Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Nara, Japan
+31
- 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Nara is one of Japan's most-visited destinations, which means it gets crowded during the day. Dodge the biggest crowds and enjoy a more intimate experience of the ancient Japanese capital on this early-morning, small-group tour. Admire landmarks including Kofuku-ji Temple and Nara Park, home to free-roaming deer, while learning about the long history of this sacred place.
- Explore Nara at its best, before the biggest crowds get there
- Option to include pickup at Kyoto Station
- Small-group tour (maximum 12 people): A more personal experience
- Learn about the ancient capital of Nara from your guide
What's Included
- English-Speaking guide
- Transportation Fee from Kyoto/Osaka to Nara (Only if you select the option)
- Food and Drinks
- Transportation Fee for returning from Nara to Kyoto/Osaka
- Entrance fee - Todai-ji Temple¥800.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
Type to search
End point
- Nara ParkNara, Japan
Itinerary
1
Kofuku-ji Temple
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Kasuga Grand Shrine
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Nara Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Todai-ji Temple
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We will walk about 10,000 steps during this tour.
- Not recommended for guests over 75.
- Guests under the age of 6 cannot join.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,201 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
We had a fantastic guide named Toshiki on our trip. He was 5 stars! Loved the deer and the temples. Toshiki was very helpful and explained the history well. He also helped us with railway tickets and other suggestions of things to do in Kyoto.
This was a fabulous tour! Moe was the sweetest and best tour guide! She pointed out all kinds of cool places starting right when we met up, not just in Nara. She got some absolutely wonderful photos of us throughout the tour. At the end of the tour she made sure we got back to the station and knew exactly which train to take back to Kyoto. I cannot recommend her highly enough! If I could give this a million stars I would!
AyameF made this tour very interesting and enjoyable. She had good knowledge and was able to answer all my questions. I had a really great time on this tour!
I enjoyed visiting the shrine and seeing the huge Buddha. My guide did an exception job. She was very informative and friendly to talk too.
Logan was a great tour guide. We had an amazing time esp at the Nijo castle. Thank you for the memorable experience.
This was a wonderful time! Toshiki was not only kind and informative, but also extra helpful in navigating the transportation and working around the busier crowds. Definitely recommend this tour for anyone with an interest in Nara.
Áyame F was a fantastic guide. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Nara and gave us lots of opportunities to interact with the deer as well as take many photos throughout our experience. She also was a great guide for the different temples at our tour.
It is really amazing to be able to walk with deer that bow to you, and climb through Buddha s nostril all in a partial day!
Our guide Momoka was excellent, so fun and informative, and her apprentice also very helpful, English spoken was great too.
Chihiro was an excellent communicator with the meeting point and plan for the tour. She was kind and patient and did a great job at explaining key points about Nara, the shrines and temples.
We were the only party of the group so it was like a personal guide.
The pick up point was relatively easy to find and having had a previous WhatsApp message made life really easy.
Our guide Moe was a lovely young lady passionate about Nara park and the wider Japanese culture and traditions.
She provided excellent detail for each temple and shrine and clearly had an affinity with the whole area.
Her caring nature for the narure was clearly demonstrated when she spotted a deer trying to eat a coffee cup. She went across and quickly grabbed it off the deer to prevent any issues.
We had a truly marvelous morning and Moe just made it that much more memorable.
Great tour. The guide was helpful and friendly. She made sure to explain each place we visited and its historical background and answered all our questions.
Haruki was amazing. His english was superb and his knowledge of the area was complete. We had a great day.
Great small group experience with excellent guides, Haruka and Sara. It is a half day of walking with a break built-in.
We really enjoyed our early morning tour around Nara. Starting early was a great idea as it was much quieter and we could enjoy the temples, scenery and deer without the crowds.
Our guide, Toshiki Kobayashi, was really welcoming and made the morning very enjoyable. He knew a lot about Nara and its history, but explained things in a relaxed and interesting way. He was also happy to answer our questions and gave us some good tips along the way.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable way to see Nara and learn a bit more about the area. We’re very glad we did the tour and would definitely recommend it to others visiting Nara.
Thanks Toshiki for a great morning!
This tour out of Kyoto made visiting Nara easy and stress-free. Moe was a fantastic guide: knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and great at sharing the history behind each stop. Even in a group, the day felt friendly and well paced, with plenty of time with the deer. I would recommend booking the earliest available time as these attractions get very crowded.
Great way to see Nara for the day. Our guide was Taiga, and he did a wonderful job walking us around to see the deer, shrines and temple.
Easy to start the tour from Kyoto station. The guide arranged the train tickets for us. Beware of the deer as they follow you around. They will bow to you though before receiving some crackers which is very cute.
Haruka was an excellent guide who was able to bring the area alive as she lives in Nara. Her knowledge was amazing and we’re glad we did the trip. Thanks Haruka!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted that Haruka’s local knowledge helped bring Nara to life and made your visit even more memorable. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to her! 🦌✨
The tour was fantastic, lots of walking. Airi was an excellent guide, very informative, professional and just a lovely person.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We’re so happy you had a fantastic day in Nara with Airi! 😊 It’s wonderful to hear that her knowledge, professionalism, and warm personality made the tour so enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her! 🦌🌸
It was great walking tour with Mei. That was very special what we saw, authentic Japan centuries before. Wild deers in every spot you cross, like cows in India. Only the only thing spoiled the mood- was raining most of the time.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring Nara with Mei! 😊 Even with the rainy weather, it’s wonderful to hear that the temples, history, and Nara deer made the tour special. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Mei! 🦌🌸
Tomo was a great guide. He was very knowledge about the area's history and the deer were so adorable.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring Nara with Tomo! 😊 It’s great to hear that his knowledge made the tour even more interesting — and of course, the adorable deer are always a highlight! 🦌🌸
We had a wonderful time exploring Nara with Shin! We were visiting with family, and everything was easy and seamless from a logistics standpoint.
Shin was knowledgeable, friendly, and easygoing, making the tour both informative and enjoyable. We especially loved being on the first tour of the morning, the park was practically empty when we arrived, which made the experience even more special. We highly recommend the early tour!
Big props to Shin for a memorable experience. We would definitely recommend him to anyone visiting Nara!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We’re thrilled you had such a memorable morning in Nara with Shin! 😊 The peaceful early-morning atmosphere really makes the experience special. We’ll be sure to share your wonderful words with Shin — thank you for recommending us! 🦌🌸
We had such a magical experience visiting Nara. Our guide, Shin, was incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable and seemed to delight sharing information about the city and its history. Despite the heat, my group and I were so thankful to have had this experience. The deer were also so cute! 🦌😍
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🦌✨ We’re delighted to hear that your visit to Nara felt so magical and that Shin’s enthusiasm and knowledge made the experience even more enjoyable.
We’re also glad that, despite the heat, you and your group were able to enjoy learning about the city and its history while spending time with Nara’s adorable deer.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another tour in Japan someday!
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Wonderful day! Went for the deer but the temples were beyond incredible. Great activity for teens and adults alike. My kids loved it. And great and kind guide!!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🦌✨ We’re so happy to hear that you and your family had such a great day in Nara.
It’s wonderful that the deer brought you there, but the incredible temples became such a memorable part of the experience as well. We’re also glad to hear that both the adults and teens enjoyed the tour and that your guide made the day even more enjoyable.
We hope to welcome you and your family on another tour in Japan someday!
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Ko was our guide for the day and we loved him. He was friendly, knowledgeable and fun. My kids loved this tour as they got to feed the deer as we walked along. The whole experience was easy. We met Ko at the Kyoto station and he was right where he said he would be (he sent pictures etc). He guided our group to the train and off we went to Nara which is about a 45 min train ride. The tour is all on foot for a few of hours so bring comfy shoes. It was a good pace with time to stop if needed. On the way back, Ko guided us to the train station and told us which train/platform to get on to return to Kyoto. I would highly recommend!! Thank you Ko xo
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that you and your family had such a fun time exploring Nara with Ko, especially feeding the deer! 🦌✨
We truly appreciate your kind words about Ko and your recommendation. We hope to welcome you and your family on another tour in Japan someday!
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
This was a great tour! We had Lee as our guide and he was very knowledgeable, kind and patient with my son (almost 5). He held his hand while we toured different sights. He took amazing photos along the way for us and the pace was just right! He even helped ensure we got back to Kyoto quickly.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re so glad to hear that you and your family had a great time exploring Nara with Lee. It’s wonderful to know that his kindness and patience made the experience enjoyable for your son as well!
We’re also happy you came away with some great photos and memories from the day. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again in Japan! 🦌
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Was a wonderful tour. Our guide Josh was amazing. We learned interesting information about the temples and the halls. The main attraction for me were the deer and they did not disappoint, but I’m glad we listened to Josh and moved further away from the vendors to feed them the biscuits.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re glad you had a great time exploring Nara with Josh and enjoyed learning about the temples and their history.
And of course, we’re especially happy that the deer lived up to your expectations! 🦌 Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again in Japan!
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Well we undertook this excursion on a very hot day…well being Irish it was a challenge but regardless our wonderful tour guide Seishiro was very understanding and his knowledge of Nara Park history was very comprehensive and we left with a wonderful feeling of contentment and knowledge, I would have no problem recommending this excursion 10/10 Tommy/Mairead
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much, Tommy and Mairead! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a memorable time in Nara, even in the summer heat!
It’s wonderful to know that Seishiro’s knowledge and care made the experience enjoyable and meaningful. We truly appreciate your 10/10 recommendation and hope to welcome you again someday! ☺️
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Had a tour of Nara seeing the local shrines and temples and learning about the local history, as well as meeting and feeding the many deer around. Was a great day trip with a friendly and informative guide in Haruka, thanks!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re so glad you enjoyed discovering Nara’s shrines, temples, history, and of course, meeting the deer!
We’re happy to hear that Haruka made your day both enjoyable and informative. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! 🦌
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
An amazing opportunity to see the sacred deer of Nara and the great Buddha. Taking advantage of the early morning to avoid the crowds is a pro tip. Our guide Josh was fabulous!
Member Pricing
From
$64.59
per personWas $67.98(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Nara Early Morning Tour Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available
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4 hours 30 minutes
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