Nara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)
Recommended by 98% 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 1,035 reviews
Virginia_B, Jun 2026
This tour was perfect! Aki was a fantastic guide from start to finish. She is organized, engaging, knows her history and weaves in fun facts. She explained the history of Nara, the deer, Buddhism/Shintoism, the temple and shrine. She was very helpful and inquisitive making sure all of our needs were met. Aki and this tour are a highlight of my trip. I cannot recommend it enough.
kevin_L, Jun 2026
It was such a fun time and the deer are very encouraging for food! Our tour guide Moe was very nice and carefully planned out a great itinerary for us
Brian_S, Jun 2026
Very good way to see Nara from Kyoto. Our tour guide, Itsuki, was super friendly and really knew her history of the area. The sites were beautiful and the history is fascinating. Itsuki was amazing. She went the “extra mile” and made sure we all made it back to the train station and back on the appropriate train Ok. It is some walking but very manageable.
rbh5cm69fr, Jun 2026
Haru is the best! She’s so knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming. Everything went seamlessly and there was the perfect amount of time at all the sights. She was so kind and answered our many questions. We highly recommend this tour and Haru!
Taylor_B, Jun 2026
This was the best experience. Our guide Itsuki was so knowledgeable and we had the greatest time. I would honestly recommend this tour to anyone. The temples and deer park were so amazing to see and I’m glad we decided to book this tour.
Peter_F, Jun 2026
This was such a fun tour! Our guide, Ko, was very knowledgeable and helpful. He had a great personality making it an all around great experience.
Elizabeth_Z, Jun 2026
The tour of Nara was fun and interesting for our whole family, including teenagers. Our guide Shin did a great job. Highly recommended!
Rupert_M, Jun 2026
Nara is an amazing place to visit. Our guide, Keith was excellent. Being half Japanese and half American, he was able to give us an excellent insight into the sites and was easy to understand. The park was beautiful with numerous deer, all very tame. The Todai-Ji temple housing the giant Buddha was amazing. Keith was able to give us lots of historical information which was so useful and interesting.
Shenaaz_J, Jun 2026
Aki is a very informed, kind and helpful tour guide! Aki provided clear instructions on the meet-up spot, and gave us interesting cultural and historic information about the sites throughout our tour. My 10-year old daughter was engaged too! Please beware of deer, they can be very eager around the crackers!
Sapna_K, Jun 2026
We had a fantastic 4.5 hour tour of Nara with Keith! He was excellent at communicating two days in advance and throughout the process. He shared so many fascinating details about Todaiji Temple and even helped us capture great photos. A short, perfect, and highly recommended tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Sapna_K,
Thank you very much for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour and for sharing your kind review.
We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic experience exploring Nara with Keith. It’s wonderful to know that his clear communication before and during the tour helped make your experience smooth and well-organized from the start.
We are especially pleased that you enjoyed his explanations of Tōdaiji Temple and the surrounding history, as well as the support he provided in capturing memorable photos of your visit. Helping guests create lasting memories is something our guides truly value.
Thank you again for your thoughtful recommendation. We will be sure to share your feedback with Keith, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in Japan.
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Sarang_R, Jun 2026
Starting from Nara station this is around a 3 hour walk via Nara Park to the Great Buddha shrine. Our guide Nana was friendly, knowledgeable about the sites and patient with all members of the group especially since we kept getting held up with kids running around. Make sure to wear good walking shoes and keep a hat/umbrella. Overall a great experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Sarang_R,
Thank you very much for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour and for sharing your thoughtful review.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Nara from Nara Station through Nara Park and up to the Great Buddha area. It’s wonderful to know that Nana was able to support your group with friendliness, knowledge, and patience throughout the walk.
We are especially glad that she was able to make the experience comfortable for everyone, including families with children. Creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for all guests is something we truly value.
Thank you also for your helpful practical tips regarding walking shoes and sun/rain protection—Nara’s outdoor walking routes can indeed vary depending on the weather, and your advice will certainly be useful for future guests.
We truly appreciate your kind feedback and recommendation. We will be sure to share your comments with Nana, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in Japan.
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Kati_P, Jun 2026
Josh was a great guide! We enjoyed a lovely, peaceful morning exploring Nara. The early morning tour was worth it to beat the crowds!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Kati_P,
Thank you very much for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour and for sharing your kind review.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed a peaceful morning exploring Nara with Josh. It’s wonderful to know that the early start allowed you to experience the city’s famous sights before the crowds arrived, making the visit even more enjoyable.
We are especially pleased that Josh made a positive impression as your guide. Providing a calm, informative, and enjoyable experience is exactly what we aim for, and we are glad he helped make your morning in Nara memorable.
Thank you again for your warm feedback and recommendation. We will be sure to share your comments with Josh, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Japan.
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Yue_C, Jun 2026
Be award this tour is only 2.5 hours and nothing is included besides walking with the guide. Not worth $80 for this little time.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Yue_C,
Thank you for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour and for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We understand that value and expectations can vary from guest to guest, and we appreciate your honest comments.
Our tour is designed as a guided early morning experience that allows guests to explore Nara’s most famous sites before the crowds arrive while learning about the area's history, culture, and traditions from a local guide. The tour duration, inclusions, and itinerary are described in the tour details, but we regret that the experience did not feel worthwhile for you.
We sincerely appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue to evaluate and improve our tours and guest experience.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, and we hope you were still able to enjoy other aspects of your time in Japan.
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Cori_T, Jun 2026
The tour was amazing. The Nara temple and Shrine are absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide was Genki who was great, request him if you can!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Cori_T,
Thank you very much for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour and for taking the time to share your wonderful review.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed visiting Nara's beautiful temples and shrines. Your kind words about Genki mean a lot to us, and we will be sure to share your feedback with him. He will be thrilled to know that he helped make your experience memorable.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Japan for another adventure in the future.
Best regards,
GuideMe Japan Team
Nicolas_P, Jun 2026
Great informative tour with our lovely guide Mei! Highly recommend this tour, we met at the station and easily got to Nara before the crowds
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Nicolas_P,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience with Mei as your guide. It is wonderful to know that you found the tour informative and enjoyed spending the morning exploring Nara with her.
One of the biggest advantages of the early morning tour is arriving before the crowds, allowing guests to enjoy Nara’s famous sites and peaceful atmosphere at a more relaxed pace. We are glad that you were able to make the most of this unique experience.
Thank you for your recommendation and for taking the time to share your kind feedback. We will be sure to pass your compliments along to Mei. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
Steve_A, Jun 2026
Hina was an excellent guide and shared lots of great info on sights, history and the city. Well worth it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Steve_A,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience with Hina as your guide. It is wonderful to know that her knowledge of Nara’s sights, history, and culture helped make your visit both informative and enjoyable.
Our goal is to provide guests with meaningful insights into the places they visit while creating a memorable and engaging experience, and we are pleased that Hina was able to do just that.
Thank you for your kind words and recommendation. We will be sure to share your compliments with Hina. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
Dawn_J, Jun 2026
Our guide Tomo was really good and explained all the spots we visited really well. Highly recommend this tour. Also only 6 of us so very personable.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Dawn_J,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Tomo as your guide. It is wonderful to know that his explanations helped bring the sites you visited to life and enhanced your understanding of Nara’s history and culture.
We are also pleased that you appreciated the small-group format. Keeping our tours intimate allows for a more personal experience and gives guests the opportunity to interact more closely with both the guide and fellow travelers.
Thank you for your recommendation and for taking the time to share your feedback. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to Tomo. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
danielaron1088, Jun 2026
Haruka was absolutely amazing today ! We got lost at the meet up point and she came to save us ! Her guide and tour at Nara was outstanding! Much recommended
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear danielaron1088,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with Haruka. We understand that finding the meeting point can sometimes be a little challenging, so we are glad she was able to help you and ensure that your day started smoothly.
It is wonderful to know that you found her guidance throughout Nara outstanding. Haruka is passionate about sharing the history, culture, and beauty of Nara with our guests, and we are pleased that her dedication and enthusiasm helped make your experience so memorable.
Thank you for your recommendation and for taking the time to share your feedback. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to Haruka. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
Rosenna_H, Jun 2026
Ko was our good guide. He was very clear about the meeting point and punctual. We enjoyed the small group format. It was easier to beat the crowds. Ko was very helpful and a pleasure to spend the morning with.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Rosenna_H,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Ko as your guide. It is great to know that his clear communication and punctuality helped make the start of your tour smooth and stress-free.
We are also pleased that you appreciated the small-group format. One of the advantages of an early morning tour is being able to explore Nara's famous sites before the larger crowds arrive, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Thank you for your kind words about Ko. We are glad that his helpfulness and friendly company contributed to a memorable morning in Nara. We will be sure to share your compliments with him.
We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
Katie_G, Jun 2026
Very pleasant walk the beautiful gardens and famous sites with lots of deer and historical information. Wonderfull!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Katie_G,
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for joining our Nara Early Morning Tour.
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your walk through Nara’s beautiful gardens and famous historical sites. The combination of rich history, peaceful surroundings, and Nara’s beloved deer makes for a truly special experience, and we are glad you were able to enjoy all of these highlights.
It is also wonderful to know that you found the historical information interesting and that the tour left such a positive impression on you.
Thank you for your recommendation and for taking the time to share your feedback. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure during your next visit to Japan.
GuideMe Japan Team
Osman_C, Jun 2026
We had the pleasure of having Aki as our tour guide. Aki was super knowledgable and made our tour very enjoyable, she was also very helpful with taking photos whenever. Aki seemed to always have an answer for the questions that we had, and she also paid for me and my tours transportation back to the station out of her pocket post tour, and offered recommendations to other parts of Japan. Through and through a 5 star guide. Overall I would really recommend this trip to anyone looking to experience Nara.
Shane_S, Jun 2026
This tour was amazing! It was an absolute pleasure to have Josh as our guide, he was sociable, kind and very knowledgeable. Nara is a beautiful part of Japan and this tour was a great way to explore it, see its sights and learn its history! Highly recommend!
snm26r96hy, May 2026
Overall it’s not worth spending money on this tour. Tour description does not tell you-
They take you from Kyoto train station by local train with change of station
They provide you only one way ticket
Rather than normal tour where bus will take you to nearest parking on each spot, they make you walk all the way from station
Overall tour itinerary is not good, I wish they take you to Todai-ji temple first but it was last when all tour buses and school trips arrived.
I would recommend rather buy your own train ticket and get audio guide or use ChatGPT for information.
Samuel_G, May 2026
We had an amazing time exploring Nara with AyameF. The tour was well-paced and informative. Highly recommend for 1/2 day in Nara!
Matt_I, May 2026
Great trip with very knowledgeable guides. This was my second time here and my family’s first. A must do trip
Riku_S, May 2026
Had a fantastic morning in Nara! Our tour guide Moe was wonderful! She was genuinely kind and made the whole experience both relaxing and engaging. Her English was excellent, so everything was easy to follow, and she explained each site clearly and brought them to life. It never felt like a dry history lecture. What really stood out was how she took the time to get to know each person in the group individually, which made the morning feel personal and welcoming. 10/10 would absolutely do it again. Highly recommend!!
Florence_S, May 2026
Josh Price was our tour guide and we had a really excellent time with him. He was extremely knowledgeable about the architecture, religions and folklore as well as being friendly and considerate. We highly recommend that you take one of his tours! There is far more to see that you can cover in one morning but the highlights were wonderful.
Shoshana_C, May 2026
This was such a fantastic experience and I highly HIGHLY recommend it! Hokona was such a sweet tour guide and very knowledgeable about everything- the buildings, deer, culture and history of the places we visited. Unsurprisingly, my favorite was feeding and petting the deers, but we also visited a lot of buildings and statues as well. Make sure to bring water to stay hydrated and snacks too. **Bring cash for deer rice-snacks!** Also, the deers will bow if you bow to them!
Susan_R, May 2026
Keith was a fabulous guide: truly bilingual, informative, engaging and very helpful. Nara is a must-see. The deer are fascinating and the main temple is a real knock-out. Probably my Japan highlight!
Isabella_J, May 2026
The tour guide was helpful from the beginning. And, answers all our questions. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited.
The park was great and we loved the deer. Getting back to the train station was easy to find.
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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