Hi Friends!
We only did a couple of tours on our trip and I was happy that we limited them but the tours that we did do we loved! We did this tour when we were staying Osaka and it took us on a day trip to Nara Park to see the bowing deer, we saw temples and stunning views, we learned so much and it was incredible! As I said, we started our day in Osaka and had a day full of history, beauty, and unforgettable experiences. I would recommend this one-day adventure for people who want to see a ton of Japan’s history while indulging in iconic sights, culinary delights, and serene landscapes all packed into one day of an amazing itinerary! Below I am breaking down our day by the different chunks of activities we did that were in different parts of the day, happy reading!
Morning: Ancient Wonders in Nara
Our first destination was Nara, they told us that this is Japan’s ancient capital. We started at Nara Park which was one of the main reasons we booked this specific tour at first beucase we wanted to see the bowing deer that live here. This is a sanctuary where there are free-roaming deer that were there to greet us as we arrived but had their own motives of eating the crackers that were for sale that we could purchase when we arrived. The deer are considered sacred messengers in the Shinto religion and in Japan, these deer are a living symbol of Nara’s spiritual importance. We got to walk around, take pictures of the beautiful park covered in cherry blossoms and fed the deer those special crackers that the local vendors were selling to us! While they are friendly, they are also a little bit intense if you have crackers! Dustin and I both got nipped at (not painful at all) on our butts from deer that were jealous of whatever deer you were feeding at the moment. It was so fun, the deer were so cute and we literally couldn’t stop laughing when we were walking around this park! We didn’t do this part but it was an option to see the temple Todai-ji which was just a short walk from the park. This is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is the world's largest wooden building which houses the colossal 15-meter-tall bronze Great Buddha (Daibutsu) statue!
Lunch: A Taste of Japan’s Finest
We got the option for the tour where we get lunch which is Kobe Beef Shabu-Shabu at Kyoto Shokujidokoro Wasabi. This restaurant was nestled in a traditional townhouse on the historic grounds of Jurakudai and the food was so so yummy! They were telling us that kobe beef is one of the three major Wagyu breeds in Japan and it has a buttery texture and a ton of marbling. It was also just a really cool experience, we ate on the floor on pillows and it felt very traditional! I liked adding this part to the tour, it just meant that we had less time to explore Arashiyama which was kind of a bummer but I was happy to have that eating experience.
Afternoon: Serenity in Arashiyama
After lunch we were on our way to head to one of Kyoto’s most enchanting districts: Arashiyama. Whether you get the lunch option and have 60 minutes to explore or a full 2 hours here if you skipped the lunch option, you will be blown away with the stunning spots that are in Arashiyama! Our favorite part of this stop was the Bamboo Forest! Seriously the bamboo just towered over us and there was sun peeking through the stocks, the only word I can come up with is just stunning. There were small shops, local cafes and a stunning riverside view in this town as well!
Late Afternoon: Golden Beauty and Spiritual Majesty
The next destination we went to was the stunning Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This is another UNESCO World Heritage site and the building is just stunning and covered in gold leaf that reflects on the pond in front of it just like a mirror! It is also surrounded by amazing well kept and pristine gardens! It was such a cool site and the perfect stop on our itinerary! Lastly, the final stop of our day was called Fushimi Inari Taisha. This was a famous spot and for good reason, it has a seemingly endless tunnel of vermilion torii gates, and our guide said that this Shinto shrine is a symbol of good fortune and spiritual journey. From what I understand, each gate that you see had been donated by individuals or businesses to help their businesses and lives succeed or do well. It was really cool to see it all!
Day Trip Cost Breakdown
This day trip from Osaka that was seriously jam packed including Nara Park, Arashiyama, and some of Kyoto’s top cultural gems, was such a great way to see a lot in one day without the stress of planning every detail ourselves. The cost was $94.53 per person, so $189.06 total for two adults. There weren’t any hidden costs really either! Anything that we paid for throughout the day was things like souvenirs and snacks that we wanted when we were on our own during free time. It felt like a really great value considering everything we got to see and experience this day!
Like I said and as you can probably see from reading this blog post, the day was packed with seeing ancient temples and sacred deer to bamboo groves and golden pavilions! We were so happy with the variety of experiences that we had in the one itinerary! It was the perfect combination of history, culture, and nature. Whether you’re excited to try the world-famous Kobe beef eating experience or looking forward to wandering through timeless shrines, I promise you that you will be impressed with each stop that is made throughout the day! If you have any questions you can comment below or as always you can send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible!
Much Love,
Emma
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