the Arashiyama area east of Kyoto. We recommend starting early to avoid crowds. Keiko was very flexible and accepted starting at 7:30 am. Our kids enjoyed the monkey park the most in Kyoto.
Thank you for your helpful recommendation and feedback. We are pleased that Keiko could accommodate an early start for your family's day in Arashiyama and that the monkey park was a highlight. We hope to welcome you all back.
Definitely a must see if you're in Kyoto or Osaka. This is a great tour to one of many UNISECO Heritage sights. Our guide was Kingo was fantastic. His knowledge and passion for the rich culture and history of the area was impressive. Deer park is fun for kids, the deer can get a little aggressive if you hide food, but if you bow they bow back which was pretty cool. I highly recommend this tour, and make sure you fit in the Golden Shrine.
Thank you for your wonderful review. We are delighted that Kingo's knowledge and passion made your visit to the UNESCO Heritage site so memorable, and that your family enjoyed the Deer Park and the Golden Shrine. Your strong recommendation is greatly appreciated.
Moto was a very profesional and experienced with this tour. We enjoyed the deer and the monkeys. We had a great time.
Thank you so much and looking forward to service you again with our company
This is a bait and switch scam. We paid almost $500 for a tour. The booking was paid for and scheduled for a certain time but the tour operator didn’t even have a tour guide available at that hour. He told us to wait while he found one. We waited until finally he said he found someone. Unfortunately, that was not the end. The end was when the tour operator asked if we were okay spending an additional $500 after the credit card payment was processed. He said the private car tour did not include the cost of a driver. What?? The $500 tour would now cost $1000.. I told the tour operator to cancel and asked for a refund. Now, I’ve been told the refund amount is less than $100 out of $500. This is scandalous. The tour description is “The itinerary is based on hiring a car or van for 10 hrs”. Viator needs to refund my money asap.
Hi Virginiaand thanks a lot. This is a tour that is designed to offer visits to 2 far places in Kyoto (Arashiyama and Nara). The booking you made was on avery short notice but we were able to manage a guide at the end. As for the car, it is well described in the tour that transportation cost is not included, and the proposed itinerary is based on a car hired (mentioned 2 times in the tour description) so we either use public transportation which many of the travellers do, or we hire a car, unfortunately you refused both and asked to cancel. We tried our best to help you with that and even approved a partial refund, since we also have to pay for the booked guide. Thanks a lot
Very well organized trip We saw very impressive Buddha Temple and Shinto Shrine in Nara. We were fascinated with Bamboo forest. Guide was very attentive, took lots of pictures and even when we had extra time left took us to Kyoto to explore Nijo castle which was not on itinerary that we are very appreciative that otherwise we would not have a chance to see it. Guide also helped us to make dinner reservation for after the trip We were very happy how we spent our time
I really appreciate your wonderful feedback! It’s fantastic to know that you enjoyed the tour. Having you as part of the group made it special.
We had an amazing time, our tour guide Miyako was awesome, so knowledgeable and kind, highly recommend.
I really appreciate your wonderful feedback! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour. Your enthusiasm made it a joy to lead, and I’m grateful for your support.
wow I have to say my family and I had an amazing time!!!!! this is my second time ever writing any kind of review. my first experience with viator was a miserable one. thanks to my stars I didn't cancel this tour based off of my first experience. this tour cost a bit but it was worth every penny. we got picked up at our hotel. greeted so nicely . doors opened for us, water was offered right away. our tour guide Mike was AMAZING!!! it's our first time in japan so we didn't know anything. mike was very polite, bubbly and funny. mike told us step by step where we were going and as we got to each location he explained about the history and little facts about that location. persons in our group had a bit of a ruff time with walking to quickly but Mike made sure he asked Frequently it we are ok and if we needed to rest for a min. Mike was the best!!! he was like our personal photographer lol . he took pictures in every little spot and at every angle lol that was so sweet of him to do. he also gave use a picture foulder of every place we visited. he also saved every entry ticket we got that day and gave them to us after every stop . he also sent all of the photos to me at the end of the tour . if anyone is looking for a GREAT tour guide ask for Mike on this tour . he seems to love his job so that made the tour more memorable for my family and I. this experience makes me want to come back to Japan to learn more . 100% satisfied
I really appreciate your feedback! I’m happy you had a good time on the tour. You made it fun for everyone.