A Deeper Look into Nara! | KANSAI NARA Treasure Travel (Nara/Kyoto/Osaka Japan)

PLAN:3DAYS

PRICE FROM 129,000 JPY

per person (for a group of 6 people)

MONTH:JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

TAG:CULTURE/JAPANESE SAKE/NARA/NATURE/PRIVATE TOUR/SHRINES AND TEMPLES

OVERVIEW

This is the perfect tour for those of you who have a couple of days and are looking for a deeper experience of Nara.
Come with us on an adventure, including a visit to Kasugataisha Shrine. It is one of the most popular attractions in all of Nara, a place that truly encompasses the heart and soul of the local people!
1,300 years ago, Kasugataisha Shrine was dedicated to the deity responsible for the protection of the city. Moreover, the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, located behind the shrine, has been protected as a sacred place for over 1,000 years and still exists in the middle of the bustling city thanks to the grace of God and the respectful faith of the locals.

On this tour, you’ll get to enjoy being surrounded by this extraordinary traditional Japanese atmosphere and embark on a private visit to Kasugataisha Shrine. You’ll be escorted on a behind the scenes tour in and around the shrine by a wise priest, and the following day, you’ll get a chance to take a morning walk through the Primeval Forest!

We’ll also be taking you to a very unique Zen Temple, where the entire precinct was designed as a traditional tea ceremony space. Get ready for a genuine tea ceremony experience, and the opportunity to learn about and try the local monk’s vegetarian cuisine.

Next, we’ll visit a lotus temple where you can try meditation and enjoy lotus tea! Thanks to the prosperity of the local shrines and temples, Nara is also famous for the production and development of many types of Japanese cuisine and sake. Nara has been blessed with clean water and an abundance of fertile land to produce rich, tasty vegetables. During the tour, you can also look forward to Nara’s healthy local specialties, vegetarian cuisine offered in the temples, and the famous Nara sake!

DAY01

We'll meet in the morning and make our way to visit the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a surreal area immersed in the sacred atmosphere of the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Get ready to be escorted by a Kasuga Taisha priest on an unforgettable private tour of the main complex of this ancient shrine.
Enjoy one of Nara’s local specialties for lunch, a kind of tea porridge at a popular restaurant located near the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Next, we’ll explore Naramachi, a traditional neighborhood with many well-preserved buildings and architecture built during the Edo era, about 300 years ago. On your stroll around Naramachi, you can stop for some sake tasting in a brewery that has a long history of relations with Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and is known for brewing sake that is used as an offering to the deity of Kasuga Taisha. Since Naramachi is a giant showcase area full of Japanese cultural activities, keep in mind that you can take part in various optional activities such as, nigiri sumi workshops, sumi calligraphy, pottery, and much more!
Check in to your hotel for a relaxing evening and get ready for an amazing adventure tomorrow!

Basic stay plan: "Setre Naramachi", a standard hotel located in Naramachi. You’ll have the option of a full course dinner at the hotel served with Nara-grown vegetables and beef, or head out to a restaurant in Naramachi. We can definitely recommend some amazing restaurants out in the city!

Luxury stay plan: “Tsukihitei,” a Japanese style ryokan where guests can enjoy authentic Japanese Kaiseki cuisine, listed in the Michelin Guide! Enjoy a precious experience staying overnight in the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, a World Heritage Site with a tranquil and sacred atmosphere.
DAY02

Start your day with a walk from the top of Mt. Wakakusa down through the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, a comfortable distance taking approximately 1 hour in total. The top of the mountain is located 342 meters above sea level and has a spectacular view overlooking a few of the World Heritage Sites in Nara. You may even be able to see some deer! Make your way down through the lush Primeval Forest and feel the serene atmosphere and quietness in the air.
We’ll then take you to an impressive Zen Temple. This temple is quite exceptional and unique considering every aspect of it, including the entrance gate, path leading to the buildings, tea ceremony rooms, and garden were designed with the intention to welcome guests to tea ceremony. This masterpiece of design was created by Sekishu Katagiri, one of the great distinguished masters of tea ceremony. Enjoy your private guided tour with a local monk, whose wife will be showing you the proper tea ceremony etiquette and procedures. Her easy going character will put your mind at ease as you learn about the intricacies of this traditional artform. Here, you can also savor their fantastic “Shojin Ryori,” the vegetarian cuisine commonly served to Buddhist monks!
Check into your hotel and enjoy your stay in the southern Nara Basin.

Basic stay plan: The “Kashihara,” a standard hotel. You can have the option of dinner at the hotel or out in the town at a local restaurant. We will be happy to offer a few recommendations if you decide to go out.

Luxury stay plan: “L'Auberge De Plaisance Sakurai.” This hotel features a new style of French cuisine unique to Japan, combining high quality ingredients produced in the fertile lands of Nara along with the techniques of French cuisine.
DAY03

In the morning, we’ll take you to a lotus temple located in Gojo City, a town located at the entrance to the Kii Peninsula’s scenic southern mountains. A kind monk, who is also a doctor of biological science, takes care of the many lotuses in the precinct. He’ll guide you through the temple to a place where you can try meditation, followed by a break with a cup of lotus tea.
For lunch, we’ll take you for a special treat at a one-star Michelin restaurant in Gojo City! This spectacular restaurant exists within a traditional 250-year-old building, and its chefs take a sophisticated approach in creating art-like dishes that showcase Nara’s unusual local vegetables at their best. The head chef often visits local farms to seek inspiration for his menu, and serves Japanese style set courses that are deeply influenced by the seasons. The chef will be happy to explain each dish or answer any questions you may have, as he wants you to learn about and enjoy Gojo food culture. He’ll most likely recommend that you try the concept of “marriage” with his cuisine (or in other words, pairing certain types of sake with each type of food) including a wide variety of Nara’s sake.
After lunch, we’ll go our separate ways as you head out for Osaka, Wakayama or wherever your next destination may be. You can even spend more time exploring this nostalgic old town. Thank you for traveling with us!

PRICE DETAILS

PRICE

129,000 JPY per person (for a group of 6 people)

PRICE INCLUDES

2 Nights’ Accommodation　
2 Breakfasts / 3 Lunches / 2 Dinners
3 days chartered car with Driver
Admission fees
Activity fees
English-speaking guide
Full support from your Travel
Concierge before, during and after your trip

CAR

1-2 travelers: Sedan
3-6 travelers: Jumbo taxi
Driver+English-Speaking Tour Guide