Through this tour you will be intrigued with the charm of Buddhist statuary, which represents people's wishes and prayers. Figures of statues vary according to the development of eras from Asuka period to Muromachi period. At the same time you can
Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station
Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station
This tour is designed for those who are interested in the sightseeing of famous spots in Nara and peeping into the world of Buddhist statuary. The itinerary includes Kohfukuji Temple ( the national treasure museum）, Isuien Garden, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine and strolling in Nara Machi ( an ancient quarter of Nara).
Nara, an ancient capital of Japan, boasts both the quality and quantity of Buddhist statues throughout Japan. Among many temples in Nara, Kohfukuji and Todaiji Temples are ranked top two in housing Buddhist images, which are manifestations of people's wishes and prayers. You can also enjoy visiting Kasuga Grand Shrine located in the midst of natural forests. The vermilion color of the shrine buildings contrast strikingly with the greenery of the surrounding area.
On the last corner of the tour you can appreciate the local sake at a sake brewery in Nara Machi. ( If you cannot drink alcoholic beverage, you can drink tea or coffee at a cafe nearby.) Last but not least, why does the statue of Ashura look so sad though he was a deity of wars in an ancient Indian religion? The answer is given during the tour.
guide fee
lunch, entrance fee ( ￥2400) for Kohfukuji Temple ( the national treasure house ) Isuien Garden and Todaiji Temple ( the Great Buddha Hall and Hokke-do Hall ) and local sake tasting (￥500) at the sake brewery.
It is desirable to carry overseas travel insurance because the guide is not liable for any damage or loss incurred during the tour. It is also requested to bring enough Japanese yen with you because some restaurants and taxis do not accept credit cards.
This is a walking tour and it is desirable that you wear walking shoes or sneakers. A pet bottle of water is to be carried with you.
There cannot possibly be a better, more gracious, helpful guide in Kyoto than Yoshihisa. We had an amazing, busy day, seeing exactly what we wanted to see (we don’t like too many temples but he chose ones we adored) and helped us learn the train and purchase IC cards. Highly recommend. From a family of four Canadians, including two adult children
Hi Kim. I appreciate your superb comment on my tour today. I had a very pleasant time, guiding and talking with you all. I hope our paths will cross again someday soon during the cherry blossom or autumn foliage season. Would you give my best regards to Richard, please? Best wishes. Yoshie
As a guide, Yoshie is an excellent and knowledgeable guide, able to handle subject regarding the tour and general Japanese history and culture. As a person, he is extremely personable, allowing us into his daily life that provided us with an intimate view into the real Japanese culture. We could not have had a better day than the one we had today. Arigato gozaimasu!
Hi Mike. Thank you so much for your excellent review for my tour today. I had a very pleasant time guiding and talking with you two. I am glad that you tried to learn Japanese phrases and our culture, including our dishes and ways of having nice time in the evening. I hope you will have a nice time in Japan and return home safely with lots of nice memories of Japan. Ichigo Ichie Yoshie
We took the tour with Yoshie-san on the Golden Route in Kyoto visiting multiple shrines and temples and the Arashiyama Bamboo forest. I had been communicating with Yoshie-san as soon as our Japan trip was finalized. Even outside of the tour, he has been very communicative and helpful in discussing the logistics of the trip and also in catering to our customization request of the tour. He arrived very promptly at the Kyoto train station and we had no problem in identifying him. After the morning visits we had a sumptuous lunch at a boutique restaurant catering to my vegetarian cuisine request. It was a fun day of travel by multiple trains and walks with an excellent coverage. I highly recommend Yoshie-san for as greqt experience and good coverage. Thank You Yoshie-san and GoWithGuide !!
Hi Suresh-San. I appreciate your excellent review for my tour in Kyoto. I also had a great time guiding and talking with you all. I am very pleased to learn that you spent a pleasant time on my tour, My Favorite Golden Route. Be sure to get in touch if you have another chance of visiting Kansai district. Best wishes. Yoshie
The tour we made with Ioshie was awesome. He is a very kind man, that knows everything about japan’s history and took us to special places, that we will never forget. Besides, he tough us important things about Japanese culture (for instance, how to pray in a budist shrine). Definitely, it was one of our favorite days in this unforgettable trip. Thanks, Ioshie, for being so special and love what you do. Gabi, Marcelo, Vini, Henrique and Enzo
Hi Gabi. Thank you very much for your heart-warming review for my tour in Kyoto. It was terribly hot but I had a great time guiding and talking with you and your family. I hope you will continue a pleasant trip in Nara, Osaka and Tokyo. With best wishes. Yoshie