Kyoto & Nara: Todaiji Great Buddha, Deer Park & Kasuga Shrine Tour

Walk with deer under old trees see Todaiji’s Buddha and taste Nara’s quiet

You’ll step from Kyoto into Nara’s calm: standing before Todaiji’s giant Buddha, wandering through Nara Park among curious deer, sharing a Japanese lunch with your group, then finding quiet beneath Kasuga Taisha’s lanterns. It’s not just sightseeing. It feels like borrowing someone else’s memories for an afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Kyoto Stationpass by
2. Kasuga Taisha Shrine45m
3. Todai-ji Temple1h 15m · entry included
4. Yoshikien Garden45m
5. Golden Pavilion50m · entry included

Nara historical sites and lunch

• Depart from Kyoto Station
• Visit Todaiji Temple and see Great Buddha
• Explore Nara Park and see deer
• Have Japanese-style lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine main sanctuary
• Shop for souvenirs at restaurant shop

The experience

We shuffled out of Kyoto Station just after 8, still half-awake and clutching hot cans of coffee. The bus ride to Nara felt like a slow exhale: city edges giving way to green. Our guide, Emi, started telling us about the old capital before we’d even left Kyoto proper. She pointed out rice paddies flashing by and made a joke about how the deer in Nara are “polite but persistent.” I didn’t really get it until later.

Todaiji Temple was first: massive wooden beams and that hush you only get in places older than your country. The Great Buddha inside is so big it almost doesn’t look real. My neck hurt from looking up. There was this faint smell of incense and something damp, maybe moss or old wood? Kids on a school trip giggled when one of them tried to bow to the statue and nearly dropped his phone. I caught myself smiling at that.

Nara Park is right there, basically spilling out from the temple grounds. The deer really do wander everywhere: one nuzzled my bag (probably hoping for crackers). They’re not shy at all. One bowed its head like Emi said they would, which made me laugh harder than I expected. Lunch came next: a simple Japanese set meal in a place with sliding doors and those little lacquered trays. I tried to ask what one dish was (“kaki no ha sushi”?) but probably butchered the pronunciation. The server smiled anyway.

After lunch we walked under lanterns toward Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the path felt cool even though it was midday, all filtered light and stone steps worn smooth by centuries of feet. Emi explained the shrine’s history but honestly, I just remember how quiet it got there. Even with other groups around, it felt like stepping sideways in time for a second or two. On the way back to Kyoto, I watched the fields slip past again and realized I’d barely checked my phone all day, which says something, you know?

What’s included

Your day includes transportation by air-conditioned bus (or train), entry fees for Todaiji Temple to see the Great Buddha up close, time exploring Nara Park among free-roaming deer, a traditional Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant (with shopping opportunity), plus guidance throughout from an English-speaking local guide before returning to Kyoto Station together.

Options for this experience

3 options

Morning Tour to NaraGuide in English · 08:25Runs 5 hours and includes lunch. Morning Nara tour: departs at 8:40, visits Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Todai-ji Temple and the Great Buddha, and Nara Park, then lunch, ending at Kyoto Avanti at 14:15 by bus.

Kyoto Afternoon and Tea CeremonyGuide in English · 14:15A 4-hour afternoon tour without lunch. Kinkaku-ji Temple, then Atelier Kyo-Baum, then a traditional tea ceremony experience.

Nara and Kyoto with a Tea CeremonyGuide in English · 08:25A 10-hour journey with lunch included. Full-day itinerary: Kasuga Taisha Shrine, then Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, then lunch, followed by Kinkaku-ji Temple, Atelier Kyo-Baum and a tea ceremony, travelling by bus.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:25 and 14:15

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the Kyoto to Nara bus tour take?

The guided half-day tour lasts several hours including travel time between Kyoto and Nara.

Is lunch included on this Nara day trip from Kyoto?

Yes, a Japanese-style lunch is included during the tour.

Do you get to see the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple?

Yes, entrance to Todaiji Temple and viewing of the Great Buddha are included.

Are entrance fees covered in this tour?

Entrance fees for Todaiji Temple are included in your booking.

Can you feed or interact with deer in Nara Park?

You can interact with deer in Nara Park. They often approach visitors hoping for treats.

Is pickup from my hotel available?

No hotel pickup is provided. You meet at Kyoto Station before departure.

Is this a private or group tour?

This is a group tour departing from Kyoto Station.

Are there vegetarian or allergy-friendly meal options?

Please inform organizers of allergies or dietary restrictions when booking. Menu changes on tour day aren’t possible.