Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Nara, Japan
- 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
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 773 reviews
Suzanne_H, Mar 2026
Had a wonderful experience in Nara today. Our guide was great - energetic, knowledgeable and friendly. She accommodated our many (many) photos of the deer and cherry blossoms.
Michael_S, Mar 2026
Kazuma was a great guide. The trip met at Kyoto Train Station and traveled to Nara. Kazuma was easy to talk to and conversational. He was able to tell us about the history of Nara, the temples and why the deer are there. I would strongly recommend this tour.
Joseph_R, Mar 2026
If you're in Kyoto, I can't recommend a ½ day trip to Nara enough. Yes, being surrounded by deer and watching them bow is incredibly cool, but the temples and shrines are also breathtaking. The deer park walk was also historically cool and the foliage was stunning in autumn.
I booked the early morning tour, which I highly recommend to beat the throngs of tourists that show up late morning. (The deer park was almost empty when we arrived). We met our guide at Kyoto Station and then took a train to Nara. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, laid-back, and sweet. She was in her final year at university, so her youth provided a different (positive) perspective. She told us all about the history of the Nara deer, the deer walk with stone statues/obelisks, as well as the 4-5 shrines/temples we visited, allowing for ample time to take photos, ask questions, and take bathroom breaks. (Side note/my opinion: you'll see a ton of deer in the park, so don't feel the need to take a million photos of the few deer you see as you walk from Nara station to the first temple. Just wait until you get until into the actual park for the great photos opportunities.)
On the way back, I opted to break from the group to walk around Nara a bit more. On the return leg, I took the tourist train that has the big chairs facing the windows (sorry, I forgot the name of it). I definitely recommend taking this after walking for a few hours-- it's not only comfortable, but it provided great photo opportunities and was overall much better than taking the regular again. 10 out of 10!
Karl_L, Mar 2026
Keith was a great guide. We met up early at Osaka Station and he provided IC cards for us to get to Nara. It was about 45 minutes to get to Nara from Osaka via subway with just one transfer. Once we got there we walked through a cover dining hall (can’t remember if it had an official name or not) and Keith provided a lot of shop recommendations for anyone looking to hang around and eat in the area after the tour. We proceeded to go the the Deer Park where you have the opportunity to buy cookies to feed the deer if you so choose. We then went to the Todai-ji Temple which was a great call as we avoided the rush of the crowds. We had plenty of time to explore and take pictures and all throughout Keith was giving us a lot of history about the Temple as well as the general history of Nara. We then proceeded to the Kasuga Taishi Shrine for a quick history lesson and photo ops. After that we proceeded to walk back towards the train station where those that wanted to stick around and explore broker off and those that wanted to head back could hop back on the train. All in all a great experience. Keith was super friendly and accommodating. A great intro to Nara.
Rene_M, Mar 2026
Ko Taketazu was our wonderful guide. As promised we met him at the Kyoto train station exactly where he said he would be. He already had purchased the tickets to Nara. Upon reaching Nara he showed us all the major points and explained in detail their significance we proceeded to feed the plentiful deer that are all about. We walked up a hill to a Shinto temple and then to the temple that houses the largest Buddha in Japan. A very impressive site. At the end of the 4 hour plus tour he escorted us back to the train station and helped us buy our return tickets to Kioto. Having studied in the United States his English is flawless. We highly recommend Ko as your guide.
Katie_Y, Mar 2026
This was an unforgettable experience. As someone who has loved deer their entire life, coming to Nara Park was a must - and our guide gave us the full experience! He answered all the silly questions, took all the silly pictures and helped us make the best memories!
Dan_R, Mar 2026
Delightful experience! Just the right amount of history, walking, and deer. So many deer. Joshua was knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. He was also very interactive with our kids throughout rhe tour. Really happy with the morning tour!
Annie_B, Mar 2026
Our tour guide, Ko, was filled with a wealth of information ~ this was exactly what we hoped for from a walking tour. He concisely communicated where to meet him at the busy Kyoto Train station and his arrival was very punctual. We all enjoyed our day with Ko. He made our first trip to Nara AMAZINGLY memorable !!!! Thank you, Ko !!!
Matt_D, Mar 2026
Shin was a wonderful guide. He was very friendly and great to just talk to. He gave us good information about Nara. Him being from the area made it more personal. This is a good trip to take. If you don’t feel comfortable making the trip on your own. I suggest doing the early morning tour so you beat most of the large crowds. He will guide you back to the train station and make sure that you get on the correct train back to Kyoto.
Albert_V, Mar 2026
Airi was great and so friendly! She helped us so much in navigating the way. She is very very good w English and hospitable.
Jacquelyn_S, Mar 2026
The guide’s recommendations were on point the whole time from food to where the less aggressive deer were to the big Buddha statue history. Thanks again!
Kerri_G, Mar 2026
If there’s one thing I’ve learned this trip it’s to be prepared for a lot of walking! This was a lovely tour through Nara. Shin was an excellent guide. The early morning time was the best as there very few people at the three places we stopped. By the time we walked back down to the station the crowds were appreciably larger! I enjoyed the train ride from Kyoto as it gave me a chance to see a different side of this country. The deer were a lot of fun even if they’re play little buggers! 😊 Definitely recommend this early morning tour!
Naomi_B, Mar 2026
Great morning with very few tourists about. Our guide was lovely and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this tour.
Christopher_W, Mar 2026
Excellent tour of Nara. Our guid Aki was amazing. Her English was so good we thought she was Canadian. She was an awesome guide. Very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. The bowing deer were a highlight. Lots of fun to feed. We really enjoyed this experience and would definitely recommend the tour, and our guide - Aki Toide
arnold_N, Mar 2026
Great experience! Our guy Toshiki was great with all his knowledge and knowledge of the park. We have a great day beating all other tourists and got most of the park and temples visit mostly by ourselves.
kip_t, Mar 2026
Nara park was awesome. Our guide Koh did a great job explaining the history of the places we visited, and giving advice on places to visit outside of the tour.
cindyrella_v, Mar 2026
Aki was the best and reliable tour guide. So fun and knowledgeable, highly recommend her! The tour itself was fun too and they helped booked a train ticket the way there and a bus ticket to the station in Nara
Shaun_H, Mar 2026
Great to go early, this early morning tour highly recommend, as we were leaving there were so many people and more arriving...
AyameF was a great guide, very friendly and very knowledgeable.
Shaun_N, Mar 2026
Early start but the guide was easy to find. She was very helpful with moving around and enjoyed to chat. The tour was a great experience and went really smoothly. Our guide got us to Nara station at the end and helped us get our correct trains.
My only suggestion would be for the guide to allow 5 mins for souvenir shopping towards the end as this can be the only time some people get to visit Nara.
Susan_B, Mar 2026
This is an absolutely beautiful tour of two important shrines, and a magnificent temple, to see the Great Buddha statue. We were blown away. The visit to see the deer was an added bonus. What made the tour so special was our caring and knowledgeable guide, Shin. Shin met us at the train station in Kyoto and traveled with us to Nara. He was extremely understanding of our slow pace, (my husband walks with a cane), finding all elevators to ascend to the train platforms. What a kind tour guide. Our fellow travelers were also quite patient. When we got to the second Shrine (Kasuga), my husband was a bit tired, so Shin found a nearby coffee shop where my husband could wait and relax while I went on with the group. Coming back down, I found my husband refreshed and ready to tackle Todai-Ji Temple. It was an amazing way to end the tour with fabulous memories of everything we saw. Having our stellar tour guide, Shin made the day one of the best experiences of our trip to Japan. While there is a lot of walking, with a patient guide like Shin it is doable for folks with moderate disabilities. Thank you, Shin.
Gareth_N, Mar 2026
Aki was a brilliant tour guide and was very knowledgeable of the area and provided valuable insights into the history of the area.
Andrew_G, Mar 2026
Hina was great! Friendly and knowledgeable and kept the tour running smooth. Watch out for the deer though, they swarm you when you have food
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi, thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re very happy to hear that you had a great time on our Nara Early Morning Tour. Hina will be delighted to know that her friendliness and knowledge helped make your experience smooth and enjoyable.
And yes — the deer can definitely get a bit enthusiastic when they spot food! We’re glad you got to experience that unique (and memorable) part of Nara as well 😊
Thank you again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
Andrea_R, Mar 2026
my mom who traveled solo 65+ was so well taken care of. aki even rode the transport back to kyoto with my mom from nara. so sweet!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi, thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re truly happy to hear that your mother had such a positive experience on our Nara Early Morning Tour. It means a lot to us that she felt well taken care of, especially while traveling solo.
Aki will be especially glad to hear your kind words. She always goes the extra mile to make sure our guests feel safe, comfortable, and supported — and we’re so pleased she could assist your mother all the way back to Kyoto.
Thank you again for trusting us with such an important experience. We hope to welcome both of you on another tour in the future!
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
Tess_D, Mar 2026
Our guide Lin was very knowledgeable and fluent. She frequently checked in to make sure we were doing okay during the tour and even helped us figure out how to return to Kyoto after the tour. I also really appreciated that she allowed me time to get stamps in my goshuin book.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring Nara and that Lin helped make the experience enjoyable. She will be very happy to know that you appreciated her knowledge, attentiveness, and assistance throughout the tour.
It’s also wonderful to hear that you were able to collect goshuin stamps along the way — that’s such a special souvenir from visiting temples and shrines.
Thank you again for joining our tour, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan!
Warm regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Alexander_M, Mar 2026
- Bring good shoes for walking
- Deer at the beginning are more rude and will harrass you
- Good to visit early morning
- Lovely walk around Nara learning about history and culture
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review!
We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the early morning walk around Nara and learning about the area’s history and culture. Visiting in the morning really is one of the best ways to experience Nara before it becomes too busy.
Thank you also for sharing helpful tips for future guests — comfortable walking shoes are definitely recommended, and the deer can certainly be a bit enthusiastic when they see visitors!
We truly appreciate you joining our tour and hope to welcome you again on another experience in Japan.
Warm regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Michael_G, Mar 2026
Fantastic tour guide and enjoyable trip. My only qualms are meeting in the kyoto train station is a bit confusing. Also while the site crosses off paid admission it wasn't 100% obvious. I'd gladly have paid more upfront. Same thing with return trip on train which wasn't included. Still the guide was fantastic , knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I enjoyed the deer and visiting the shrine and temple
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review!
We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the trip to Nara and had a great experience with your guide. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed visiting the shrine and temple and meeting the famous Nara deer.
We also truly appreciate your feedback regarding the meeting point and the costs not included in the tour. Your comments are very helpful, and we will continue working to make this information clearer for future guests so the experience is as smooth as possible.
Thank you again for joining our tour and for sharing your feedback. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan!
Warm regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
kimberly_c, Mar 2026
Best to go early as it gets very crowded. Perfect day trip from Kyoto. Easy to get to and great temples. Our guide Naruka was awesome. She was very informative and helpful.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Nara Early Morning Tour and that going early helped you experience the temples before the crowds. Naruka will be very happy to know that you found her informative and helpful throughout the tour.
Thank you again for joining our tour. We hope to welcome you back on another GuideMe Japan experience in the future.
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
Krzysztof_D, Mar 2026
We had limited time and a half-day guided simplistic tour starting in Kyoto turned out to be a good choice. It is way to go for the first-time visitors.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We’re glad to hear that the Nara Early Morning Tour worked well for your schedule and that it was a good way to experience Nara in a short amount of time. It’s great to know that the tour was helpful for first-time visitors.
Thank you again for joining our tour. We hope to welcome you back on another GuideMe Japan experience in the future.
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
Donna_V, Mar 2026
Our guide Koi was outstanding! He was thorough in his descriptions, answered all of our questions and spent a few minutes getting to know each of us. That knowledge allowed him to ensure we all enjoyed the tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Nara Early Morning Tour and that Koi helped make the experience special. Our guides always try to connect with each guest and tailor the tour so everyone can enjoy it, so your kind words will mean a lot to him.
Thank you again for joining our tour. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another GuideMe Japan experience in the future.
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
Erica_G, Mar 2026
Aki is an amazing tour guide. We learned so much about Japanese history, customs and word origins. This walking tour is full of incredible temples, shrines and the famous bowing deer. One of our family members left their backpack on the train from Kyoto and Aki was so helpful in tracking it down with the station master, and taking them all the way to retrieve their bag at the end of the line. Really wonderful guide and tour. Highly recommend to bring your good walking shoes as it’s a nice trek through beautiful and historic grounds.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your wonderful review.
We’re very happy to hear that you had such a great experience on the Nara tour. Aki will be very happy to hear your kind words. She always enjoys sharing the history, culture, and small details about Japan that make the experience more meaningful for our guests.
We’re especially glad to hear that the lost backpack situation was resolved smoothly. Aki truly goes above and beyond to help our guests, and it’s great to know that her support made a difference during your trip.
Thank you again for joining our tour and for your recommendation. We hope you had a fantastic rest of your time in Japan.
Best regards,
Yusuke
GuideMe Japan
From $80.05
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