This is customized private tour in Nara which guests can create easily by selecting any spots from a list of popular tourist destinations.
The list consists of 8 tourist destinations (S01-S08) that are very popular especially among foreign tourists.
After the guest's selection the guide will arrange best itinerary with tour cost and feedback proper offer to the guest for formal booking.
guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kyoto city or Osaka city
Transportation cost for you and guide.
Guests can expect easy customization (S01 - S08) of their private tour in Nara so as to meet their needs.
One-day tour either from Osaka or from Kyoto (about 50 mins/one way) is available in which I can pick you up at your hotel in those cities.
After guest's selection and needs the guide can arrange best itineray of the tour and feedback it to the guest with proper tour cost and time.
------ Overview of each spot -------
S01. Kasuga Taisha Shrine
It is Nara's most celebrated and important shrine established in 8th century and famous for many stone lantans along approach
and bronze hanging lanterns in inner buildings. [World Heritage Site]
S02. Todaiji Temple
It is huge temple-complex and the must-see spot for the 15m tall gilt bronze Daibutsu (Great Buddha) is housed in the largest wooden structure in the world
and Japan's largest national treasure [World Heritage Site] (Admission: 600yen/adult)
S03. Nara Park
It is vast green area where 1200 wild deer roam around which are protected as divine messengers which tourists can enjoy feeding with designated cracker.
S04. Yoshikien Garden
Yoshikien has three unique gardens: a pond garden, a moss garden and a tea ceremony garden.
Visitors can enjoy appriciating those three different variations in one spot. And free of charge for foreign tourists !
S05. Kofukuji Temple/National Treasure House
It is a large temple complex of historical Buddhist buildings including symbolic five-story pagoda.
A lot of national and cultural treasures are exhibited at its museum [World Heritage Site]
S06. Nara Town Walk
We can enjoy strolling around narrow streets that makes up the merchant quarter of the city
where many of the traditional buildings preserved as nice restaurants, cafes, handyicraft shops,museums etc similar to those in Kyoto.
[ Available contents ]
* Stroll around local streets lined with many shops and restaurants some of those in traditional town house.
* Drop in nice shops along alleys featuring in very unique handmade products you cannot find in other places
* Inner tour of traditional merchant town house where you can learn how town people lived and ran business in old days.
* Visiting local shrines and temples including Gangoji Temple [World Heritage Site]
* Tasting various kinds of Japanese sake (wine) in sake brewer with explanation and cup present (500yen)
S07. Dajoin Garden
This garden is a tranquil garden centered around a lake in Nara which was designed in the Pure Land style type of Japanese garden,
especially good for cherry-blossom viewing in spring and autumn leave viewing. (Admission: 200yen/adult)
S08. Isuien Garden
It has two very beautiful gardens in "strolling-around-the-pond" style built in two different periods which allow visitors enjoy various scenerys
while walking around (Admission: 900yen/adult [pottery collection exhibit included])
Guide fee, hotel pick-up in Kyoto city or Osaka city
Transportation cost for you and guide.
Entrance fee for each facility (as the guide will be free of charge at many spots).
Lunch,dinner for you and guide.
I can customize any private tour if you give me the information of your request in advance.
The hourly rate of guide is 6500yen and customization is 4,000yen and possible tour time is ranging from 6 to 9 hours, the guide fee from 43,000 to 62,500 respectively (up to 8 guests) based on the guest's needs.
The tour making process goes as follows.
Step 1. A guests select some spots from the recommended list that he or she want to visit and date of the tour.
(and if possible guest's hotel location) and inform them to the guide.
Step 2. The guide estimates tour time to be taken and offer formal guide fee based on the tour time required to the guest by modifying the original tour.
If there is any excessive selection over 9 hours, the guide suggests the guest proper modification.
Step 3. With the latest offer from the guide, the guest will book the tour formally after checking the tour contents.
We booked Kenji for 3 days. 1 day in Nara and 2 days in Kyoto. He was extremely organized and knowledgeable of the area. He was willing to customize the tours for our specific requests. Most importantly, Kenji knew how to get around the cities, and the best lunch restaurants. Being foodies, our group was very happy with our experience with him. Recommend his tour highly! Mari
Mari-san, Thank you for your great review of my tours. I'm really glad that you liked my guiding and my lunch recommendation. I'm also glad that I could spend a wonderful time with you and your family. If you have any chance to visit Kyoto please let me know so that I can offer any tour to meet your needs. Arigatogozaimashita. Kenji
Very disappointing experience. Kenjis English is poor and he was absolutely not an enthousiastic guide. Not a lot of explanation and no interest in his guests. We stopped the tour earlier.
Igor-san, I appreciate that you gave me your honest review. I'm very sorry for you that I could not satisfy your expectation this time. I prepare many explanation materials for my guiding and use them while adjusting its volume and timing according to my guests' needs. I misunderstood your expectation this time and used less materials which may make you feel very disappointed. I'll improve my skill to catch guest's needs timely in early stage of tour so as to adjust my guiding more properly. Thank you again for your honest review. Kenji
Kenji was super nice and clearly explained each site he took is to. We would definitely like him to be our guide next time if he is available.
Sheryl-san, Thank your for your great review of our tour. I'm very happy that you liked my guiding and attractive sites we visited including some hidden spots. In Japan each season has its own charm. I look forward to your next chance to come to Japan. Arigatogozaimas Kenji
Kenji was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of great information about the places we went. He also booked us a spot to try our hand at traditional wood block painting which was really fun!
Susan-san, Thank you for your great review of our tour with nice photos. I'm very glad that you and your husband liked my guiding and could enjoy visiting fascinating spots and workshop of our traditional woodblock printing. Your finished products are perfect! Arigatogozaimashita. Kenji