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3 UNESCO Sites Tour with Big Buddha and Deer in Nara

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: Planet Japan合同会社
3 UNESCO Sites Tour with Big Buddha and Deer in Nara
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3-hour tour in Nara, taking in Kofukuji Temple, Nara Park and Tōdai-ji. Run by Planet Japan合同会社, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Kofukuji Temple
  • Nara Park
  • Tōdai-ji
  • Kasuga-taisha
  • Runs 3 hours
  • Private and personalized guided tour

3 UNESCO Sites Tour with Big Buddha and Deer in Nara: Key Facts

PriceFrom $123.5 per person
Duration3 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

3 UNESCO Sites Tour with Big Buddha and Deer in Nara

3-hour tour in Nara, taking in Kofukuji Temple, Nara Park and Tōdai-ji. Run by Planet Japan合同会社, booked direct rather th...
3 hours
English
$123.5
Free cancellation

Full description

This is a 3-hour experience in Nara, built around Kofukuji Temple, Nara Park and Tōdai-ji. It is run by Planet Japan合同会社, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Nara was Japan's first permanent capital, from 710 to 784, and its park holds Todai-ji, whose Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and contains a 15-metre bronze Buddha cast in 752, Kasuga Taisha with its three thousand lanterns, and about 1,200 sika deer that are considered messengers of the gods and are protected. The deer bow for the shika senbei crackers sold in the park and will butt anyone who teases them. Nara is 45 minutes from Kyoto or Osaka by train and is a half-day; Todai-ji before 10:00 is the quiet hour.

The price covers Private and personalized guided tour and recommendations from your guide. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

近鉄奈良駅. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Planet Japan合同会社 before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Starting location

近鉄奈良駅

Kofukuji Temple

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Nara Park

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Tōdai-ji

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Kasuga-taisha

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: 近鉄奈良駅

Kofukuji Temple: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Nara Park: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Tōdai-ji: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (30 minutes)

Kasuga-taisha: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

Includes

  • Private and personalized guided tour
  • Local recommendations from your guide

Important information

Meeting point

近鉄奈良駅

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $123.5
$123.5
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.8/5
based on 42 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
A
Alana
June 30, 2026

Very rainy but still very beautiful. A wonderful experience.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
E
Eva
May 12, 2026

This was an excellent tour. Perfect day away from the chaos of Osaka. Shige was our guide and he went above and beyond sharing the history of Nara and even helped us find a great curry spot for lunch. Of all the day tours we did while in Japan, this one was the best. Thank you Shige for the great tour.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
J
Jekabs
August 27, 2026

We booked a spontaneous tour through Nara Park yesterday. We had read the reviews beforehand and hoped to get Ken as our guide — luckily, that’s exactly what happened! Ken did a wonderful job. He explained everything about Shinto and Buddhism to us and gave us so much extra information that wasn’t even included in the tour. We had an amazing time! I can only recommend this tour, everyone should experience it at least once. Thank you so much again, Ken — it was incredibly fascinating and so much fun.

5
F
Francisco
August 19, 2026

Excelent tour!! Ken was the nicest guide with very big acknowledgment of the place and history, We didnt miss a part, and enjoy every moment.

5
U
Ursa
July 26, 2026

We loved the tour. Mr. Shigeki was a great guide and very easy to talk to. :)

5
N
Nadia
July 13, 2026

Very nice and interesting trip around the beautiful Nara park. I recommend to have a guide for visiting this location full of history and amazing temples. Kazumasa, our guide, was very efficient and made the trip more pleasant.

5
A
Anusha
July 11, 2026

We had Kenichiro as our guide. He was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Very keen to showcase Japan and great company. We visited Nara park, Todai-ji temple, Kofu-Ji temple, Kasuga Taisha, Nara park and had the best time ever. We had detailed descriptions of all of the above and it was truly enjoyable. We learned a great deal and had a wonderful day. Thank you Ken

5
T
Terry
July 6, 2026

We enjoyed our guide Shigeki very much. He gave us lots of good information about the area and walked us to the most important sites. His English was good and we found him very kind, “down to earth” and easy to talk to. He took good pictures of us during our walking tour. He met us right as we came out of the train station and brought us to a nice restaurant at the end of the tour.

5
R
Ruben
July 2, 2026

The experience was extraordinary; our guide, Sigueki, consistently demonstrated his knowledge and great willingness to help. We saw everything we needed to see, right on schedule. Many thanks.

5
A
Ashley
June 26, 2026

My daughter (15) and I had a great day with Ken who was fantastic. We ran into traffic on the way there and Ken was so understanding and patient. Though it was raining most of the day the temperature was very mild and actually comfortable. The rain created a somewhat magical, mystical experience. It was fantastic and we would do it again, even in the rain. Thank you to Ken for an unforgettable experience with my daughter!

5
n
nicole
April 20, 2026

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The guide was knowledgeable and a genuinely wonderful person.

5
I
Ingrid
April 3, 2026

Our tour guide Rafael was exceptional. He was so accomodating to our needs and was flexible. He made this tour so pleasant even on a rainy day. He gave us a lot of historical and valuable details. We loved our tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

近鉄奈良駅
Shoes off at every hall, quiet voices, and no photographs inside the halls unless a sign allows it. At a shrine, rinse hands and mouth at the basin, then bow twice, clap twice and bow once; at a temple, hands together without clapping. Dress is relaxed, but shoulders and knees covered is the courteous choice.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Private and personalized guided tour, Local recommendations from your guide
The duration of the 3 UNESCO Sites Tour with Big Buddha and Deer in Nara is typically 3 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom in Nara Park, or mid-to-late November for autumn colour around Todai-ji — our pick for the best overall balance of weather and crowds. Full season breakdown in our best time to visit Nara guide.
Yes, generally — they're unusually tame from centuries of protected contact with visitors. Buy shika senbei crackers (~¥200) from a licensed vendor, and be extra cautious during October-December rutting season, when Nara city issues an annual warning about more assertive bucks. Full etiquette in our Nara deer park guide.
A 15-metre bronze Buddha cast in 752 CE, one of the largest bronze statues in the world, housed in the Daibutsuden — once the largest wooden building on Earth. History and what to look for inside is in our Todai-ji temple guide.
Both work well — about 45 minutes from Kyoto, 35-40 minutes from Osaka via Kintetsu. Train options and a realistic day schedule are in our Nara day trip guide.
A comfortable half day (about 4 hours) covers Nara Park, Todai-ji and the walk to Kasuga Taisha. Our Nara half-day itinerary breaks it down hour by hour.
Starting from$123.5