Nara tour with 4 UNESCO temples and shrine: Feed the deer

Eight hours among 1,200 deer and four UNESCO heritage sites

This eight-hour guided tour of Nara uses public transportation to visit four UNESCO heritage sites (three temples and one shrine) plus a Japanese garden, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide included. The tour centers on Nara Park, where you feed and touch wild deer that roam freely, and includes Todai-ji Temple, the world's largest wooden structure, which houses a 15-meter Great Buddha statue built in 752. Public transportation return tickets between your hotel and the tour destination are optional. Lunch is provided for the guide but food and drinks are your choice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Nara Park1h
2. Todai-ji Temple1h
3. Kasuga Taisha Shrine1h

Explore Nara's historic sites and park

• Visit Nara Park and feed deer
• Tour Kofukuji Temple and pagoda
• Walk through Isui-en Japanese garden
• Explore Todai-ji Temple and Great Buddha
• See Negatsudo Hall and water ritual
• Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine and lanterns

The experience

The tour starts with a pickup from your hotel and takes you into Nara Park, where roughly 1,200 deer live as messengers of the Kasuga shrine deity. You'll feed and interact with them throughout the day. They're central to the experience, not a side note. From there, the route moves through four stops: Kofukuji Temple, founded in 726, where a five-storied pagoda rises above Sarusawa Pond; Isui-en, a Japanese garden on the way to the main temple; Todai-ji Temple itself, built in 752 with labor from 2.8 million people; and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, which was founded to protect Nara when it was the capital from 710 to 794.

The guide handles the route using public transportation, so you're not arranging buses or trains yourself. Todai-ji Temple is the centerpiece. It's the largest wooden building in the world and contains the Great Buddha, a 15-meter bronze statue that dominates the main hall. Negatsudo Hall, which stands near Todai-ji, is also on the itinerary. It's the site of a water-drawing ritual ceremony held every March since 752. At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, you'll see the lanterns that light the grounds in February and August: 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns that recreate the atmosphere of Nara's ancient period. The tour requires a moderate level of fitness and involves walking between sites. Children under three are not recommended for this tour.

Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to remove hats and sunglasses when entering the main sanctuary areas of shrines and temples. Photography is prohibited in certain areas, so the guide will point out where you can and cannot take pictures. The eight-hour day ends with a return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• escort guiding service in English.
• entry to four UNESCO heritage sites (three temples and one shrine) plus a Japanese garden.
• the ability to feed and interact with wild deer in Nara Park throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Fulfilling Inc.

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't arrange your own transport to the starting point, and the guide handles all public transportation between sites, so this tour works whether you're staying in central Nara or elsewhere in the region without a rental car.

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Top questions

What's inside Todai-ji Temple that makes it worth the trip?

Todai-ji Temple houses a 15-meter tall Great Buddha statue, a bronze sculpture cast in 752. The temple itself is the largest wooden structure in the world, built with contributions from 2.8 million people during the Nara period, and the scale of both the building and the statue is what draws most visitors to this stop.

Can I really feed and touch the deer in Nara Park?

Yes. Roughly 1,200 wild deer roam freely in Nara Park and are accustomed to visitors. Feeding and touching them is part of the tour experience, and they're considered messengers of the Kasuga shrine deity, so they're central to Nara's identity rather than a novelty.

How does the public transportation work if I don't have a car?

The guide leads the group using public transportation to move between the four temples, the shrine, and the garden, so you don't need to arrange buses or trains yourself. Your hotel pickup is included. Public transportation return tickets between your hotel and the tour destination are optional and can be added at checkout.

What is Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and why is it on the tour?

Kasuga Taisha Shrine was founded in 710 to protect Heijyo-kyo, Nara's capital during the Nara period. It's a national shrine lit by 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns in February and August, creating an atmosphere that takes you back to ancient times.

Is lunch included, and what about drinks or snacks?

Lunch is provided for the guide as part of the tour. Food, drinks, and snacks for you are optional and can be arranged at checkout. You can also bring your own or purchase items along the route.

What should I know before I book about what's not allowed?

Remove hats and sunglasses when entering the main sanctuary areas of shrines and temples as a sign of respect. Photography is prohibited in certain areas. The guide will indicate where you can and cannot take pictures. The tour is not recommended for children under three, and you'll need a moderate level of fitness for the walking involved.