Japan Tour Adventure in Nara — Local services in Nara

The version of Nara tour I went on with this cycling tour guide was the "Heart of Nature" Nara tour, which is a relatively new tour they offer, as I understand it. This was early April, which meant cherry blossoms were on the trees, keep in mind that this is not true at other times of year...

They advise you to get there "early" but I got to the site 40 minutes early and ended up waiting alone for much of that, so take "early" to mean "a few minutes early", (a bus-ride is required, so I had limited options for when I could arrive, and erred on the side of caution, unnecessarily, as it turns out). Currently the tour starts in a residential area, gotten to by a fairly short bus ride from Nara train station, but that may change as the tour owner has his eyes on other more central locations.

I'm a 49 year old, out-of-shape asthma sufferer, so I was a little trepidatious, but the uphill parts of the tour are at the beginning, thankfully, and were not too bad. Most were very gentle upward slopes that were no problem at all. Maybe 3, 4 times, I needed to get off my bicycle and walk a few minutes on a slightly steeper slope, along with a couple other folks who wanted to take a breather. The rest of the group waited patiently for us all, and the guide came partway back down the slope to give us assistance if we needed it, mainly moral support and the assurance that he wouldn't leave us behind.

The first part of the tour took us through/around one of Nara's larger shrine complexes, and to a shop which in the past, made katana for samurai, and still does make katana, but whose main product now is beautiful and exceptionally sharp knives using multi-folded steel. Then it was on, up to the highest of 3 crests on Wakakusayama, a small(ish) mountain which overlooks the entire city, and is clear of trees so that you can see for miles (or kilometers ;) ) We had a quick lunch (must bring your own food and drink. Don't forget to hydrate!!) at the top, and then a nice cycle, mostly downward, to an out-of-the-way waterfall, which was picturesque and cool in both senses of the word. Next we went to see the ruins of a small, old temple, but having been burned down (if my memory is correct) there was not really much to see there other than the foundation stones and a small Japanese style storage building. However this was on the way to our last point of interest, Japanese jizo (monk) carvings, protected from damage by an enclosure that made it impossible to get too close, but still a nice surprise out in an area away from the main crowd of people who come to Nara.

All in all, a pleasant day of exercise, seeing Nara's nature and some history, and of course, the deer :) . The guide told us what he could of the area, but it was more about getting away and seeing pretty sights without being crushed by a crowd, than about learning history, so I had no expectations on that front. He was friendly and courteous, and was careful to keep everyone together and safe. Helmets and UV cutting sunglasses are offered for those who wish to use them, and bicycles were chosen according to height and leg length, and were easily adjustable. He made sure we were each comfortable on the bikes, exchanging them with a different bike if we weren't, and giving us some time at the start to get used to them.

I would gladly go again, or on one of their other tours of Nara that have a different focus. They offer a Nara craft beer tour as well, (no cycling for...

What a blast! My partner and I did the Nara Highlights Bike Tour and found that it was the perfect way to explore Nara. Like most cities in Japan, there is simply too much to see in a single trip. However, this agency has clearly put great effort into curating the perfect experience that gives you ample time to explore the main landmarks of the city efficiently while also showing you some incredible places you are not likely to find on your own!

Remi was our tour guide for the experience and was perfect: funny, knowledgeable, and an excellent photographer! He has spent over a decade cultivating relationships in the area to truly separate this experience from the rest--and it shows!

I am reluctant to go into specifics about the tour because I don't want to spoil any of the memorable moments you will experience. However, I am confident you won't regret your time on this tour. It...

This was a fun and informative tour of Nara away from the usual tourist spots.

We biked up Mt.Wakakusa for a nice view, had lunch in the primeval forest, and explored the original site of Kofukuji. Finished with a visit to the local brewery.

Our guide spoke three languages and knew a lot about the area that the majority of tourists don’t see.

Recommended if you want to get a little exercise and see parts of Nara away from the beaten path. Make sure to...