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NaraWalking tours

Our most recommended Nara Walking tours

Nara: Half-Day UNESCO Heritage & Local Culture Walking Tour

1. Nara: Half-Day UNESCO Heritage & Local Culture Walking Tour

Meet your knowledgeable guide at the meeting point and begin your cultural half-day walking tour of Japan's first historical capital. As you walk by the shopping arcade, explore a Japanese old town extremely different from a metropolis like Tokyo. Walk between the historical buildings, and go inside a traditional merchant's house to see how people around here live in the past. Next, take a break from walking to observe the mysterious pyramid-shaped structure in the middle of the quiet town. Admire the view of the city of Nara from the hill, then visit Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Learn about the distinct Japanese religious culture as you see a huge temple with a great Buddha statue, then explore a beautiful shrine housing hundreds of lanterns. In this area, meet and feed the wild deer living in Nara Park. For over 1,200 years, locals have believed that deer are sacred divine messengers. Interact with them and see how polite they are. At the end of the tour, savor a delicious Japanese lunch dish made only using local Nara vegetables and fresh meat.

Nara: Private Tour with Private Guide

2. Nara: Private Tour with Private Guide

Discover Nara on a fully customizable tour. Nara is in close 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 neighbours. Start your day by meeting your guide at your hotel or chosen location, then choose sites you wish to visit depending on your interests. Example 6-hour Itinerary: Meet your guide at the designated meeting point you chose and let the tour begin. First visit Kofuku-Ji temple, a historic site that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover several designated National Treasures here including the Buddhist sculpture masterpiece, the Statue of Ashura. Next, head for Todai-Ji temple, a World Heritage Site that is Nara’s most famous landmark. Admire the statue of Kongo Rikishi at Nandaimon Gate and Japan’s largest Great Buddha statue. Stroll through Nara Park which is famous for its wild deer species. Enjoy the verdant natural setting of Nara while taking part in the popular activity of feeding the deer inside the park. Then discover Kasuga Taisha temple, another World Heritage Site with an impressive red main shrine. Explore the Kasuga-Taisha National Treasure Hall which contains valuable works of Buddhist art.

Nara Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour

3. Nara Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour

Your guide will meet you at your accommodation and help you get familiar with the neighborhood, show you the best places to eat and shop and tell you about the easiest ways to get around. Choose a 2, 3 or 4-hour tour, and by the end you’ll have all the information you need to make the most of your stay. After booking you’ll be sent some questions so that you’re paired with a local guide based on your interests. The tour is completely customized so you can choose the meeting location and the starting time. During the walking tour you’ll have the option of taking public transportation or a taxi to get around the city (at your expense). Hear what it’s like to live in Nara, learn about cultural differences, local events and politics and get to know your guide on a personal level.

Nara - Craft Beer, Sake, and Food Walking Tour

4. Nara - Craft Beer, Sake, and Food Walking Tour

Explore the Naramachi district. Attend a mochi-pounding performance and have a mochi freshly made to get the best quality ever. Then, have a taste of the authentic sushis from Nara called "Kaki no Ha Zushi" (A special sushi, rolled in a persimmon fruit leaf). The real fun starts with a Sake distillery, where you will learn a lot about sake, its history, and its manufacturing, all with a delicious tasting session. Then, the next stop will be at a local craft beer microbrewery with a drink included. You will then finish with food, at a ramen restaurant and then a 65 years old traditional sushi restaurant from Nara. What a great way to start the evening!

Sake Tasting and Hopping Experience

5. Sake Tasting and Hopping Experience

[Find your favorite Japanese sake!] This tour is a group tour. Include 5 types of sake (small one), original sake handbook, and guide fee. To start, a local guide will take you to an izakaya bar that focuses on providing Japanese sake made by Nara. In that place, we will enjoy tasting 5 types of Japanese sake. You will also learn about Japanese sake knowledge with our original sake handbook. Next, we will go to another Izakaya bar that only the locals know and recommend. You will try to choose Japanese sake on the list by yourself. This makes for a one-and-only experience. Let's find your favorite Japanese sake!

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What people are saying about Nara

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 75 reviews

Nara is a great little town and this food and drink tour really does it justice, walking through the really atmospheric old quarter sampling its homegrown sake, beer, sushi and ramen. I had a fun afternoon exploring with Remi, a Frenchman who lives here, speaks fluent English and really knows his stuff. If I'd have had more time I'd have done one of his bike tours too.

We really enjoyed our tour to Nara. Our guide TAKU very professional, knowledgable, friendly, respectful, punctual. he’s awesome tour guide and wish all tour guide like him. Nara park so wonderful specially the closed encounter with deers, temple and big bell.

We had an amazing time with Shin and Miki. They were so knowledgeable and took us to all the best places and even took us to lunch and a saki tasting! They were incredible and we had the best time.

Our guide Hideo was so friendly, knowledgeable, organized and patient with us. Highly recommend this tour, we learnt so much!

thank you for your flexibility and guidance. much appreciated!