Nara Afternoon Tour: Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Overview
Visit Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Nara Park for a memorable cultural experience, accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter.
Highlights
- Reserve with a Rakuten account to earn or use Rakuten Points for each booking!
- Marvel at Todai-ji Temple's Great Buddha and encounter wild deer in Nara Park
- Enter the special visit area of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, featuring historic structures and hanging lanterns
Key Information
Important Information
Itinerary
If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: Hotel Granvia Osaka – Meeting Point • Start: 12:00, End: 12:10 • Location: Hotel Granvia Osaka 1F (in front of elevator). Meet at 12:00, Depart at 12:10. • After the meet-up, walk to JR Osaka Station. The tour will be guided by an assistant until reaching the Sunrise Tours Desk in Kyoto Avanti B1F. • Transportation: On Foot If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: Osaka Station to Kyoto Station • Start: 12:30, End: 13:15 • Details: (JR Special Rapid Service, Rapid Service, or Local (non-reserved seat)) • Note: Public transportation will be used on this tour. All trains have non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed. • Transportation: Train If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: Arrive at Kyoto Station – Walk to Sunrise Tours Desk in Kyoto Avanti B1F • Transportation: On Foot
Depart from the Sunrise Tours Desk in Kyoto Avanti B1F (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) • Start: 13:20, End: 13:30 • Please be at the meeting location at least 10 minutes before departure (meet at 13:20, depart at 13:30) *Please refer to "Important Notes/Supplements: Bus/Hired Car Company". Transfer • Transportation: Bus Kasuga Taisha Shrine - Main Sanctuary Special Visit • Duration: 60 minutes • Details: This Nara Period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers. From 2025, the Main Sanctuary special visit area will be newly added to the itinerary. Visitors can get closer to the Main Sanctuary and view the hanging lanterns in the corridor. *Please refer to "Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee: Itinerary/Destinations". • Transportation: On Foot Transfer • Transportation: On Foot • Details: Travel on foot (approx. 20-30 min). *A bus may also be used for transfer on some sections. Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha) Nara Park • Duration: 70 minutes • Details: A World Heritage site. This is the symbol of the Nara Period and one of the world's largest wooden structures. Its huge main hall and bronze Great Buddha are impressive to behold. • Transportation: On Foot Transfer • Transportation: Bus
If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: Kintetsu Nara Station – Osaka Namba Station • Start: 17:30, End: 18:30 • Details: (Kintetsu Railway, non-reserved seat) • Note: Public transportation will be used on this tour. All trains have non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed. *The tour will be guided by an assistant from Kintetsu Nara Station to Osaka Namba Station. • Transportation: Train If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: Tour Ends at Osaka Namba Station • Start: 18:10, End: 18:30 • Details: No drop-off service to hotels will be provided. Please head back to the hotel on your own.
If "Round-trip from Kyoto" option is booked: Tour Ends in front of Kyoto Avanti (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) • Start: 18:30, End: 19:00 • Details: Please head to your next destination on your own from Kyoto Station.
Min. pax number to book tour: 1 Min. pax number to run tour: 1
Remarks
Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions
- If the minimum number of participants (1) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled.
- The last reception day (reservation deadline) is the day of the tour at 05:00.
- For requests regarding tours where answers from the tour operator are required in advance, please input in the Remarks field and contact the tour operator.
Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee: Itinerary/Destinations
- The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations.
- Participants will walk from the parking lot to Todai-ji Temple (about 25 min one-way). Thank you for your understanding. Please inform us at the time of booking if any person in your group is using crutches or a wheelchair, or has a chronic illness that makes it difficult to walk for long distances.
- At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the tour will also enter the Main Sanctuary special visit area. However, in case the special visit area cannot be entered due to events or operational circumstances, the Kasuga Taisha Museum or Manyo Botanical Garden will be visited instead.
- Refunds will not be issued in case the tour visits aforementioned alternative destinations.
- Seats may not be designated.
- If "Round-trip from Kyoto" option is booked: the tour drop-off location will only be in front of Kyoto Avanti (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit).
Important Notes/Supplements: Meeting/Pick-up/Pick-up Location
- If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: In front of Hotel Granvia Osaka 1F Elevator / 12:00 noon *Not the 19th floor with front desk.
- If "Round-trip from Kyoto" option is booked: Sunrise Tours Desk in Kyoto Avanti B1F (across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) / 13:20
Important Notes/Supplements: Guide/Tour Conductor
- If "Round-trip from Osaka" option is booked: The tour will be accompanied by an English-speaking assistant (not a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter) from Hotel Granvia Osaka to the Sunrise Tours Desk in Kyoto Avanti B1F, and from Kintetsu Nara Station to Osaka Namba Station.
Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Children/Infants
- Children up to 5 years old may join free of charge, but will not be provided with bus seats. If bus seats are required, please make a booking under the child rate.
Important Notes/Supplements: Bus/Hired Car Company
- Teisan Kanko Bus Co., Ltd. (in general); Yasaka Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd.; Yuai Kanko Bus Co., Ltd.; Toh-ho-kanko Bus Co., Ltd.; Kyoto Kanko Bus Co., Ltd.; or Senriyama Bus Co., Ltd. *In general, Teisan Kanko Bus will be used. If otherwise, it will be specified in the final itinerary. *Depending on the number of tour participants, transportation to be used may be other than a large bus (mid-size bus, small bus), a hired car (van, minivan - MK Co., Ltd. or Yasaka Group), or a taxi.
- Standard transportation for approximate number of customers:
- Large bus: around 26 people or more
- Mid-size bus: around 11-25 people
- Small bus: around 9-10 people
- Van (hired car): around 5-8 people
- Minivan (hired car): around 3-4 people
- Taxi: around 1-2 people
Important Notes/Supplements: Language Support
- Guide Language Support: English
- The tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. *Drivers do not work as guides.
Description
1. Visit two World Heritage Sites in Nara—Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine—as well as Nara Park on this half-day afternoon course. This tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter.
2. The intensity of Todai-ji Temple's Great Buddha statue is absolutely stunning. Get to see wild deer up close, a rarity in Japan and elsewhere in the world, while walking through Nara Park.
3. The tour will also enter the Kasuga Taisha Shrine special visit area. The area has many attractions such as historical gates and structures as well as hanging lanterns in the corridor. Experience up close the Kasugayama Primeval Forest which has remained untouched for over a thousand years.
4. Enjoy the view out the window from the suburbs of Kyoto to Nara.
5. An assistant will guide the tour during the transfers from Osaka to Kyoto and from Nara to Osaka.
About Initiatives for Sustainability: This tour promotes environment(eco)-friendly efforts, cross-cultural understanding as stated under Sunrise Tours' Sustainable Development Goals. This is a carbon offset product where a portion of the tour booking charge is spent on renewable energy. By converting some CO2 emissions during the tour to green energy, it's possible to contribute to activities protecting the planet's future. We advocate for responsible travel, and urge one and all to become responsible travelers. Please check the following page for details: http://jtbgmt.com/en/g-web/sdgs
