Pickup from Kyoto or Osaka Hotel / Station (9:00 AM)

• Your private guide and vehicle will meet you at your hotel or a designated station.

• Travel to Nara in comfort—just under 1 hour from either Kyoto or Osaka.

• Todai-ji Temple & The Great Buddha (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

• Begin your visit at Todai-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most historically significant temples.

• Marvel at the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), housed in the world’s largest wooden building.

• Optional: Try to pass through the hole in the wooden pillar at the base of the Buddha, believed to grant enlightenment in the next life!

  
  

Nara Park & Deer Interaction (11:00 AM – 11:45 AM)

• Walk through Nara Park, a spacious and serene area home to over 1,000 freely roaming deer, considered sacred messengers in the Shinto tradition.

• Feed the deer with special “shika senbei” crackers sold nearby—they’ll bow to you for a treat!

• Stroll under cherry blossoms in spring or vibrant leaves in autumn for a truly picturesque experience.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine (12:00 PM – 12:45 PM)

• Head into the forested path toward the Kasuga Taisha, Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine.

• Admire hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns, many of which are lit during festivals.

• Gain insight into Japan’s ancient religious practices while walking through moss-covered paths and sacred trees.

Return to Kyoto/Osaka (1:00 PM)

• Depart Nara feeling refreshed and inspired.

• Optional lunch at a local soba restaurant near Nara Station or your return destination.