Osaka & Nara, an ancient capital and a city of food

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  Osaka Castle

  The great keep above massive stone walls and moats, rebuilt in 1931 and now a museum of the castle’s story. Lit beautifully after dark.

• 

  Dotonbori

  Neon, the canal and Osaka’s street food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki and grilled skewers of seafood. At its liveliest in the early evening.

• 

  Kuromon Market

  Around 150 stalls of seafood, wagyu, fruit and sweets. Mario steers you to the counters locals use, late morning, before it gets crowded.

• 

  Todai-ji

  The Great Buddha Hall, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, shelters a bronze Buddha about 15 meters tall. Arrive at opening for the calmest visit.

• 

  Nara Park’s deer

  Over a thousand deer, considered messengers of the gods, roam freely. Mario shows you how to feed them gently and when to keep your distance.

• 

  Kasuga Taisha

  A vermilion shrine in an ancient forest, with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns lining its paths.

1. 08:30Hotel lobby pick-up in Osaka or Kyoto and a train or car to Nara.
2. 09:30Todai-ji and the Great Buddha, before the school groups and tour buses.
3. 11:00Nara Park’s deer and the forest walk to Kasuga Taisha.
4. 12:30Lunch in Naramachi’s old merchant quarter, then the train to Osaka.
5. 15:00Osaka Castle and its grounds.
6. 17:30Dotonbori as the lights come on, with a street-food walk or a reserved wagyu dinner.

• From Osaka-Namba, the Kintetsu line reaches Nara in about 40 minutes and stops a short walk from the park.
• Deer bow when they see deer crackers; keep paper bags and maps out of reach, and do not tease them.
• Kuromon is best from late morning; many stalls close by late afternoon.
• Osaka is a natural base for Kansai with Kansai International Airport (KIX) about an hour away.

¥69,600 · full day · 8 h · for the whole private group (half day ¥45,600 · 4 h)

Trains, admissions, meals and any private car with driver are paid separately, at cost. Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. All prices

1. 01

   Kyoto

   Kiyomizu-dera · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Arashiyama

   Full day · 8 h · Private group

   ¥69,600for the whole private group
2. 02

   Tokyo

   Senso-ji and Kaminarimon · Meiji Jingu · Shibuya

   Full day · 8 h · Private group

   ¥69,600for the whole private group
3. 03

   Mount Fuji & Hakone

   Lake Kawaguchi · Oshino Hakkai · Lake Ashi

   Long day trip · beyond 8 h · Private group

   from ¥84,000for the whole private group
4. 04

   Nikko & Kamakura

   Shinkyo Bridge · Kegon Falls · Lake Chuzenji

   Long day trip · beyond 8 h · Private group

   from ¥84,000for the whole private group