English Guided Sightseeing Bus “Perfect Nara Park Tour”
This weekday (4 hour) tour of Nara Park will be led by a government-certified local English guide. Every tour will utilize a dedicated large bus.
This tour allows you to enjoy Nara Park efficiently in a short amount of time.
You can enjoy a hassle-free journey, unaffected by weather conditions that might occur when cycling or walking.
It is well-suited for families with young children and elderly members.
This tour is also suitable for solo travelers.
Time Required: Around 4 hours
Route:
Nara Park / Todaiji Temple / Kasuga Taisha Shrine / Mt. Wakakusa
Included Activities:
Interacting with wild deer / Fortune slip (omikuji) experience
Benefits:
Original Handkerchief / Free bus pass “Nara・Yamatoji 2-Day Pass”
Meeting/Departure Points:
📍JR Nara Station (East Exit No.4) 12:30 Departure
or
📍Kintetsu Nara Station (Regular Sightseeing Bus Stop) 12:35 Departure
Dispersal Point:
📍Kofukui-ji Temple (Prefectural Office Bus Stop) Around 16:20
※You can also get off at: Kintetsu Nara Station (Around 16:25) / JR Nara Station (Around 16:30) / Nara Convention Center (Around 16:40).
Price:
12 years old and up: 11,000 yen
6-11 years old: 8,000 yen
※This rate includes:
- The bus ride
- An English speaking guide
- The admission fee to (Todaiji Temple & Kasuga Taisha Shrine)
- A deer fortune
- A special gift
(Special gift)
- A “Nara・Yamatoji 2-Day Pass” valid on the day of participation and the following day
- Special original handkerchief
Meeting Point
Arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before departure time.
JR Nara Station (East Exit) Bus Stop No.4
Kintetsu Nara Station Regular Sightseeing Bus Stop
Route
JR Nara Station (12:30) /
Kintetsu Nara Station (12:35)
Please arrive at the “JR Nara Station (East Exit) Platform 4” or the “Kintetsu Nara Station Sightseeing Bus Platform” at least 10 minutes before departure time.
You will be touring the main sights of Nara in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus with spacious three individual seats per row. The bus is designed with a Nara-inspired theme and is accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
Todaiji (The South Gate / The Great Buddha)
You will disembark from the bus at the closest parking lot to Todaiji and begin by visiting the South Gate (Nandaimon). The South Gate (Nandaimon) is an impressive and enormous entrance that serves as the main gate to Todaiji. Guarding the entrance are two towering statues of Kongorikishi; their fierce expressions and commanding presence leaves a lasting impression on many guests. As you pass through the gate, you’ll step onto the expansive grounds of Todaiji, where the seamless blend of ancient history and natural beauty creates a beautiful landscape which develops as you make your way towards the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden).
The Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden structures in the world– its overwhelming size puts countless people in awe every day. The hall stands as a testament to the skill and artistry of ancient Japan– as one of Nara’s biggest masterpieces, its historical significance is immeasurable. As you step inside, you will be greeted by the awe-inspiring Great Buddha (Daibutsu) standing at 15 meters high and completed in 752 AD. As one of Japan’s most iconic symbols of Buddhism, its size and beauty captivate all who visit. The Buddha’s serene expression radiates a sense of peace and tranquility, offering a calming presence to those who gaze upon it. After visiting Todaiji, the tour will continue with a short journey to Kasuga Taisha Shrine by bus.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
You will disembark from the bus at Kasuga Taisha Shrine’s parking lot and head towards the main hall (Honden). Established in 768 AD, Kasuga Taisha is a shrine with a long history and deep tradition. Also surrounded by a vast forest, it offers visitors a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the changing seasons. The shrine grounds are home to approximately 3,000 lanterns, creating a mystical and enchanting atmosphere. At the main hall, you can experience the traditional Japanese way of worship and pay your respects.
After visiting the shrine, you’ll have the opportunity to try “Shika Mikiji”– a traditional fortune slip (omikuji) held in the mouth of a beautifully carven wooden deer. This charming wooden deer is carved with a traditional Japanese ittobori technique. It is a popular Japanese way of testing one’s luck and makes a great souvenir.
After exploring Kasuga Taisha, the tour will continue with a bus ride to the summit of Mt. Wakakusa.
Mt. Wakakusa Summit
By bus, you will be brought to the 342-meter-high summit of Mt. Wakakusa via the lush, greenery-lined Nara Okuyama Driveway. At the peak of the mountain, guests are rewarded with panoramic views of Nara City and the distant mountains. The view of the sunset falling over the city is particularly mesmerizing, as it casts a golden glow over all of Nara. Each season brings its own unique beauty to the mountain, ensuring that no matter when you visit, there are always new discoveries to be made.
At Mt. Wakakusa, you can enjoy the main event of feeding local deer with special deer crackers (shika senbei). Enjoy the opportunity to interact with these adorable deer, which are designated as a national treasure in Japan.
Kofukuji Temple
On the way back, the bus will stop at a bus stop near Kofuku-ji Temple, where those who wish to conclude their tour can disembark. If you’d like to spend more time interacting with the deer or exploring Nara Park, feel free to get off at this stop. From here, you can use the complimentary “Nara & Yamatoji 2-Day Pass” to take a local bus to either Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station.
Kintetsu Nara Station (16:25) /
JR Nara Station (16:30) /
Nara Prefectural Convention Center (16:40)
The bus will stop at Kintetsu Nara Station and then at JR Nara Station, so please disembark at the station of your choice. We can also drop you off at the Nara Prefectural Convention Center, which is located near the JW Marriott Hotel Nara and Novotel Nara.
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Scheduled Period of Operation
Operating period: December 16th, 2024 (Monday) ~ March 31st, 2025 (Monday)
Weekly schedule: Every Monday and Wednesday
*Unavailable dates: 12/23 (Monday), 12/25 (Wednesday), 12/30 (Monday), 1/1 (Wednesday/Holiday), 1/6 (Monday),
1/13 (Monday/Holiday), 3/12 (Wednesday)
Cancellation Policy
Requirements:
- There is no need to check in at our information desk. Please come directly to the bus stop.
- When boarding, please show the attendant your boarding pass (voucher).
- Please arrive with plenty of time at the bus stop (at least 10 minutes before departure).
- Departure time varies based on the boarding location, so please check the boarding and departure time.
Remarks/Other:
- This service is subject to be suspended if road or weather conditions are deemed to compromise passenger safety.
- Please be aware that the locations, order of visits, viewing time, and fees may change due to different circumstances. Delays may also occur due to traffic conditions, which could lead to changes in the tour’s order and viewing time.
- During tourist seasons, roads can be heavily congested. Please allow enough time for connections to your return train or other transportation.
- Please note that certain buildings and statues may appear different or be inaccessible due to construction or other reasons.
- Please note that certain sites may be inaccessible due to festivals or other events.
- Children under six years old can travel for free, but no seat will be provided. If a seat is required, a child fare will be charged.
- A cancellation fee of 100 yen per person will incur after payment. No cancellations are allowed after departure.
Recommended Eateries
Special Lunch Deals
The following local restaurants offer exclusive discounts/deals for those who join the “Perfect Nara Park Tour.” Simply show your bus tour voucher to the staff and enjoy a delicious meal before your tour! Discounts vary by store and are detailed below. Please arrive at the restaurant at the opening time. Please also note that you may not be able to enter during busy hours. Credit cards are accepted at all stores.
Turu (Sushi Restaurant)
Opening hours: Tuesday ~ Sunday 11:30 AM~ (Closed on Mondays)
Nara Kotsu Tour Lunch: ¥2,000 (tax included)
Tsujihira (Authentic Japanese Restaurant)
Opening hours: Monday ~ Saturday 11:00 AM~
Specially Selected Tempura Set: ¥ 2,500 (tax included)
Specially Selected Sashimi Set: ¥ 2,300 (tax included)
Sanjobo (Wheat Noodles & Buckwheat Noodles Restaurant)
Opening hours: 11:00 AM~
All lunch menu items are ¥ 50 off.
Tsukihitei Kintetsu-Nara-ekimae (Authentic Japanese Restaurant)
Opening hours: 11:30 AM~
This restaurant offers a complimentary soft drink with your lunch.
Unagi no nedoko Edogawa Kintetsu Nara (Unagi Restaurant)
Opening hours: 11:30 AM~
This restaurant offers a complimentary soft drink with your lunch.
Google Map
Reviews
Nara Park Tour
Masako as a guide was amazing. 10/10 experience. Definitely would recommend for everyone to go through their service. She took her time to explain the itinerary and provided a good history of the place.
Value packed and well organised.
This tour provides everything you could want in its 4 hrs. There is minimal time wasted on the nice warm bus in Japans cold weather. Walking is not over stressful. The staff, every single one of them, went out of their way to help make this an awesome day. Informative and friendly, all in English and just the right timings at each point to enjoy the sights and sounds of Nara Todai-ji temple and it’s deer.
Incredible experience!
Nara’s vast parks, peaceful temples, and friendly deer made this tour unforgettable. Our guide was very informative and gave us a real sense of Japan’s spiritual heritage.
It was a pleasure to participate!
I gave deer crackers to the deer at Mt. Wakakusa and took lots of great pictures! It was a perfect tour, just as the name says.
Amazing tour, comfortable, insightful, and we learned a lot. Definitely recommend!
This was a really interactive and fascinating tour. The guide had excellent English, answered all our questions and even took pictures of us, so helpful and kind! We went to really interesting attractions and learned so much, so seeing the sights was much more understandable and insightful. Being on an air conditioned bus getting taken around was amazing, because it was so hot! Definitely recommend!
Fun activity
We had an amazing time on our tour, and one of the highlights was definitely feeding rice crackers to the deer. The deer were so friendly, making the experience both fun and memorable. It was delightful to see them up close and interact with them in such a unique way. This tour is perfect for families and animal lovers. We highly recommend it to anyone visiting Nara. It’s an experience we’ll cherish for a long time!
Great experience, English-speaking guide, you can have fun even if you don’t know Japanese!
This trip to Nara, Japan, with a local tour was truly great value for money! The experience was exceptional, pulling out all the stops. It saved us a lot of time on transportation, giving us more energy to enjoy the sights. Climbing Wakakusa Mountain was easy, as we only needed to reach the tip by sightseeing bus, making the whole trip stress-free. The service was outstanding, and we even received free deer crackers to feed the fawns! However, we recommend spreading out a bit when feeding the deer to avoid being surrounded. At the end of the trip, our guide gave us a Nara Yamatoji 2 Day Pass, which was very convenient for our next tour in Nara. Overall, the trip was fantastic and highly recommended!
Perfect Nara Park Tour
I found out about this tour on the day and joined on the spot.
Our guide’s English was very clear and easy to understand.
My wife and daughter were also very happy, and it turned out to be a memorable day.
When we come back to Japan, we would like to join this tour once more.
Next time, we will book in advance to enjoy the tour more conveniently.
Perfect Nara Park Tour
I found out about this tour on the day and joined on the spot.
Our guide’s English was very clear and easy to understand.
My wife and daughter were also very happy, and it turned out to be a memorable day.
When we come back to Japan, we would like to join this tour once more.
Next time, we will book in advance to enjoy the tour more conveniently.
“Perfect Nara Park Tour” was amazing!!
I took the English guided sightseeing bus “Perfect Nara Park Tour” and was very satisfied! The guide was very kind and easy to understand, and the bus took us to the nearest parking lot of each sightseeing spot, so it was very convenient.