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NARA: Giant Buddha, Deer Pagoda, "Geisha" (Italian, full day)

Top rated
4.2
Activity provider: Agenzia Turisti Italiani in Giappone
NARA: Giant Buddha, Deer Pagoda, "Geisha" (Italian, full day)
NARA: Giant Buddha, Deer Pagoda, "Geisha" (Italian, full day) 2
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Full-day tour in Nara, taking in Tōdai-ji, On foot and Ukimido Pavilion. Run by Agenzia Turisti Italiani in Giappone, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Train
  • Bus/coach
  • Tōdai-ji
  • Ukimido Pavilion
  • Runs full day
  • Transportation fares (trains and buses) included in the tour

NARA: Giant Buddha, Deer Pagoda, "Geisha" (Italian, full day): Key Facts

PriceFrom $191 per person
DurationFull day
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a experience from Nara, built around Train, Bus/coach and Tōdai-ji. It is run by Agenzia Turisti Italiani in Giappone, 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.

Gion is Kyoto's historic entertainment district, the streets of wooden machiya houses around Hanamikoji where the geiko and maiko of the Gion Kobu district still work. They are working professionals on their way to engagements, not performers for the street, and Kyoto has banned photography in the private lanes; an evening walk with a guide who explains the ochaya system is the respectful way to see it. Tea ceremony sessions in Gion teach the basic form of matcha preparation in an hour. Kimono rental for a day, with dressing and hair, is an established business around the district and is welcomed rather than resented.

The price covers Transportation fares, Entrance fees to the monuments to be visited as per the, Explanatory illustration and Practical information. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

Kyoto Station. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Agenzia Turisti Italiani in Giappone 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

Kyoto Station

Train

(45 minutes)

Bus/coach

(15 minutes)

Tōdai-ji

Visit, Guided tour, Shopping, Sightseeing (1.5 hours)

On foot

(5 minutes)

Ukimido Pavilion

Visit, Walk, Pass by (10 minutes)

On foot

(10 minutes)

Kyoto Station

Break time (1 hour)

On foot

(15 minutes)

Kiyomizu-dera

Visit, Guided tour (1 hour)

On foot

(20 minutes)

Gion

Visit, Guided tour (20 minutes)

Finish at

Pontocho

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: Kyoto Station

Train: (45 minutes)

Bus/coach: (15 minutes)

Tōdai-ji: Visit, Guided tour, Shopping, Sightseeing (1.5 hours)

On foot: (5 minutes)

Ukimido Pavilion: Visit, Walk, Pass by (10 minutes)

On foot: (10 minutes)

Kyoto Station: Break time (1 hour)

Includes

  • Transportation fares (trains and buses) included in the tour.
  • Entrance fees to the monuments to be visited as per the program.
  • Explanatory illustration (in Italian) of all the historical monuments visited on the itinerary.
  • Practical information (on request and free of charge) about traveling in Japan in general.

Important information

Meeting point

Kyoto Station

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 Full day
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $191
$191
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

4.2/5
based on 17 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.3/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
m
massimo
May 30, 2026

Omae è fantastico e instancabile, molto preparata e disponibile. Una sicurezza. Ci ha consigliato anche un ottimo ristorante a prezzi incredibili. Giornata fantastica. Consigliatissima

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
G
Giuseppe
October 29, 2024

Il tour è stato perfetto. La nostra guida locale, Omae, parla un perfetto italiano ed oltre a spiegarci in maniera impeccabile cosa stavamo visitando e guardando, ci ha raccontato le diverse leggende mitologiche sui luoghi e sugli oggetti. Ci ha accompagnato assecondando anche le nostre richieste sempre in maniera gentile e lasciandoci anche il giusto spazio per esplorare e fotografare in libertà.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
C
Chiara
April 17, 2025

Omae è stata una guida eccezionale di una cultura vastissima, sense of humour e un italiano perfetto (ha vissuto in Italia per oltre un decennio). Vale assolutamente la pena!

5
P
Pierfrancesco
October 22, 2024

Guida preparatissima e simpaticissima, illustra i monumenti e risponde a tutte le nostre domande in un italiano forbito, tour completo e esaustivo, consigliamo caldamente.

5
T
Traveller
August 15, 2024

Ottima escursione Tempi giusti e soprattutto guida giapponese super!!

4
T
Traveller
May 30, 2024

Buona ma poteva essere più completa considerando il tempo a disposizione e l’importo pagato. La guida e’ cordiale e precisa.

5
T
Traveller
April 29, 2024

Escursione di famiglia, piacevole e unica grazie alla location suggestiva e alla bravura di Omae, la nostra guida, giapponese vissuto in Italia per un po' di anni, simpatico e preparato. Consigliamo!

5
J
Julia
April 21, 2024

Esperienza assolutamente da fare se si arriva a Kyoto! I luoghi che abbiamo visitato sono davvero bellissimi e la guida è stata davvero simpatica, accogliente e instancabile! Parla perfettamente l’italiano! Super consigliato

5
C
Claudio
March 28, 2024

Un'esperienza completa e unica. La guida vi accompagnerá parlando italiano perfettamente, spiegando con competenza i siti visitati e arricchendo la storia di questi con chicche e fatti interessanti. Un must per chi visita Kyoto, lasciandosi trasportare dalla simpatia e professionalità del cicerone Omae-san!

4
L
Luigi
January 4, 2024

un ottimo tour in italiano, la nostra guida molto preparata, grazie lo consiglio

Frequently Asked Questions

Kyoto Station
Not in the private lanes of Gion, where Kyoto has banned photography, and not close up anywhere: a maiko on the street is on her way to work. Your guide will say where a photograph is acceptable. Tea ceremony and kimono sessions include photographs as part of the session.
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.
Transportation fares (trains and buses) included in the tour., Entrance fees to the monuments to be visited as per the program., Explanatory illustration (in Italian) of all the historical monuments visited on the itinerary., Practical information (on request and free of charge) about traveling in Japan in general.
The duration of the NARA: Giant Buddha, Deer Pagoda, "Geisha" (Italian, full day) is typically Full day. 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$191