Nara: the must-see place in Japan.
Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital.
In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
At you hotel lobby
At your hotel in Osaka
There are two train services from Osaka to Nara
It's very beautiful. You will experience the ancient atmosphere here. You will learn something about Japanese culture.
If you're lucky (I'm often lucky), you'll see a wedding ceremony here.
There are many friendly wild deer in the beautiful natural garden
Buddhism has a long history in Nara. Sangatsudo has unique Buddha statues such as the Fukukenjaku-kannon. Please enjoy my presentation.
You can enjoy the view of Nara city from there. You will find the stage used for the dynamic "omizutan" ritual held in February.
Lunch at a casual local restaurant near Nigatsudo Temple
Let's go down to the most important area of Nara
You will see two of the most important sites here. The largest Buddha statue(Great Buddha) and the largest wooden building(Todaiji) in the world, are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can take photos inside.
You will play with many lovely deer.
You will see the most popular statue in the museum. This is the best today.
Take a train from Nara Station
Your hotel or where you never get lost
At you hotel lobby or the station
Nara is a pleasant place. You will have a happy time there. You can feed crackers to many deer in Nara Park, and you will see wonderful Buddha statues in temples and museums. As Nara has more ancient history, Buddha statues are unique and attractive. If you only have one free day in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara!
-Guide fee
-Hotel pick-up
-Transportation fee (you and the guide) about 2000~3500 yen/per person (train, bus)
-Lunch (you and the guide) about 2000~4000/per person
-Admission fees (you only) 2000yen/per person
Available in the all year around
We walk about 2 miles down hills,
There are nice train services between Nara and Osaka. If you like, you can choose a nicer train service between Namba to Nara with a 520 yen additional fare.
We really wanted to see some of Japan's wild forrest, so Shuji organized for a taxi van to take us (from Narra)to Uguisu waterfall. This was really off the beaten track and was quite unique.Although It was very wet we really enjoyed it.He also guided us through Nara's Deers, buddhist temples and statues. I would recommend Shuji for anyone looking for a guide, he is a long time Osaka resident, great with kids, good English and a nice Man.
Thank you very much for your kind message. Your request made this tour a fantastic one. Despite the rain, we explored the sacred forest and met many beings and wonderful views. I hope your children had fun and it was exactly what you wanted. I also enjoyed it very much. And I hope this tour will be a good memory for your family. Thank you very much.
What better way to discover amazing Kyoto than with Shuji ? This ex- history professor who speaks very good English, well traveled, and at the same time passionate of working his family-rice field, made us discover both the great history and spiritually of the place and the every day life of the region and Japan at large. The tour was adjusted to our preferences and Shuji's suggestions fitted perfectly who we are, him having immediately understood us. Thank you Shuji for these memorable moments we shared and the diverse and profound discussions we had on the way.
Thank you so much for the great review. And thank you for your wonderful and interesting questions. You hit the nail on the head. It means that you have a deep understanding of Japanese history and culture. We had a really lucky day with great weather. We were able to choose places off the beaten track. They were very beautiful. Thank you again for a happy day! Shuji O.
Despite being called last minute to cover for another guide, Shuji was great in reworking our tour based on our interests, on the fact that the day of the tour was a Japanese holiday, and the weather was unseasonably hot and humid. Overall we had a good time with Shuji and learned about Osaka history and culture.
Dear Stephen, Thank you very much for the kind words and the lovely photo. Although I was a substitute guide that day, I had a good time with you both despite the sweltering weather. I'm afraid that you got tired because of the heat. I hope your business is perfect today. Thank you again. Shuji O.
Had an absolutely incredibly time with Shuji and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.
Hi Peter! Thank you for this most excellent review! Yes, we really had wonderful experiences in the factories of the Sakai traditional blades. I owe it to your curiosity and love for Japanese culture. Thank you very much. You are a great traveler. See you again sometime!