Things to do in Nara Prefecture, Kinki: The Best Bus Tours

September 29, 2021 Osvaldo Hartline

Nara Prefecture (奈良県, Nara-ken) is a prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The capital is the city of Nara. Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage Listings than any other prefecture.
Restaurants in Nara Prefecture

1. Nara Half-day Private Tour Osaka/Kyoto departure with Nationally-Licensed Guide

Japan Guide Agency
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Explore Nara with a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of Nara and introduce both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient Japanese city. Nara's proximity to Kyoto and Osaka, and its rich collection of traditional sites, make it an ideal destination for a day trip from either of its larger neighbors. Your private guide can help you efficiently enjoy a half-day walking tour of this ancient Japanese city. You can start your day at your hotel in Osaka, Kyoto. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Inclusions: Free Photos, Hotel Pick up and Drop-off, Licensed Local Guide

Exclusions: Other personal expenses, Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Private Vehicle, Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide)

Reviewed By Cwshaman

The flexibility to chose locations that suited our wants and abilities was great. Hiro San was very quick to put together an itinerary that accommodated a family with a stroller-baby (no monkey park due to long unpacked walking paths). Taking in the beautiful temples and view of the Kyoto from the west was breath taking and the guide was able to explain many things we as new Japanese learners could not read or know through cultural knowledge. Overall a great experience, a wonderful and lively guide, and some great memories.

2. KYOTO & NARA by Minivan Toyota HIACE 2019 Customize Your Itinerary

iSEKAI Travel
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4.6 based on 5 reviews

Private VIP Tour in KYOTO & NARA allows you to “Customize Your Itinerary” to fit your specific travel expectations. You have your own private Minivan Toyota HIACE 2019 and English speaking driver for approximately 8 hours. Our team assists you to manage the tour, give recommendations, make reservations and check information. <<< You customize your own Day Trip in KYOTO & NARA >>> STEP1: We propose list of famous destinations while you share with us your travel desires and special requests. STEP2: With careful communication and planning, we share and exchange our draft detailed itinerary. STEP3: We revise/finalize the itinerary. ***You can always change the itinerary even on the day while traveling on the van. Please feel free to reach our team and driver for recommendation at any time. ***Extra 1 ~ 2 hours will be given for free only in case of heavy traffic jam and unexpected delay(s). ***Extra charges will be applied for over time service.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Reviewed By iamwillbar

We chose this experience so we could fit a number of sights into a single day as we could since we were only spending 3 full days in Kyoto. This allowed us to focus on seeing the things we wanted to rather than transportation between each sight. Marine-san worked with us over email to come up with an itinerary that was efficient and included the majority of the sights that we wanted to see. On the day Shenji-san sent us a message so we had his contact details and arrived promptly at our hotel. He drove us to each location, took photos of us (so we could all be in them!), and gave us additional facts about each location. He was a fantastic host for the day and we'd highly recommend this experience.

3. 3-Day Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

JP Tower, 2-chōme-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan JTB Sunrise Tours
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4.4 based on 136 reviews

Venture by bullet train from Tokyo to the historical sites of Nara, and enjoy 2 night stay in Kyoto – the heart of Japanese culture! On this three day trip, visit top attractions including five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – from Nara’s Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine to Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion Temple, Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple. Enjoy a morning and afternoon sightseeing tour of Kyoto with a professional guide, who will take you to the Imperial Palace and Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine.

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, Accommodation in Kyoto, Professional English-speaking guide, Round-trip bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto

Exclusions: Baggage handling, Gratuities, Breakfast / Dinner, Hotel Pick up and Drop off

Reviewed By mm0711

The tour was just like a live stream. You will get on a rickshaw and your friendly driver will show you around in Kyoto. After the ride, your guide will walk with you and take you to the beautiful bamboo forest and Tenruji Temple. You will also meet monkeys at the park in Iwatayama! The only thing I was disappointed about was I couldn't taste the Shojin Ryori or Buddhist vegetarian meal that our guide Mickey-san showed and explained. I should be on the real tour!

4. 3-Day Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour from Tokyo

Keio Plaza Hotel, 2-chōme-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330, Japan JTB Sunrise Tours
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4.4 based on 154 reviews

See the iconic highlights of Japan on a 3-day guided tour to Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara. Visit revered Mt Fuji, take a boat cruise on Lake Ashi and an aerial tram ride up Mt Komagatake. Head to Kyoto on the bullet train and take in the beautiful city on a morning tour to the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, and Kyoto Imperial Palace. Then see Nara’s famous sites including Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Nara Park (Deer Park). Stay two nights in Kyoto with optional return to Tokyo.

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, 2 nights accommodation, Hotel pickup (select hotels only), Luggage delivery (1 piece, one-way tour option only), Bullet train ride(One-way or Round trip)

Exclusions: Baggage Handling (round-trip), Hotel drop off

Reviewed By mm0711

The tour was just like a live stream. You will get on a rickshaw and your friendly driver will show you around in Kyoto. After the ride, your guide will walk with you and take you to the beautiful bamboo forest and Tenruji Temple. You will also meet monkeys at the park in Iwatayama! The only thing I was disappointed about was I couldn't taste the Shojin Ryori or Buddhist vegetarian meal that our guide Mickey-san showed and explained. I should be on the real tour!

5. 2-Day Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo

JP Tower, 2-chōme-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan JTB Sunrise Tours
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4.0 based on 22 reviews

Venture by bullet train from Tokyo to the historical sites of Nara, and enjoy an overnight stay in Kyoto – the heart of Japanese culture! On this two-day trip, visit top attractions including five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – from Nara’s Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine to Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion Temple, Nijo Castle and Kiyomizu Temple. Enjoy a morning and afternoon sightseeing tour of Kyoto with a professional guide, who will take you to the Imperial Palace and Fushimiinari Taisha Shrine, including daily lunch and a stop at the Deer Park.

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, Overnight accommodation, Professional English-speaking guide, Round-trip bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto

Exclusions: Baggage handling, Gratuities, Break fast / Dinner, Pick up and Drop off

Reviewed By mm0711

The tour was just like a live stream. You will get on a rickshaw and your friendly driver will show you around in Kyoto. After the ride, your guide will walk with you and take you to the beautiful bamboo forest and Tenruji Temple. You will also meet monkeys at the park in Iwatayama! The only thing I was disappointed about was I couldn't taste the Shojin Ryori or Buddhist vegetarian meal that our guide Mickey-san showed and explained. I should be on the real tour!

6. Kyoto and Nara 1 Day Bus Tour

VIP Lounge Kyoto, Japan, 〒601-8417 Kyoto, Minami Ward, Nishikujō Toriiguchichō, 6−番地 1F VIP Japan Tours
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3.5 based on 27 reviews

This tour will take you to see the famous 1000 vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine, Arashiyama, UNESCO world heritage site Kinkaku-ji temple and Todaiji & Nara park. Enjoy an easy and relaxing bus ride, see famous sites in 2 cities in 1 day without the hassle of changing trains and getting lost. The best time to see the Autumn colors in Arashiyama starts from Nov 20th.

Inclusions: Live commentary in English or Chinese, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Roundtrip bus fare

Exclusions: Lunch (There are many restaurants in the area to choose from, including Halal and vegan), Entrance fee to Todaiji temple 500yen (optional)

Reviewed By flighty3

So much fun!!! Our guide had so much trivia to share with us each place we went. A perfect tour to see Fuji and some wonderful spots in the region.

7. Day Trip by Bus from Osaka/Kyoto to Kyoto and Nara

Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan LIMON Tour
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3.3 based on 8 reviews

This is an affordable yet culturally-enriching bus trip to Kyoto and Nara. The tour stops at Kyoto Arashiyama and Nara park. Scenic ride aboard the Randen tram to see local life. With several convenient pickup points at Kyoto Station or in Umeda, Nippombashi, Namba, this 9 hour tour will be a great addition to your trip to Japan.

Inclusions: Local taxes, Beef Shabu-Shabu or Buffet lunch (if meal is selected), Leaflet of detailed Itinerary and tour point description, Round-trip bus fare, Pickup at designated meeting points, Accompanied by English speaking tour guide, Randen Train Ticket, JR and Kintetsu Train tickets (Kyoto departure only), Drop-Off near Namba Station (Umeda, Nippombashi, Namba Ocat departures)

Exclusions: Drinks, Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Infant meals

Reviewed By adarosle

It was a pleasant experience (: Tour guide was very friendly and helpful in taking photos and explaining about the history of each place in detail. Would definitely recommend! However, i felt that it was a bit rushing perhaps the interval for each site could be extended a bit longer.

8. Discover Traditional Nara Walking Tour (Half day)

JR Nara Sta. (East Gate), 1 Sanjohonmachi, Nara, 630-8122, Japan Nara Visitors Bureau

This tour visits three must-see spots in deer park, Nara. Kasuga-taisha shrine - praised for its beautiful vermilion constructions and three thousand of stone lanterns and hanging lanterns, Todai-ji temple - renowned for its Great Buddha originally created in the eighth century, and Kofuku-ji temple - closely related to Fujiwara family, a noble family once at the summit of its prosperity. This tour is recommended not only for first-time visitors to Nara but also for repeat visitors to discover new charms of Nara.

Inclusions: Guide in English, Public transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Drinks, Shopping expense, Other personal expense

Reviewed By Muhammad Hilmi M

Spend 1/2 day here. once you reached the station, exit and take the 1 day pass that cost your Y500. Alternatively the tickets to NARA dear park is Y210 each way. The deer wont disappoint you as there's plenty of them. After Oct 2019, the cost of biscuit to feed the deer is Y200 instead of Y150. Plenty of temples around but you need good legs. Alternatively you can take the rickshaw for a small fee. For the muslims, there's a good halal outlet, PY Halal that offers 100% muslim food and the owner is pleasant. There an attached prayer room in the same restaurant. You wont miss it as it is where the shopping area is located.

9. Amazing Tour of 8th Century Capital Nara

Kyoto Station, Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan KAMNAVI Tours

Nara was the capital of Japan in the 8th century prior to Kyoto and is located within an hour’s train ride from Osaka or Kyoto. In this tour we will stroll around a 19th century town area in the morning, and then visit a solemn shrine hidden in the forest and a huge temple, both of which were founded in the 8th century. In addition to that, we will have interesting encounters with the wild but friendly deer roaming around Nara Park. In this tour you will be able to appreciate the difference between Nara and Kyoto, the development of culture, architecture and lifestyles in these two periods in Japanese history. We will pick you up at Osaka or Kyoto so there will be no problems with the transfer to Nara.

Inclusions: Professional Guide

Exclusions: Transportation Fare abt.2,000yen, Admission Fee 1,100yen/p

Reviewed By MCJ62

Our tour guide was Kommy. He was very knowledgeable of the areas and we received good background information. It was a good way to spend the afternoon and see Osaka. I would recommend this tour.

10. KYOTO & NARA by Land Rover Discovery Sport 2018 Customize Your Itinerary

iSEKAI Travel

Private VIP Tour in KYOTO & NARA allows you to “Customize Your Itinerary” to fit your specific travel expectations. You have your own private Land Rover Discovery Sport 2018 and English speaking driver for approximately 8 hours. Our team assists you to manage the tour, give recommendations, make reservations and check information. <<< You customize your own Day Trip in KYOTO & NARA >>> STEP1: We propose list of famous destinations while you share with us your travel desires and special requests. STEP2: With careful communication and planning, we share and exchange our draft detailed itinerary. STEP3: We revise/finalize the itinerary. ***You can always change the itinerary even on the day while traveling on the car. Please feel free to reach our team and driver for recommendation at any time. ***Extra 1 ~ 2 hours will be given for free only in case of heavy traffic jam and unexpected delay(s). ***Extra charges will be applied for over time service.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation

Exclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Reviewed By iamwillbar

We chose this experience so we could fit a number of sights into a single day as we could since we were only spending 3 full days in Kyoto. This allowed us to focus on seeing the things we wanted to rather than transportation between each sight. Marine-san worked with us over email to come up with an itinerary that was efficient and included the majority of the sights that we wanted to see. On the day Shenji-san sent us a message so we had his contact details and arrived promptly at our hotel. He drove us to each location, took photos of us (so we could all be in them!), and gave us additional facts about each location. He was a fantastic host for the day and we'd highly recommend this experience.

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