Kyoto: Nara Early-Access Private Tour with Guide & Car

Explore Nara and Kyoto on a private tour with a guide. Visit Nara Deer Park, Tōdai-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Gion District, Kinkaku-ji, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
Begin your day with pickup at Kyoto Station or your hotel. Meet your English-speaking driver-guide and settle into a private vehicle. First, cross to Nara Deer Park, where friendly, free-roaming deer greet visitors beneath tall trees.

Continue to Tōdai-ji Temple, home to the vast wooden Great Buddha Hall and the impressive bronze Daibutsu—an unforgettable introduction to Japan’s early capital.

Return to Kyoto for the vermilion torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walk as little or as far as you wish while your guide explains shrine etiquette and suggests quiet photo spots.

Next, explore the Gion District on foot, following the stone-paved lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka toward the photogenic Yasaka Pagoda (Hōkan-ji), where traditional townscapes set the scene for beautiful pictures.

Break for lunch at Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s lively kitchen, with stalls selling fresh seafood, skewers, sweets, and seasonal specialties (meal at your own expense; your guide can recommend favorites).

After lunch, admire the shimmering reflection of Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in its mirror-like pond and landscaped gardens, learning how this Zen temple became one of Kyoto’s icons.

Finish among the towering stalks of Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, where the light shifts and the breeze creates a gentle rustle—an atmospheric end to the day. Time permitting, stroll by the riverside near Togetsu-kyō Bridge before your drop-off back at Kyoto Station or your hotel.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.