Nara & Uji Day Trip: Cute Deer, Matcha Experience, and Hot Spring

Duration10h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesChinese, Japanese, English

Group sizeUp to 40 travelers

Overview

In Nara Park, feed bowing deer. Then journey to Uji for matcha or a hot spring. A Kansai tour blending sacred deer, ancient temples, tea, and relaxation.

Feed the Deer – Stroll Nara Park with free deer crackers. Enjoy deer bowing for food—they may nudge you for a fun memory.

Temple & Shrine – At own expense: see Todaiji's Great Buddha (world's largest wooden building) or Kasuga Taisha's 2,000+ stone lanterns.

Two Uji Choices
– Matcha: Stroll Byodoin Omotesando, see World Heritage Byodoin (Phoenix Hall on 10-yen coin)or The Tale of Genji Museum. Try matcha parfait or soba at old shops.
– Onsen: After 1.5 hours in Uji, take a shuttle to Genji no Yu (fee) for natural hot spring water from 1,111m underground.

What's included

08:40 Meet at Nipponbashi Station, Exit 2 (Namba / Shinsaibashi area)
Professional guide
Each group receives one complimentary pack of deer crackers to feed the adorable deer.
18:30 Tour concludes and disbands at Nipponbashi Station, Exit 2 area
Professional driver

Personal expenses
Attraction entrance fees

What to expect

1h

Nara Park covers about 660 hectares and is home to over a thousand sika deer, regarded as sacred messengers of the gods. Visitors can feed the deer special crackers and interact closely with them. The park is also dotted with multiple World Heritage sites including Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, creating a harmonious blend of natural scenery and historical landmarks.
30m · Admission ticket not included

Todai-ji Temple is the head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism in Japan. Established in 728 AD and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, its Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden structure in the world, standing approximately 48 meters tall and housing a colossal statue of Vairocana Buddha over 15 meters high. The Nandai-mon (Great South Gate) is guarded by two fierce Niō statues, each about 8 meters tall, creating an awe-inspiring sight.
Kasuga Grand Shrine
30m · Admission ticket included

Founded in 768 AD, Kasuga Taisha Shrine was built as the guardian shrine of the powerful Fujiwara clan and serves as the head shrine of approximately 3,000 Kasuga shrines across Japan. As you walk along the forested approach, the brilliant vermilion shrine buildings stand out elegantly against the lush greenery. Over 2,000 stone and hanging lanterns line the grounds, creating a serene and sacred atmosphere, and when all the lanterns are lit at dusk, the scene becomes particularly enchanting.
Byodoin Temple
2m · Admission ticket included

Byodo-in Temple was founded in 1052 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The Phoenix Hall, which is a designated National Treasure of Japan and appears on the 10-yen coin, features an architectural plan symbolizing the form of a phoenix spreading its wings. Its reflection on the Aji-ike pond represents the Pure Land Paradise of Amitabha Buddha. The hall is crowned with a pair of phoenix statues on its roof, making it a true masterpiece of Japanese architectural history.
30m · Admission ticket included

The Tale of Genji Museum is the world’s only public museum dedicated to Japan’s greatest classical literary masterpiece, The Tale of Genji. Through models, films, and immersive exhibits, the museum vividly brings to life the elegant aristocratic world of the protagonist, Hikaru Genji, along with the “Ten Chapters of Uji”, which are set in Uji. A library housing over 3,000 volumes is also available for visitors interested in further exploration.
30m · Admission ticket included

Genji-no-Yu is the only natural hot spring facility within Uji city. Its spring water gushes from 1,111 meters underground, earning it the reputation of “millennia-old warmth”. The facility features three indoor baths, one open-air bath, and a sauna. The chloride-rich spring water is known for its skin-moisturizing properties and lasting warmth. Built in a traditional Japanese architectural style, it creates a serene and healing atmosphere reminiscent of a hidden mountain onsen.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The tour guide will wait for guests at the station exit while holding a yellow guide flag.
Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure, as the tour will depart promptly and will not wait for latecomers.

End point

The tour guide will wait for guests at the station exit while holding a yellow guide flag.
Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure, as the tour will depart promptly and will not wait for latecomers.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.