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92136P18
92136P18
92136P18
92136P18
92136P18
92136P18
92136P18
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92136P18
Todaiji (東大寺, Tōdaiji, "Great Eastern Temple") is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in 784 in order to lower the temple's influence on government affairs. Until recently, Todaiji's main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), held the record as the world's largest wooden building, despite the fact that the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size. The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιNara Park (奈良公園, Nara Kōen) is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer.
30 λεπτά Δωρεάν είσοδοςKasuga Taisha (春日大社) is Nara's most celebrated shrine. It was established at the same time as the capital and is dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. Kasuga Taisha was also the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara, Japan's most powerful family clan during most of the Nara and Heian Periods. Like the Ise Shrines, Kasuga Taisha had been periodically rebuilt every 20 years for many centuries. In the case of Kasuga Taisha, however, the custom was discontinued at the end of the Edo Period. Beyond the shrine's offering hall, which can be visited free of charge, there is a paid inner area which provides a closer view of the shrine's inner buildings. Furthest in is the main sanctuary, containing multiple shrine buildings that display the distinctive Kasuga style of shrine architecture, characterized by a sloping roof extending over the front of the building.
30 λεπτά Δωρεάν είσοδοςMount Wakakusayama (若草山) is the grass covered mountain behind Nara Park, located between Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine. The mountain is about 350 meters tall and affords unobstructed views over Nara City. Tourists are allowed to climb Mount Wakakusayama all year round except during winter. A small entrance fee is charged. The grassy slope of the mountain is lined by cherry trees that are usually in full bloom around early April. A steep trail leads along the leftmost edge of the slope to a plateau halfway up the mountain with great views over the city. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the plateau and many people do not hike farther. An additional 20-30 minutes would get you to the mountain's peak.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιHoryuji Temple (法隆寺, Hōryūji) was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku, who is credited with the early promotion of Buddhism in Japan. Horyuji is one of the country's oldest temples and contains the world's oldest surviving wooden structures. It was designated a world heritage site in 1993. Horyuji's temple grounds are spacious and separated into two main precincts, the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan) and the Eastern Precinct (Toin Garan).
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιNaramachi (奈良町, literally "Nara Town") is the former merchant district of Nara, where several traditional residential buildings and warehouses are preserved and open to the public. Boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and a few museums now line the district's narrow lanes. Many of Naramachi's buildings in the Edo Period and earlier were machiya, long, narrow "townhouses" that served both as shops and as the living quarters of the local merchants. The store fronts of machiya were often kept narrow in order to save on taxes, which used to be calculated on a property's street access rather than its total area. Today, a handful of machiya have been preserved and made open to the public as museums.
30 λεπτά Δωρεάν είσοδοςKofukuji (興福寺, Kōfukuji) used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan during much of the Nara and Heian Periods. The temple was established in Nara at the same time as the capital in 710. At the height of Fujiwara power, the temple consisted of over 150 buildings. The temple features several buildings of great historic value, including a five-storied pagoda and a three-storied pagoda. At 50 meters, the five-storied pagoda is Japan's second tallest wooden pagoda, just seven meters shorter than the five-storied pagoda at Kyoto's Toji Temple. Kofukuji's pagoda is both a landmark and symbol of Nara. It was first built in 730, and was most recently rebuilt in 1426. Neither pagoda can be entered by the public.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιYakushiji (薬師寺) was constructed by Emperor Tenmu in the late 7th century for the recovery of the emperor's sick wife. One of Japan's oldest temples, Yakushiji has a strictly symmetric layout, with the main hall and lecture hall standing on a central axis, flanked by two pagodas. The main hall was rebuilt in the 1970s after being destroyed by fire and houses a Yakushi trinity, a masterpiece of Japanese Buddhist art. The East Pagoda is the temple's only structure to have survived the many fires that have beset the temple over the years, and dates from 730. It appears to have six stories, but is in fact only truly three-storied, like the West Pagoda.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιShin-Yakushiji Temple (新薬師寺) was founded during the Nara Period (710-794) by an empress for the sake of the ailing emperor. It is devoted to Yakushi Buddha, the patron of medicine in Japanese Buddhism. Shin-Yakushiji means "New Yakushi Temple", because there already existed a Yakushiji Temple. During its heyday, Shin-Yakushiji consisted of a large complex of buildings, but all except for the main hall (Hondo) have since been lost. Inside the main hall there are life size statues of 12 guardian deities surrounding a two meter tall statue of a seated Yakushi Buddha, which are the temple's main objects of worship. The Yakushi statue is made of wood while the guardians are made of clay. Each guardian has a different character and possesses a different weapon, and visitors can spend quite a while admiring them. There are also a few small paths around the temple grounds.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιThe Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館, Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), located in Nara Park, is an art museum which primarily displays Japanese Buddhist art. Established in 1889, the museum retains its original building and is joined by a new wing that is connected to the original building by an underground passage. Both wings display the museum's permanent collection, which includes Buddhist statues, paintings, scrolls and ceremonial objects mainly from Japan. The new wing also houses temporary exhibitions, including an annual exhibition every autumn of treasures from Todaiji Temple. A ticket to the museum gives access to both wings, and English explanations are available throughout the museum.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιDuring most of the Nara Period (710-794), Nara served as the capital of Japan and was known as Heijo-kyo. The Heijo Palace extended about one kilometer wide and one kilometer long and served as the site of the emperor's residence and government offices. For its great historical and cultural importance, the palace site is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nara.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιToshodaiji (唐招提寺, Tōshōdaiji) was founded in the year 759 by Ganjin, a Chinese priest who was invited to Japan by the emperor in order to train priests and improve Japanese Buddhism. Ganjin's influence in the introduction of Buddhism to Japan was monumental, and his arrival and teaching at Toshodaiji (which roughly translates to "temple of the one invited from Tang China") were important stages in that process. Toshodaiji's main hall (kondo) was re-opened in late 2009 after being renovated over a period of almost ten years, during which the building was dismantled and reconstructed. The temple's lecture hall (kodo) was originally an administrative building located in the Nara Imperial Palace and was later moved to Toshodaiji. Today, it is the only surviving building of the former palace.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιIsuien (依水園) is an attractive Japanese garden with a variety of features, such as the use of Todaiji Temple's Nandaimon Gate and Mount Wakakusayama as "borrowed scenery". Isuien means "garden founded on water", and the garden's name is derived from the fact that its ponds are fed by the small adjacent Yoshikigawa River. The Yoshikien Garden is located just on the other side of the river.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιYoshikien (吉城園) is a pleasant Japanese garden located in central Nara. It is named after the Yoshikigawa River, a small river that runs beside the garden, and was built on the site of Kofukuji Temple's former priest residences. The entry fee to the garden is waived for foreign tourists. There are three unique gardens within Yoshikien: a pond garden, a moss garden and a tea ceremony garden. So, a visit to Yoshikien provides the opportunity to see three different variations of Japanese gardens in one spot. If visitors still want to see more techniques of Japanese gardening, the Isuien Garden is located just across the small river.
30 λεπτά Είσοδος δεν περιλαμβάνεταιΗ παραλαβή από το ξενοδοχείο περιλαμβάνεται για όλους τους ταξιδιώτες.
If your hotel or desired pick up point is not on the list, please contact us. Please be at your pick up point 10 minutes before the tour starts. This tour includes an English-speaking and Government licensed guide.We can pick you up in Osaka.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
We spent a truly wonderful day in Nara with our guide. From the moment he welcomed us at our hotel reception until he accompanied us back at the end of the day, he showed great professionalism, kindness and respect—the very best of Japanese hospitality. He helped us discover excellent restaurants and generously shared useful advice beyond the tour itself. He also took care of the photos throughout the day and later sent us a link to the album, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy every moment. We felt that we had met not only an exceptional guide, but also a friend. A memorable experience that we warmly recommend.
Amazing trip to Nara with the most friendly, pleasant and experienced guide, Sam. Sam explained the history and background of the many sight of Nara. Showed us many small places that we would not have found on our own. Highly recommended
We booked this full-day tour directly with Japan Guide Agency, and we're very glad we did. The day was filled with walking around central Nara, fascinating insights and locations, and unforgettable memories (ending up at a sake tasting. Brilliant!). Our guide, Rie-san, was exceptional — knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and always mindful of our schedule, ensuring we made the most of our time. If you have the opportunity, this tour is absolutely a must-do. Highly recommended!
Rie is an absolutely delightful tour guide in Nara, combining deep knowledge of the city’s historical sites with an impressive understanding of local cuisine and sake. Her insights bring the temples and shrines to life, while her recommendations for regional specialties make the experience unforgettable. Her “other” career (or, maybe, the first one) as a professional chef, with experience in both the United States and Japan, allows her to quickly connect with guests on many different levels. Conversations flow naturally from the history and symbolism of Nara temples, to the subtle intricacies of local delicacies, to practical advice on where to find the best value at neighborhood restaurants. She even knows where to buy high‑quality sushi knives if you are inspired to make your own sashimi at home. You will have to check those in, one reason I didn't buy one. Spending a day with Rie feels less like a standard tour and more like being shown around by a knowledgeable friend who loves Nara, its food, and its culture.
The tour of Nara with Junichi was excellent! We did a full tour of the park and were able to feed the deer. He took us for a lovely picnic in the park by the lake and showed us all the best local spots including sake tasting, a traditional local house, and a samurai collection. If you are in Nara we would recommend booking a tour with Junichi!
We had the pleasure of touring Nara with Junichi today, and he was simply phenomenal from the very first moment! Warm, welcoming, and a true professional, Junichi made us feel instantly at ease. His genuine enthusiasm and excellent English made every part of the day enjoyable and easy to follow. Junichi’s knowledge is encyclopedic, yet he explains everything in such a clear, engaging, and understandable way. At Kofuku-ji Temple, he brought the history and significance of the site to life with fascinating details. We then enjoyed a relaxing lunch together before heading to Nara Park, where we had the delightful experience of feeding the famous bowing deer – such a fun and memorable moment! What really stood out was how flexible and attentive Junichi was. When we felt a bit pressed for time, he smoothly adjusted the itinerary and took us to a wonderful sake tasting facility instead of the next temple. We sampled several excellent sakes and couldn’t resist taking some home with us! From there, he led us to an incredible traditional kitchen knife shop run by an artisan whose family has been crafting blades for 750 years (originally making samurai swords). The craftsmanship was breathtaking, and we ended up purchasing a beautiful knife. Later, Junichi took us to see an original Japanese merchant’s house, which was a real eye-opener – the minimalistic lifestyle and beautiful architecture were fascinating. The entire day was perfectly paced, insightful, and filled with wonderful surprises. Junichi’s caring attitude, deep knowledge, and ability to adapt made this one of the best private tour experiences we’ve ever had. We are so grateful we got to spend the day with him. If you’re visiting Nara, do yourself a favor and book with Junichi – you won’t regret it! He’s an absolute gem. Highly, highly recommended – 5 stars without hesitation!
We learned so much from Junichi before we even left Australia. His incredible preparation pre-tour was so much appreciated. He made sure we saw everything we requested, and suggested another one which was well worth doing. He even provided the food for the deer and just as well - they actually bow their heads when they want to be fed!!! While we loved hearing all the history, feeding the deer was the highlight. If I had known we could buy some food, we would still be there feeding them! Junichi also took some incredible photos for us.
I wanted to leave a positive review for Junichi, our tour guide during the Nara private tour. He was thorough, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience incredibly enjoyable. His guidance throughout the day ensured that we got the most out of the tour, and we truly appreciated his expertise and friendly demeanor.
Οι κριτικές συλλέγονται από τη Viator και την Tripadvisor από επαληθευμένους ταξιδιώτες.
Διαρκεί 8 ώ..
Η παραλαβή από το ξενοδοχείο περιλαμβάνεται για όλους τους ταξιδιώτες.
Ναι. Ακυρώστε έως 24 ώρες πριν από την ώρα έναρξης για πλήρη επιστροφή χρημάτων.
Γλώσσες ξεναγού: JA, EN
Πραγματοποιείται Κάθε μέρα. Ξεκινά 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 +5
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Κωδικός προϊόντος 92136P18