1-Day Literary and Artistic In-depth Tour with Nara Uji Hot Spring | Watch deers | Drink tea | Soak in Hot Springs

8:40am Osaka
Start your beautiful journey today
Meeting boarding and alighting package:
8:40am Nihonbashi Exit 2 (Namba Shinsaibashi area)
Hotel and B&B pick-up/drop-off/pick-up package:
7:30am-8:30am Hotels/B&B within the Osaka Circle Line, there will be additional fee for pick-up service beyond the Circle.
  
Note: We will welcome all distinguished guests. We will not wait for late arrivals, so it is recommended to wait at the meeting location 10 minutes before departure.
The pick-up order and time will be arranged by the driver based on the driving distance and other circumstances. Please understand and cooperate with each other and follow the driver's arrangements
9:30 Nara
Nara Park area(About 2 hours, including lunch time on your own, free to move around)
Each group will give away 1 piece of deer cake worth 200 yen. This is a gift. If it is sold out, the fee will not be refunded. Feed the deer in the maple forest in the Nara Park area.
An urban park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa in Nara City.Todaiji Temple,Kasuga Taisha ShrineAll of Nara's scenic spots and historic sites are here, and it is a must-visit place when visiting Nara. located near the parkWakakusayamaIt is a wonderful place to overlook the scenery of Nara, and traditional events such as the "Wakakusa Yakiyama" are held here every January. A leisurely stroll is the best way to visit the park. There is also the largest concentration of deer here. Feeding the cute deer is also the biggest attraction for tourists. The deer here are also very spiritual. They will come to tourists when they see deer cakes in their hands, so you need to be careful of groups of deer that will knock you down.(Reference price of deer senbei is 200 yen/10 pieces)
Recommended attractions: Free activities, please bear your own expenses (it is recommended to choose a place to visit based on the actual situation and preferences~)
【Todaiji Temple】Also known as the Dai Kegon Temple, it was built in 752 by Emperor Shomu to enshrine the Great Buddha and serve as the main temple of Japanese temples. It is the headquarters of the Kegon Sect. Two fires destroyed the building, and the current one was rebuilt in 1692 and is two-thirds of the original building. The main Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, with a front width of 57 meters and a depth of 50 meters, is the largest wooden building in the world. In the Great Buddha Hall, there is a large Buddha statue of 99 Lushuna Buddha that is more than 15 meters high. There are also South Gate, February Hall, March Hall, etc. in Dongdai Temple.
【Kasuga Taisha Shrine】Kasuga Taisha Shrine is located in Nara Park, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the second year of Wado (710). The gods enshrined in the shrine include Wu Ong Chui Ming, Jing Jin Zhu Ming, Tian Erwu Gen Ming and Bi Mai God. The regular festival day of the shrine is March 13 (Spring Festival), and the builder is Fujiwara Fuhito. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage as part of the historical relics of ancient Nara and one of the twenty-two shrines. The 1.5-kilometer-long approach starts from a red torii gate and is flanked by towering cedar and white birch trees. Native forest. There are also more than 2,000 donated large and small stone lanterns, as well as Nara deer hiding in the forest.
Lunch recommendation (Please bear your own expenses)
Kasugano
Founded in the 2nd year of Showa, Kasugano is located in the shopping street in front of Mount Wakakusa. You can see deer walking by while eating here. In order for guests to feel the nature of Mt. Wakakusa, we prepare dishes that vary with the seasons.
Address: 494 Aojicho, Nara City
Kasuga Tea House
Kasuga Tea House is run by Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a famous tourist attraction in Nara. It is a traditional Japanese cuisine hidden among Kasuga Taisha Shrine and the deer. The most famous meal of the tea house is called "Manye porridge". Manyo porridge is made with different flavors. It is made from seasonal plants, so it has different flavors in different months. In addition to the deliciousness, it also has a bit of random fun. It is the best choice to replenish energy after visiting Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Travelers who love to try new things can enjoy it. Don't miss it. Address: 160 Kasugano-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Udon
Udon is the national delicacy of the entire Kansai region. Located in the Nara Shopping Street, Mono-an is also one of Nara's most popular queuing shops. The most popular dish is "Udon noodle", which is udon noodles wrapped in tofu skin. "Shika Udon" with a deer pattern is unique to the Nara area and is very popular among people. Address: 30-1 Hashimotocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
12:30 Uji
Option A: Uji(About 4.5 hours, free time)
For matcha lovers, Uji is a paradise for foodies. The matcha ice cream and matcha cakes all over the street are top-notch, and even the soba noodles can be green matcha. For literature lovers, this is a paradise for literature and art. The last ten stories of the literary masterpiece "The Tale of Genji" known as Japan's Dream of Red Mansions took place in Uji. Anyone who has read "The Tale of Genji" wants to come here to trace the love and hatred of Japanese nobles.
Recommended tour routes(It is recommended to choose one of the activities)
Recommendation 1: Byodo-in Omotesando Matcha Street
Recommendation 2: The Tale of Genji Museum
Attractions(Please bear your own expenses)
【Byodoin】It is a representative of the pond-spring boat-style temple gardens of the Heian period. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1994. The most famous one is the "Phoenix Hall". The building extends towards the two wings, making it look like a phoenix is ​​about to spread its wings and fly. Inside is enshrined "Amitabha Tathagata"The seated statue of Buddha has been listed as a national treasure and has its image on the 10 yen coin.
【The Tale of Genji Museum】Multimedia sound and light effects are used to introduce the charm and outline of The Tale of Genji with bright and clear high-definition images, and a model of Rokujo-in, which symbolizes the glory and wealth of Genji, is on display. If you browse quickly, you can go around the whole place in about 2 minutes; but if you watch it carefully, 1 or 2 hours may be too little. At the same time, games of nobles such as "Gobe", "Go", and "Sugoroku" are displayed in conjunction with the seasons, as well as events held regularly every year during the Heian period, and the culture of the dynasty is introduced in an easy-to-understand manner.
Recommended old matcha shop in Uji (Please bear your own expenses)
【Dui Feng An】It is far opposite the Phoenix Hall, so it is named Duihoan. Address: 2 Ujitagawa, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture
【Nakamura Fujiyoshi Uji Main Store】A popular dessert shop where you can enjoy exclusive ice cream desserts served in bamboo tubes and made with high-grade Uji tea. Address: Uji 1-10, Uji-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
【Ito Kuemon Main Store】A representative long-established tea shop in Uji, Kyoto, the dine-in Matcha parfait and Matcha soba are well worth a try. Address: 19-3 Arakaki, Uji-shi, Uji-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
Option B: Uji + Genji's soup(about 1.5 hour) (Please bear your own expenses)
It is the only natural hot spring in Uji City. It is a neighborhood hot spring immersed in the warmth of thousands of years. The hot spring water gushes out from 1,111 meters underground. The traditional architecture created by high technology creates a pure Japanese space with a relaxing mood, just like the flowing water of a mountain hot spring bath. You can enjoy this moment of healing and tranquility during your leisure time. There are three inner soups and one outer soup, as well as a wealth of dining options. 
Guests who wish to experience Genji's soup need to walk to Keihan Uji Station in advance (about 15 minutes) to take the 13:30 pm shuttle to Genji's soup (approximately 30-minute drive). The onsen visit lasts 1 hour, and guests will return by the 15:10 pm shuttle, arriving back at Keihan Uji Station at 15:40 pm.
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17:00 Return
We happily ended the day's tour and started to return.The return time is for reference only. You may return earlier due to smooth itinerary, good road conditions, etc. on the day.
18:30 Osaka
Guests will either drop off at Nihonbashi Exit 2 area or end the tour at their hotel in Osaka city.
Guests who selected the hotel transfer package but choose to continue exploring on their own will end the tour on-site (this will be regarded as a voluntary waiver of the return transfer service, and the transfer fee is non-refundable).
Guests who selected the "meet-up/drop-off at meeting point" package will be dismissed at the drop-off location to end the tour.
Guests who booked the hotel or accommodation transfer package, please wait for the shuttle vehicle to arrive. You will be sent back to your hotel or accommodation to officially end the tour.
【Shinsaibashi】The most famous shopping street in Osaka, home to large department stores, major drugstore chains, long-established specialty shops, and small boutiques. It offers a wide range of products in various styles and price ranges. Popular character stores like Hello Kitty and Disney also have branches here. It's a favorite destination for beauty lovers, with numerous drugstores offering a wide selection of cosmetics and skincare products. Most stores have Chinese-speaking staff and accept UnionPay, making shopping convenient and enjoyable.
【Dotonbori】Known as the symbol of Osaka's gourmet culture, this bustling street is lively day and night. Considered the birthplace of Osaka's famous "kuidaore" (eat till you drop) culture, Dotonbori is packed with delicious street food such as takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and Kinryu Ramen. You'll also find traditional izakayas and trendy restaurants, including the iconic Kani Doraku crab restaurant, a favorite among Chinese visitors.
 
 
 

* The above itinerary is for reference only. The specific attractions, tour sequence and time may be changed according to the situation on the day.
* Due to the high volume of tourism in Japan, traffic congestion is common on weekends and public holidays. Return trips are often delayed, sometimes by 2-3 hours. We recommend not scheduling other activities on the evening of your tour's conclusion, as it may interfere with the itinerary.

B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: Excluded