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Home3-Day Walking Tour Of Kyoto, Nara & Osaka Highlights
Description
Embark on a walking tour of the former capital cities of Japan, starting with visits to the hotspots of Nara, such as Kasuga Taisha Shrine and see wild deers at Nara Park. Next, head to Kyoto to explore the majestic Nijo Castle and the ancient Daitoku-Ji Temple and enjoy a Kimono show at Nishijin Textile Center. Finally, marvel at the architecture of the Umeda Sky Building and visit the Osaka Jyo Castle area.
Highlights
- Visit the Todai-Ji area with a south big gate, giant Buddha, and several attached temples
- Pay your respects at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a well-renowned power spot
- Check out the traditional townhouses at Nara machi area
- Explore Nishijin Textile Center for a Kimono show and Kimono wearing experience
- Wander around Osaka Jyo Castle area, which has Hideyoshi’s headquarters built in 1598
- Shop at the Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street
Itinerary Expand All Collapse All
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Day 1: Nara - JR expand_more
08:00 am- Get ready at your hotel and leave for JR Nara Station.
09:20 am- Visit the Todai-Ji area with a big south gate, giant Buddha, and several attached temples, such as Nigatsu-do
11:10 am- Pay your respects at Kasuga Taisha Shrine: a well-renowned power spot, and you have to feel significant power when you go through God’s forest.
01:40 pm- After having lunch, explore Nara Park. Wild deers will say hello to you, ask you to give them rice-crackers here. Then leave for the Kofuku-Ji Temple, where a Five-storied stupa can be seen from the Sarusawa, which represents the old capital and is located inside the park.
03:30 pm- Proceed to Nara machi area. See traditional townhouses with gratings, together with retrospective Japanese restaurants and cafes.
05:20 pm- Head to Nanba Station and walk along the Dotonbori area.
06:30 pm- Go to Ganko Sushi, Hozen-Ji and have dinner at a Japanese restaurant.
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Day 2: Kyoto / JR expand_more
09:10 am- Visit the JR Kyoto Station. This is a major architectural masterpiece, comprising of a huge glass façade, a grand staircase, an aerial walkway from where you can enjoy a magnificent vista of Kyoto.
10:30 am- Visit the Nijo Castle. Walk down a corridor of the palace to hear a nightingale’s song.
11:40 am- Walk in the Arashiyama Park and see the Tenryu-Ji temple, Bamboo forest, Rakushisya, and Togetsu-Kyo bridge.
12:30 pm- Have lunch; Soba or Udon noodles.
02:20 pm- See the Daitoku-ji Temple. This old temple consists of more than ten sub-temples, each of which has a famous history that has appeared in the school texts.
03:00 pm- Go to the Nishijin Textile Center for a Kimono show and Kimono wearing experience.
04:30 pm- Walk in the Nishiki Market. This kitchen of the old capital comprises about 130 shops selling a variety of Japanese foods.
06:00 pm- Have dinner at a Japanese restaurant.
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Day 3: Osaka / JR, metro expand_more
09:00 am- Head to the Umeda Sky Building. The Sky Building is a 40-story high-rise (173 meters high) twin building, the top of which is connected by the observation deck. You can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views, including that of Awaji Island (more than 70 km away), when the sky is clear.
10:30 am- Head to the Osaka Jyo Castle area, which has Hideyoshi's headquarters built in 1598 when the top warlord completed dominating the whole country of Japan and the Osaka Museum of History wherein you can explore time travel from the era of Old capital (7th century) to the modern Great Osaka.
12:30 pm- Have lunch at Chibo Dotonbori ("Okonomiyaki" Osaka local food); Thin and flat pancake cooked on a hot plate with bits of meat, seafood, and chopped cabbages.
02:30 pm- Go to the Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street and see kitchenware or many kinds of daily tools shops near Dotonbori. You can see many Japanese tools.
What's Included
English speaking Japanese tour guide fee
What's Excluded
Entry fee (for tourists): Approximately 2,500 (two thousand and five hundred) JPY each at a maximum of one day
Transportation (for tourists and the guide): Less than 2,500 (two thousand and five hundred) JPY each at a maximum of one day
Lunch or dinner (for tourists): Less than 2,500 (two thousand and five hundred) JPY each at a maximum
Any unexpected expenses (for tourists): Less than 1,000 (one thousand) JPY each at a maximum
Know before you go
All the “Must-see” spots in Nara, Kyoto and Osaka are included.
The tour is a bit flexible, depending upon the guest’s interest, since it is an excursion-style, taking advantage of walking and public transportation such as city bus and/or subway.
Guests can enjoy local cuisines to their hearts’ content in Kyoto and Osaka at a reasonable price if special requests are informed in advance.
In order to make the tour comfortable, let me keep 10,000 JPY/ each in advance when we meet at the hotel on the first day, so I can prepare entrance fees, bus or railway tickets for you all.
The fees are for the following purposes: (a) admission/entrance fee (for tourists) and (b) transportation (for tourists and the Japanese tour guide).
The course is a “Golden Route” around the 3 old capitals. You must feel the awe-inspiring atmosphere, being surprised to see the fruits of religion-based cohesive power in Nara. Kyoto used to be the capital for no less than 1,100 years when the internationally famous city had nurtured sophisticated Japanese cultures. You have to be welcomed everywhere in the easygoing merchants’ city of Osaka.
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.Price Details
| Standard | |
| 1 To 4 | USD 972 Per Person |
This is a private tour | |