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Nara Cultural Tours & Trip Packages

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12 Day Japan, Then & Now

By Gate 1 Travel

none

3.7/5 Great

100+ reviews

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo

Highlights

Tour dazzling Tokyo, a city of ancient traditions coupled with state-of-the-art technology Culinary demonstration led by a professional chef -- learn the art of creating sushi and sashimi Visit the serene Meiji Shrine honoring the first Emperor of modern Japan and his Empress A day of breathtaking natural scenery as you drive to the National Park of Hakone in full view of Mt. Fuji Board the famous shinkansen, or "bullet train" that takes you to Kanazawa south of the Noto Peninsula In Kagaonsen, stay at a traditional Ryokan (inn) Travel to the UNESCO site of Shirakawa-go, known for its village of gassho-zukuri farmhouses A walking tour of Takayama’s historic district reveals its traditions dating back to the 8th century Discover enchanting Kyoto, founded in the 7th century, one of the early capitals of Japan Experience the cultural heritage of Kyoto at a traditional tea ceremony Visit Kyoto's Nijo Castle, residence of the Tokugawa shoguns Travel to the Imperial capital of Nara, with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites Dinner and traditional Maiko (Geisha) dance performance reflects the core of Japanese culture †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

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12 days From$4,499

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8 Day Essential Japan

By Gate 1 Travel

none

3.7/5 Great

100+ reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo

Highlights

Explore the Hakone Open-Air Museum's vast array of sculptures Discover Owakudani Valley’s extraordinary volcanic zone Embark on a cruise on Lake Ashi and admire the stunning scenery Board the famous Shinkansen, or “bullet train” that whisks you to Kyoto †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

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8 days From$3,329

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Walking Japan

By MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

none

1/5 Terrible

64 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Kyoto, Meiji Shrine, Nara, Tokyo

Highlights

Explore the old imperial city of Kyoto, its ancient temples, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, and the Gion Geisha district
Walk in the footsteps of shoguns as you follow ancient trade routes through medieval towns, lush valleys, and misty forests
Stay at traditional Japanese inns, soak in hot springs, and eat exquisitely prepared, multi-course Japanese meals every night
Experience the electric energy of Tokyo and visit some of its oldest sites, including the Imperial Palace and the Grand Meiji Shrine

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

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11 days From$5,595

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Contrasts of Japan end Tokyo

By Europamundo Vacations

none

4.6/5 Excellent

66 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Himeji Castle, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo

Highlights

Visit to this fascinating country by taking a trip on the metro to the Shinjuku district.
Explore the famous Nijubashi Bridge
Visit the Buddhist temple of Sensoji, the oldest and most important temple in Tokyo, with its 55-metre high pagoda
Explore the traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the district of Asakusa

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Religious, Holy Land

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

Trip dates & details

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9 days From$3,067

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Essential Japan

By Europamundo Vacations

none

4.6/5 Excellent

66 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo

Highlights

Visit Shinjuku one of the most important nightlife districts.
Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park, with its beautiful pagodas and enjoy the best views of Mount Fuji.
Admire the Shiraito Falls.
Explore the Toyota Museum.

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, Religious

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

Trip dates & details

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7 days From$1,982

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Japan Classics

By Super Value Tours

none

5/5 Excellent

4 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo

Highlights

Travel across the Aqua Line, Japan's cutting-edge tunnel that submerges under the Tokyo Bay
Rickshaw through the ancient historical town of Kamakura
Let the scenic Fuji-Hakone National Park surround you as you cruise down Lake Ashi on a pirate ship
VIP access to the top of the Tokyo Skytree for a breathtaking view of the city
Free time to explore Tokyo’s most vibrant neighborhoods: Harajuku and Ginza

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I recently enjoyed the Japan Classic Tour. At first, we doubted Super Value's veracity, as what they offered seemed too good to be true for the asking price. Comparable tour companies paled in tour value and substantially exceeded SV's costs. But SV delivered in every way possible: stellar hotels, superior transportation, excellent and abundant authentic Japanese meals, interesting venues and local tours, and unique country special offerings (such as visits to Onsons, traditional baths; famous gardens; and a night at a Ryokan). Above all, SV - - in this case Tour Guide Eriko - - provided the most careful, attentive and personal service to each and every guest imaginable or possible. Eriko is university educated, smart, witty, pleasant, with excellent knowledge of Japanese history, culture, art and modern traditions. Her English was near flawless. Far above and beyond any expectations, Eriko worked tirelessly to ensure every guest's personal comfort, particularly regarding meals, accommodations and airport transfers. We highly recommend Super Value and tour guide, par excellence, Eriko."

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10 days From$2,699

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11-Day Japan Family Journey: Tokyo to KyotoFrom Ancient to Modern Times

By Tours4Fun

none

4.6/5 Excellent

57 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"Hello , first there is no airport transfer at all as they mentioned in the trip program , no one waited us at the airport as they mentioned that we should provide them with the flight schedule but unfortunately they neglected this service for arrivals and for departures as well , the level of the hotel in Lyon is under expected maybe 2 stars , the hotels are somewhat away from the city center which makes the transportation for the clients cost more and waste of time , the guide was very quick in her steps without even looking at the families and children and not being able to follow her . Rather , she was even quick to finish the designated program , such as presenting a program that was supposed to be for tomorrow and presenting it without justification , making one day crowded with her program and the second day on the contrary i.e there may be only one visit as it happened in changing visiting Eifel tower although it was late afternoon and the line was so crowded that took around 2 hours waited in line in order to gets tickets for the whole group while it was supposed to be on the 2nd day with scène river cruise , the stoppage in some cities as Geneva needs more than only 2 hours time while stoppage in between the cities in the rural area needs less than that time gave it to us .no flexibility in changing the program after booking even for a more advanced and valued trips ( changing not cancelling ) , it must be a meeting prepared for the group in a lobby of the hotel the night before or even if 1 hour before getting into the buses as a type of acquaintance and introduction between the members of the group ."

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11 days From$5,399

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Essential Japan and Hakone end Hiroshima

By Europamundo Vacations

none

4.6/5 Excellent

66 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

Hakone, Himeji Castle, Hiroshima, Imperial Palace, Kyoto, Meiji Shrine, Mount Fuji, Nara, Osaka, Tokyo

Highlights

Visit famous Nijubashi Bridge.
Visit traditional commercial street of Nakamise in the district of Asakusa.
Visit Toyota Museum.
Visit the Tenryuji temple, one of the "five major Zen temples of Kyoto".
Visit Korakuen, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, with its lakes, waterfalls and traditional teahouses.

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"No travel with then completely desaster First and last Hotel accommodations really cheap, they mix you with 40 people in the same bus"

Trip dates & details

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10 days From$3,128

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Nara Cultural Tours & Trips

68 Nara trips. Tours from 33 tour companies. 272 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

12 Day Japan, Then & Now

8 Day Essential Japan

Walking Japan

Contrasts of Japan end Tokyo

Essential Japan

Japan Classics

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11-Day Japan Family Journey: Tokyo to KyotoFrom Ancient to Modern Times

Essential Japan and Hakone end Hiroshima

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Nara Reviews & Ratings

Ancient and Modern Japan

Ancient and Modern Japan

Fascinating culture, country, food & people

JOYOUS Japan

Great Trip

Nara Cultural Tours & Trips

68 Nara trips. Tours from 33 tour companies. 272 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

12 Day Japan, Then & Now

8 Day Essential Japan

Walking Japan

Contrasts of Japan end Tokyo

Essential Japan

Japan Classics

Travel better together

11-Day Japan Family Journey: Tokyo to Kyoto**From Ancient to Modern Times**

Essential Japan and Hakone end Hiroshima

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

Ancient and Modern Japan

Ancient and Modern Japan

Fascinating culture, country, food & people

JOYOUS Japan

Great Trip

11-Day Japan Family Journey: Tokyo to KyotoFrom Ancient to Modern Times