Kyoto · NARA

Top 10 Nara Tours

Good nara tours vanish in cherry and maple season alike. The 10 best sit below, priced and timed, with a line on who each suits.

Nara

World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience - Meeting at Kyoto Avanti at 7:50 a.m.

1.World Heritage Kyoto & Nara Uji Authentic Matcha Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $129Our pick

Explore Nara’s deer, Todai-ji, Kasuga Shrine, and Uji’s matcha traditions on a full-day Kyoto coach tour with lunch options.

“We had a wonderful time. The deer were so cute, just be sure to bring yen to purchase the crackers for feeding them if you want to. Our guide Yuta was very informative and made sure that no one got lost. We enjoyed the traditional Japanese lunch. My favorite part was visiting the matcha shop and enjoying the tea there.”

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Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available) - Kofuku-ji Temple and the famous five-story pagoda

2.Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $61Best value

Beat Nara’s crowds on a four-and-a-half-hour small-group walk to temples, shrines, deer park, and the Great Buddha from Kyoto or Osaka.

“We had a wonderful tour with Ayame! Ayame was so nice and easy to talk to. She showed us around and told us if the history of each place we went. We highly recommend doing a tour with Ayame! You won’t be disappointed.”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park - Arashiyama’s bamboo path and the Katsura River

3.Kyoto/Osaka: Kinkakuji, Bamboo Forest, and Nara Deer Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · from $69

Visit Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion and bamboo forest, then feed Nara’s deer and see the Great Buddha on a well-priced guided day trip.

“Good example of a perfect guided day trip. Entertaining, informative, beautiful scenery, not too packed schedule. Eiko is an amazing and very knowledgeable guide, she provided us with background information on all the sites while traveling + a detailed plan in case anyone got lost and needed to find their way back. On top of that, she was able to get the whole group deer crackers in Nara at 4pm when all the stores had already been sold out. Thanks so much for the unforgettable experience!”

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Nara Early Bird Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available) - Starting at Kyoto Station or in Nara

4.Nara Early Bird Tour (Kyoto Departure Option Available)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · from $88

See Nara’s temples, deer, and shrines before the crowds on a small-group morning tour from Kyoto, led by friendly English-speaking guides.

“We had the most incredible experience on the walking tour in Nara! From start to finish, it was absolutely unforgettable. The highlight, of course, was getting up close with the famous Nara deer. What truly made the tour exceptional, however, was our guide- GENKI. His knowledge, passion, and warmth brought the history and culture of Nara to life in a way that was both engaging and fun. He shared fascinating stories about the temples, the deer, and the city’s rich heritage, all while making sure everyone felt comfortable and included. The pace of the tour was perfect – relaxed enough to enjoy the scenery, but filled with interesting insights at…”

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Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto and Nara Sites & History Day Trip - Kiyomizu-dera and Kyoto’s old lanes

6.Kyoto/Osaka: Kyoto and Nara Sites & History Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · from $670

See Kyoto and Nara in one private day from Osaka, with Fushimi Inari, Nara deer, major temples, kimono photos, and hotel pickup.

“NOMI was THE BEST guide ever! He made the rainy day to Kyoto so much fun and very memorable! Nomi was very patient and accommodating. He is also very knowledgeable and took us to the most historically rich and beautiful places. Moreover, he knew the best photo spots and gladly took our best family pictures. We laughed a lot on the tour with him! I HIGHLY recommend him and this tour. If I could, I would give Nomi 20/5 stars!”

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From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Private Day Trip - Fushimi Inari Taisha and its red torii tunnel

7.From Osaka/Kyoto: Kyoto & Nara Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · from $787

See Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Nara Park, and Tōdai-ji on a flexible private day trip from Osaka or Kyoto.

“Awais was an excellent driver. He clearly knew the best way to access the sites and avoid the crowds. At Arashimaya, he dropped us at a temple at the end of the trail that was not crowded and it was a leisurely downhill walk for us. We avoided the busy main entrance. We would use his services again.”

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