"Laura was an excellent tour guide - energetic, informative and well-organised. As other reviewers have pointed out, we had enough time at each destination. All in all, a good way to see these three sights in one day."
Nara · 45 Minutes from Kyoto · 1,200 Wild Deer
Nara Day Trip from Kyoto — Free-Roaming Deer & the Great Buddha
A full day at Japan's ancient capital — Todai-ji's world-record-sized bronze Buddha, the bowing deer of Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha's forest shrine, usually bundled with Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama.
From
$51
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.7 / 5 1785+ Reviews
- 9 - 10 hours Duration
- 15 Categories All Kyoto Experiences
- English Guides Local Experts
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What Makes This Nara Day Trip Special
Bus transport included, English-speaking guide, and most tours bundle Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama on the same day.
Highlights
- Feed, pet, and play with cute deer, the divine messengers at Nara Park
- Step into a vibrant vermillion torii gates and feel the mysterious atmosphere
- Seek flourishing careers and endless prosperity at Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Wander the serene bamboo forest, where towering stalks whisper with Zen calm
- Discover Arashiyama’s scenic beauty and its famed World Heritage landmarks
What's Included
- English Speaking Tour guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All taxes, parking fees, gas fees and handling charges
How the Nara Day Trip Works
Four steps from Kyoto Station to Nara Park and back.
Meet in Kyoto
Meet your guide at Kyoto Station at 8:30 AM. Most day tours use a chartered coach; private tours use a private vehicle. Travel time to Nara is 45–60 minutes via expressway.
Todai-ji Temple
Visit Todai-ji, home to the Great Buddha (15m tall, 500 tonnes of bronze, cast in 752 AD). The Daibutsu-den hall is one of the world's largest wooden buildings — your guide explains why earlier versions burned down and how the current 1709 hall was reconstructed.
Feed the Nara Deer
Walk through Nara Park — 500 hectares of open parkland home to 1,200 sika deer. Buy 'shika senbei' deer crackers (¥200) and watch the deer bow for them. The deer are designated national treasures.
Kasuga Taisha & Return
Finish at Kasuga Taisha shrine — a Shinto complex in Nara Park's forest with 3,000 donated stone and bronze lanterns. Return to Kyoto by 5 or 6 PM, usually with a stop at Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama on the way.
Photo Gallery
Nara — Through the Lens
Bowing deer in dappled light, Todai-ji's massive wooden hall, Kasuga Taisha's 3,000 stone lanterns, and the Great Buddha — captured by our guests.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Instant confirmation — free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
More Nara Day Trip Options
6 day-trip options combining Nara with Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and private customizable routes.
TOP RATEDNara Early Morning Tour (Kyoto or Osaka Departure Available)
Nara gets crowded in the afternoon so in our tour we start early to avoid the crowds. This tour ends before noon so you will have time to explore other parts of Nara or make a day trip to Osaka/Kyoto.
TOP RATEDKyoto: Table-Style Tea Ceremony at a Kyo-Machiya
Experience a tea ceremony comfortably using tables and chairs in a traditional Machiya house in Kyoto. Discover the Japanese culture surrounding the tea ceremony.
TOP RATEDKyoto/Osaka: Nara, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari Taisha Day Tour
Discover Nara & Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart in one day: feed and wander among deers, walk into Fushimi Inari's red torii gates, explore Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest, Shrines, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
TOP RATEDFrom Osaka/Kyoto: Arashiyama, Nara Park & Fushimi Inari Tour
Join a day tour from Osaka or Kyoto to visit Kyoto’s top spots—Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Nara Park—with plenty of time to explore. Add an optional lunch of Kobe beef or local specialties.
PRIVATEKyoto: Private Highlights Tour with Guide and Luxury Vehicle
Discover the sights of Kyoto that interest you the most on this customizable sightseeing tour. Alongside a private driver-guide, make an itinerary of your desired attractions.
Guest Reviews
What Visitors Say
5/5
from 1785 verified visitors
"Amy is an incredible and delighful guide who will accommodate to everybody and is the most joyful person! She will provide all the information to know about the heart of Japan and all the location. She speaks a Perfect English and watch out everything and everyone for you to have the best experience. The tour is really full of diversity and you are able to go all around while flaunting the most amazing kimono. She will also provide you all the best recomandation of food regarding which type of meal you asking for. As well as the best location to take the most amazing pictures and will go beyond to get the best angles. Thank you so much Amy."
"Amy was a great tour guide. The places we went were really interesting and we had a lot of time at each location which was perfect!"
"Thanks to our guide Willa, we had a wonderful day."
"Sia was a very nice and kind guide always willing to answer questions, and also gave very clear instructions for the tour. The Nara Deer Park was the funniest part of the tour because you have deers chasing you when they see you with deer snacks. Fushimi-Inari Shrine was the most beautiful place I’ve been because of the path full of tori gates. Wish I had more time to do the full path. Arashiyama bamboo forest was beautiful too. I had time to explore and relax since we had more time to spend there."
"Cici was a great tour guide! Tells you everything you need to know about the areas you’re visiting and guides you there, that’s more than enough for the tour in my opinion, 10/10 experience!"
"Heather was an excellent guide. She explained the history of the DMZ in a very clear, interesting, and easy-to-understand way, which made the whole visit much more meaningful. She was knowledgeable, patient, and very kind throughout the tour, and she made sure everything was well organized and comfortable for the group. I truly enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend her."
"The tour group was extremely fortunate to have Amy as our tour guide, as she was incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to lend a helping hand, keeping everyone informed through WhatsApp."
"Sofie was amazing! Really great day, had a blast. 100% recommended."
"This was a great day out. So many different experiences were packed into it. Our guide was Lee and he was excellent. Very knowledgeable and professional and extremely well organised from start to finish which is essential with large groups. He ensured everyone knew when and where to meet and gave us lots of good advice. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you"
"The trip was great overall. I only wish we had more time in each venue but I think it would not fit into a day’s activity. Chris was a good guide and very easy and helpful. Thank you very much!"
"Tina was very informative guide throughout our trip. We joined WhatsApp group a day earlier to get updates from her. She was instrumental with renting the kimono for the day. Gave us tips for the popular eateries around town. Bus driver was very talented and efficient. We had a great time and highly recommend Tina"
"We had a wonderful time and our guide Tina was an excellent professional. She gave us many information for every stop of the tour and enough time to explore each site on our own."
"We enjoyedour day trip! Our guide Lee was very organized and gave detailed instructions and information for each stop."
"The trip was great. Our tour guide frederick was amazing. He made the tour time in the bus fun and less boring. He is always entertaining us and also guide us on what to do and what not to do for each destination. Thank you Frederick"
"Gayet güzel ve ilginçti, rehberinde yaklaşımı ve bilglendirmesi gayet iyiydi."
"Hi There, I liked Miss Huda’s guides and sharings But Bus quality is not good and seat is not very comfortable. Time allocation for each of place is not sufficient eg long distance tour eg Inamari. Overall is 3.5 stars"
Read all 1785 verified reviews
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Pick the right category for your trip — tea ceremony, geisha experience, sumo show, Fushimi Inari, day trip, or private tour. 119 tours compared with free cancellation. Starting from $51 per person.
Browse All Kyoto ToursFAQ — Nara Day Trip from Kyoto
Everything you need to know about visiting Nara from Kyoto.
Nara is about 45 minutes from Kyoto by train — take the JR Nara line or the Kintetsu-Nara line from Kyoto Station. Both cost around ¥710. Guided day tours use a chartered coach via the Hanshin Expressway (45–60 minutes, depending on traffic).
Yes, if you're staying in Kyoto for 3+ days. Nara has 8 UNESCO sites including Todai-ji (world's largest bronze Buddha), free-roaming deer in Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha shrine. If you only have 1–2 days in Kyoto, skip Nara.
Yes, the 1,200 sika deer in Nara Park are habituated to humans and bow for food (shika senbei rice crackers, ¥200 from vendors). Some are gentle; some are pushy — especially the bucks in autumn. Small kids may be overwhelmed by a group of deer approaching at once.
Todai-ji is home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) — a 15m-tall, 500-tonne bronze statue cast in 752 AD. The Daibutsu-den hall housing it is one of the world's largest wooden buildings. The temple grounds include a famous 'nostril of the Buddha' wooden pillar that kids crawl through for good luck.
Half a day (4 hours) covers Todai-ji, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha. A full day (7–8 hours) adds Kofuku-ji temple, the National Museum, and Naramachi's old merchant district. Most Kyoto-based day tours give you 4–5 hours on the ground in Nara itself.
Kasuga Taisha is a UNESCO-listed Shinto shrine in the forest east of Nara Park, founded in 768 AD. Famous for 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns donated by worshippers. The forest approach path feels genuinely ancient — deer wander freely through the shrine grounds.
Yes — Nara is very easy to visit independently. The sites are concentrated within Nara Park, walkable from Kintetsu-Nara Station. A guided tour adds value mainly for the historical context and for bundling Nara with Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama in one efficient day.
Mostly yes. Nara Park's main paths are paved and flat. Todai-ji's main hall has a wheelchair ramp. Kasuga Taisha's stone paths are uneven but manageable. Avoid the Mount Wakakusa hike if you have mobility concerns — it's a 350m climb.
Kakinoha-zushi (sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves), miwa somen noodles, and sake. Naramachi has several 100-year-old restaurants. Lunch is not usually included on day tours — budget ¥1,500–3,000 for a sit-down meal in the old town.
Very rarely. Officially there are a handful of biting or kicking incidents per year (out of 2 million annual visitors). Follow these rules: don't tease the deer with food, don't bring plastic bags (they'll grab them), and don't approach rutting bucks in October-November.
Still have questions? Email us at info@thingstobookinkyoto.com