All Reviews for Sightseeing Tours

I'm glad I was able to visit Hōryū-ji, Chūgū-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Tōshōdaiji, which are quite far apart. I think it's a good deal since the admission fee is included. However, each temple is quite large, so it felt very rushed, and I was really in a hurry. I think if we hadn't stopped at Jikō-in along the way, we would have had more time at Yakushi-ji and Tōshōdaiji.

Due to a past injury, I can't sit in seiza, and at Jikō-in, there was a moment for seiza, but there were no chairs provided. Even though they served matcha, I couldn't stretch my legs, which was a bit of a struggle.

Also, when getting on the bus after visiting each temple, there was no hand sanitizer available. The guide was outside chatting, and there was no disinfectant prepared, which made me feel uneasy. I had watched a documentary last year that investigated a cluster outbreak on a sightseeing bus caused by the handrails at the boarding area, so I made sure not to touch the handrails with my bare hands and sanitized my hands after taking my seat.

距離が離れている法隆寺と中宮寺、薬師寺、唐招提寺を回れて良かったです。
拝観料も含まれているのでお得だと思います。
ただ、一つ一つのお寺の規模が大きいので、かなり慌ただしくて、本当に駆け足状態でした。途中の慈光院に寄らなければ、薬師寺と唐招提寺に余裕がでるのにと思います。
過去のケガで正座はできないので、慈光院では正座の場面があり椅子の用意が無く、お抹茶を出されているのに足を伸ばす訳にもいかず困りました。

また、各寺社の参拝後にバスに乗り込む際に、手の消毒はありませんでした。ガイドは外で立ち話をしていて、消毒薬の用意もなく不安でした。
昨年観光バスのクラスターの原因が昇降口の手摺だったという検証番組をみていたので、手摺は素手で触らないようにして、着席後に自主消毒していました。

The guide's explanations were thorough, very interesting, and engaging. I learned a lot. The driver drove safely, allowing me to ride with peace of mind. I was comforted by the smiles of both the guide and the driver.

ガイドさんの説明は丁寧でとても面白く興味深かったです。大変勉強になりました。運転さんは安全運転で安心して乗車出来ました。ガイドさん運転さんの笑顔に癒やされました。

We are an elderly couple visiting from Yokohama, and our experience with "Nara sightseeing is a thing of the past" was wonderful. We participated in a course that included Hōryū-ji, Chūgū-ji, Jikō-in, and Tōshōdai-ji. The guide was excellent, and the driver was also very courteous.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we felt safe riding in a bus that has ventilation that changes the air every five minutes. The other passengers were middle-aged and older, and there were no latecomers—truly responsible individuals! All of this contributed to a delightful day.

Towards the end, we also toured the large-scale redevelopment area of the Heijō-kyō ruins by bus, and I have high hopes that "Nara sightseeing will become even more enjoyable in the future!" Thank you very much.

横浜から観光に来た「奈良観光はひと昔前」の老夫婦です。法隆寺、中宮寺、慈光院、、、と唐招提寺までを観て回るコースに参加。ガイドさんも最高、運転手さんも丁寧で最高。

コロナ禍ではありますが、5分間で空気が入れ替わる換気もしているバスで、安心して乗れました。他のお客さんも中高年で、乗り遅れる人も居らず、さすが分別のある方々! これら全てが相まって、お陰様で楽しい一日でした。

終盤には、平城京跡の大規模整備地区もバスで廻ってくれましたが、「将来はますます奈良観光が楽しくなるぞ! 」と、大いに期待が持てます。有難うございました。

This was my second visit to Nara, following last year. This time, I participated in an "Adult Study Tour" that included famous temples such as Hōryū-ji. I heard that bus tours resumed in October due to the impact of COVID-19, but there are still days with fewer participants. This time, there were over 20 participants.

Since this tour included a guide's explanations, we were able to visit the temples efficiently and effectively. For lunch, we didn't place an order and ate on our own, but I was anxious about whether we would make it back in time due to the slow service. In the end, I managed to eat my soba in just five minutes. Considering that tourist numbers are expected to increase, it would be safer to request lunch in advance.

昨年に続き２度目の奈良。
今回は法隆寺他の有名なお寺を巡る「大人の修学旅行」でした。
コロナの影響でバスツアーは１０月に再開されたそうですが、日によっては参加者が少ない時もあるそうです。今回は２０名を超す参加者がいました。
このツアーはガイドさんの説明もあるので要領よくまた効率よくお寺を巡ることができます。
お昼は注文せず自分たちで食べましたが、出てくるのがおそく集合時間に間に合うのかハラハラしました。結局、おそばを飲み込むように５分で食べました。これから観光客が増えることを考えると、やはり昼食もお願いしたほうが安心です。

It was my first visit since the school trip in middle school. The area around Nara Park was very crowded with tourists, but the tour itself had relatively few participants, allowing us to ride comfortably on the sightseeing bus. It was my first time visiting Jiko-in, and I was able to fully immerse myself in a relaxed atmosphere. With the support of our guide, I was able to receive stamps at all the places we visited. There were many stops, and we walked quite a bit, but the guide was considerate of our walking pace, making it a fulfilling day overall.

中学校の修学旅行以来の訪問でした。
奈良公園周辺は観光客で非常に多かったですが、ツアー自体は、まだそれほど参加者は多くなく、ゆったり観光バスに乗ることができました。
慈光院は初めての訪問でしたが、特にゆったりとした気分に浸ることができました。
御朱印については、ガイドさんのサポートもあり、全ての訪問先で受け取ることができました。
訪問先も多く、それなりに歩きますが、ガイドさんも歩くペースを配慮していただけますので、充実した一日を過ごすことができるコースだと思います。

Most memorable place:
I was not familiar with Jikō-ji, but it had a different charm compared to the luxurious buildings and statues of other temples and shrines. Moreover, it was not just about sightseeing; sitting in the hall and experiencing a monk's lecture along with matcha service made it a very good choice for the tour, for which I am grateful. I would like to see tours that include facilities off the main route planned as the next level of tours.

About the guide:
The guide's explanations covered the necessary points and were helpful, but on the other hand, they felt somewhat scripted and lacked interest. It seemed like they were trying to explain everything, which didn't leave a strong impression. I felt it would be better to select content more carefully and add some variation. Additionally, when I asked whether Tōshōdai-ji has a pagoda, the guide couldn't answer, possibly due to a lack of prior knowledge. I think it would be beneficial to have some additional background knowledge beyond what is in the manual.

一番記憶に残った場所：
慈光寺は不知だったのですが、他の寺社の豪華絢爛な建物や仏像とは異なる趣で、しかもただ見て回るのと違い、広間に座って僧侶の方の講和と抹茶サービスという体験ができてツアーとして非常によいチョイスだったと感謝します。
こういうメインルートとははずれた施設を巡るツアーなども次のレベルのツアーとして企画してもらいたいところです。

ガイドさんについて：
ガイドさんの説明は必要なポイントをカバーしていて参考になりましたが、一方でややマニュアル通りで面白みがない、何でもかんでも説明すればよい、的な感じであまり心に残りませんでした。もう少し内容を取捨選択して抑揚をつけた方がよいと感じました。
また、唐招提寺には塔はないのですか、という質問には事前知識がなかったのかお答えいただけなかったのですが、マニュアルに載っている内容だけではなく多少の周辺知識も身につけておいた方が良かろうとは思いました。

I had a very enjoyable experience. I signed up for the 6-hour course, but since I wanted to take my time, I focused on four temples and shrines while receiving the driver's detailed explanations. I think the preparation I did on YouTube paid off. I would love to visit again if I have the opportunity. Thank you! ♡

大変楽しい思い出が出来ました。
6時間コースを申込んだのですが、ゆっくり回りたかったので4寺社に絞り運転手さんの丁寧な説明を受けながら回る事が出来ました。YouTubeで事前勉強しておいた事も功を奏したと思います。
また機会があれば訪れたいです。
ありがとうございました。♡

It was the season of autumn leaves, so overall, I was very satisfied. Hōryū-ji, Chūgū-ji, and Yakushi-ji truly convey a sense of history. Although the weather was cloudy, I was able to visit without using an umbrella, and my heart felt like it was under clear skies. When heading to Jikō-in, I was grateful for the kindness of the driver who assisted with crossing the road.

紅葉の時期でしたので全体的に大変満足です。法隆寺、中宮寺、薬師寺は、やはり、歴史を感じます。天気が曇っていましたが、見学は、傘を使わず、心は晴天でした、
慈光院の見学に向かう際には、運転手さんも、道路の横断を支援するやさしさに頭が下がりました

I joined the tour because I wanted to visit Hōryū-ji, which is difficult to access without a car. I had only visited Hōryū-ji once during my student days. Contrary to my faint memories, the grounds are very spacious. I was able to see the key points thanks to the tour, and I'm glad I went. Unfortunately, I couldn't visit Chūgū-ji as it is currently under restoration, but I think the slower pace allowed me to appreciate the various sites, so it wasn't a bad pace at all. The talk from the head priest at Jikō-in and the tea time were also calming moments. Thanks to the guide's explanations, I was able to gain knowledge and explore; otherwise, I might have missed the highlights if I were on my own without prior research. This is one of the great things about bus tours. The flavor of the bento was decent, but the Nara pickles introduced there were delicious, and buying them as a souvenir was a great decision.

Also, the guide kindly reminded us about the goshuin before the tour, so I was able to leave my goshuincho and receive it afterward without having to wait in line, which was very helpful.

Compared to Kyoto, there are fewer people, so I was able to enjoy temple visits in Nara at a relaxed pace.

車なくては個人でアクセスしにくい法隆寺に行きたくて参加しました。学生時代に一度しか訪れた事がない法隆寺。微かな記憶とは違ってとても広い敷地。そこをポイント押させて見れたのもツアーのおかげ。行けて良かったです。中宮寺はあいにく復元中ゆえ行けませんでしたが、その分各所ゆっくり見れたのではないかと思うと、このペースは悪くなかったです。慈光院でのご住職のお話とお茶タイムも落ち着いた時間でした。ガイドさんの案内や説明があったから知識を得て回れたし、個人だと予備学習せねば見どころを抑えられずに通り過ぎてしまうのでは、と思うとそこはバスツアーの有り難い所ですね。お弁当のお味はそれなりの味ですが、そこで紹介させた奈良漬は美味しくてお土産に買って大正解でした。
御朱印も、ガイドさんが見学前に声を掛けてくださるので御朱印帳預けると見学後にもらえ、並ばずもらえるのは有難かったです。

京都に比べると人も少な目ですし奈良は落ち着いてお寺巡りできました。

It was great that the tour included places that are difficult to access without a car, and with the guide's explanations, we were able to visit efficiently. Additionally, I was very grateful that the guide collected the goshuin for us, which was helpful given our limited time.

I was a bit worried after reading comments about unpleasant dining experiences, but it was nice to see that there were designated seating arrangements for one and two people, and the guide provided assistance, showing that improvements have been made.

There was someone who didn't show up at the meeting point (even though the guide arrived more than 10 minutes early, they said they weren't there and seemed to have gone to the next location on their own), which wasted quite a bit of time, but in the end, we were able to conclude the tour on schedule.

車なしでは行きにくい場所がセットになっており、ガイドさんの説明もあり、効率的見学することができて良かったです。
また、見学中にガイドさんが御朱印を貰ってくれたので時間のない中で非常にありがたかったです。
食事で嫌な思いをしたコメントを読み少し心配でしたが、1人席、2人席と決められていて、ガイドさんが案内もしてくれ、改善されているのも好感が持てました。
途中で集合場所に現れない人が居て（集合時間の10分以上前にはガイドさんは来ていたのに、居なかったと言っていて、次の場所に勝手に行ってしまっていたようです）かなり無駄な時間を使ってしまいましたが、結局は予定通りの時間に解散することができました。

It was a rather rushed tour, but I was able to grasp the main points. Based on this experience, I would like to take my time and explore at my own pace next time. Particularly impressive were Chuguji Temple and the Suzaku Gate of Heijokyo that I saw from the bus window at the end.

慌しく駆け足に近いツアーでしたが、ざっと把握することが出来ました。今回の体験を元に、次はマイペースで時間的に自由な廻り方をしたいと思います。中宮寺と、最後にバスの窓から見た、平城京の朱雀門が特に印象的でした。

I have visited Nara several times for sightseeing, but I had only been to major tourist spots like Nara Park. Since it was a bus tour, I was taken to places I had never been before, and I was really happy to be able to visit many national treasures and other fascinating locations. The autumn weather was pleasant, and the guide's explanations were clear and thorough, making for a wonderfully quick day.

奈良には何度か観光に訪れたことがありましたが、奈良公園等の主要な観光地しか行ったことがありませんでした。バスツアーということで、行ったことのない場所へ連れて行ってもらえて、多くの国宝仏をはじめ、魅力的な場所を巡ることができて本当に楽しかったです。秋の気候も気持ちがよく、またガイドさんの説明も分かりやすく丁寧で、あっという間の１日でした。

Although it was unfortunately rainy on the day of the visit, the gentle autumn rain actually meant fewer people around, which made me feel relieved about the concerns regarding COVID-19. I found a perfect half-day tour to Hōryū-ji, which I had wanted to visit for a long time despite its proximity, and it was also eligible for the Go To Eat Travel campaign, so I felt very lucky. Of course, it can be enjoyable alone, but I really felt that having a guide's explanations made a significant difference in understanding the history. It turned out to be a very memorable day.

当日はあいにくの雨模様でしたが、しっとりとした秋雨で、かえって人出も少なく、コロナ禍の心配が少なくてよかったと思います。
近いのに中々いけなかった法隆寺に、ちょうど良い半日ツアーを見つけ、Go To Eatトラベル対象にもなっていて、とてもラッキーでした。
もちろん1人でも楽しめますが、やはりガイドさんの説明があると、歴史の理解度が違うと感じました。
とても思い出に残る1日となりました。

There were times when the rain made me feel gloomy being alone, but the guide led us energetically, turning a day with unmotivating weather into a fulfilling one. The guide was also very easy to understand. The optional meal was a great value at 1,000 yen. This option is definitely worth taking.

時々雨で一人だと憂鬱になるところでしたがしたが、ガイドさんがグイグイリードしてくれて、やる気の出ない天気の一日を充実した一日にすることができました。ガイドもとてもわかりやすかったです。オプションの食事も1000円ではコストパフォーマンスが良かったです。このオプションは受けるべきです。

The high admission fee includes everything, so it's quite a good value for money.
Hōryū-ji: 1500 yen
Chūgū-ji: 1000 yen
Ocha no Tera: 1000 yen
Yakushi-ji: 1000 yen
Tōshōdai-ji: 1000 yen

I feel like it was around this much...

高い入館料が全て含まれているのでかなりコスパがいいです
法隆寺　1500円
中宮寺　1000円
お茶の寺　1000円
薬師寺　1000円
唐招提寺　1000円

くらいはした気がしますので、、、、、

It seems that the impact of COVID-19 is still lingering, as there were few people at each temple, allowing for a leisurely visit. I visited five temples and walked over 10,000 steps, and there were times when I had to take off my shoes to enter the tatami rooms, so I recommend wearing comfortable and easy-to-remove shoes.

The guide's explanations were thorough and easy to understand, and there were many things I would have missed if I had gone on my own. The driver was also kind, and thanks to both of them, it was an enjoyable tour. Thank you very much.

コロナの影響がまだ残っているのか、
どのお寺も人が少なくゆっくり見学出来ました
五ヶ所のお寺を周り、1万歩以上歩くのと、座敷に上がる事もあり
歩きやすく脱ぎ履きしやすい靴をお勧めします

ガイドさんの説明が丁寧で分かりやすく、
個人で行ってたら気づかなかった事もたくさんありました
運転手さんも親切で
お二人のお陰で楽しいツアーでした
ありがとうございました

My daughter caught the flu the day before her school trip, so she couldn't go to Nara and Kyoto. Therefore, I planned a revenge school trip to Nara just for her this time. To make the most of our time, we signed up for this tour on the second day. Both the guide and the driver were very kind, accommodating us even during traffic jams, and they lent us umbrellas during a sudden rain. We also received a Bambi mascot as a souvenir for the kids. The tour was quite rushed, almost like a sprint, but I realized that without this pace, we wouldn't have been able to see so much. Overall, I am very satisfied. Thank you very much.

娘が修学旅行の前日にインフルエンザになり、行くことが出来なかった奈良京都。そこで、今回は奈良に絞って娘のためにリベンジ修学旅行を計画しました。
効率よく回るために2日目にこのツアーに申し込みました。渋滞時の対応含めガイドさんも運転手さんも親切にしてくださり、急な雨にも傘を貸してくれたりしました。子供のお土産にバンビのマスコットも頂きました。かなり時間的に慌ただしく小走りのようなツアーでしたが、このくらいでないとあれだけ回れないんだなーと思いました。全体的に満足です。ありがとうございました。

I was glad that I could explore Nara Park by taxi, but I was disappointed by the somewhat rigid response. I had such a great experience when I used it in another prefecture that this feeling arose. I'm sorry. However, I do think they tried their best to listen to my requests and responded earnestly.

奈良公園をタクシーで回れたことはよかったのですが割と杓子定規的な対応が残念に思いました。他県で利用したときがあまりにもよかったのでこのような感想を抱きました。ごめんなさい。しかし、できるだけ希望を聞き入れて下さり一生懸命対応していただけたと思います。

The travel time is short, but it seems like there are some inconsistencies with the bus guide. While I was taking photos, the guide stood in front of the camera and talked to other guests. During the visit to Todai-ji, they said, "Please play with the deer," but at Kasuga-taisha, they warned, "Don't touch the deer!" They mentioned, "People from Nara don't touch the deer because they are dirty," and I thought it would have been better if they had explained that from the beginning. My child touched the deer a lot at Todai-ji. At Kasuga-taisha, my child was scolded and asked why it was okay to touch the deer at Todai-ji but not at Kasuga-taisha.

The explanations were fast-paced and lacked sincerity. When I asked about the type of wood used for the pillars at Todai-ji, the guide responded emotionally with "Huh?" After I politely explained why I wanted to know the type of wood, they answered, but it left me feeling quite uncomfortable throughout the tour.

The scheduled end time was around 12:30, but we actually finished at 11:30. I can't help but think that this guide must have skipped over various explanations.

移動時間はかからないけれど、バスガイドさんの当たり外れがありそうです。
写真を撮っていたら、カメラの前に立ち他のお客さんに話しかけてるし、東大寺見学の時には「シカと遊んでください」と言っていたのに、春日大社では「シカには触らないで！」と。。「奈良県の人はシカは汚ないので触りません。」とか言ってきて、東大寺の時に初めからそう説明すれば良いのに、子供は東大寺でシカにたくさん触ってました。。春日大社では子供は怒られてなんで東大寺のシカは触って良くて春日大社ではダメなの？と言ってました。。
説明は早口で心がこもっていなく、東大寺の柱の木の種類を尋ねたら、「は？」と感情的に聞き返されたので、こちらが丁寧にどうして木の種類を知りたいのか説明したら答えてましたが、余りにも気分が悪くて終始嫌な気分でした。
解散時間は12:30頃とありますが、11:30には解散でした。こんなガイドさんは色々説明も端折られていたのではと思ってしまいます。。

I rode with my mother.
While receiving explanations, I was able to enjoy it with peace of mind.
If it's your first time at a tourist spot, I think it's great to use a guide who provides various explanations so you can understand everything properly.

母と一緒に乗りました。
説明を受けながら、安心して楽しむ事が出来ました。
観光地に初めての場合、ガイドさんに色々説明を受けるとキチンと理解して回れるので利用して良かったと思います。

It's been since middle school that I've been to Nara.
I used a sightseeing bus to efficiently visit three shrines.
It was informative with a guide.
Since it was a morning course, we didn't have an explanation at Kofuku-ji and ended up dispersing, which was a bit disappointing.

中学校以来の奈良。
効率よく三社巡りする為に観光バスを利用しました。
案内付きで色々勉強になりました。
午前中のコースだったので、興福寺での説明が無く解散になってしまったのでちょっと残念でした。

I just finished reading a manga about Prince Shotoku, which made my visit to Horyu-ji and Chugu-ji very interesting. At Jiko-in, I enjoyed tea and sweets in a wonderful garden, and since it was tea time after lunch, it was very nice.

ちょうど、聖徳太子のまんがを読んだばかりで、法隆寺、中宮寺を興味深くまわることが出来ました。
慈光院では、素晴らしいお庭でお茶とお菓子をいただき、昼食後のタイミングでのお茶ということもあり、とても良かったです。

I was looking forward to it and was captivated by the Ashura statue at Kofuku-ji. I really liked the solemn atmosphere of Shoryaku-ji. Also, the autumn leaves were at a great time, it was wonderful.

楽しみにしておりました、興福寺の阿修羅観音像に魅了されました。　
正暦寺がとても厳かで気に入りました。又、紅葉もとても良い時期で
最高でした。

I participated alone.
It was great because I could get around efficiently!
I hardly remembered anything from when I saw it on a school trip long ago, but the guide's explanations and support were thorough, which made me feel at ease and enjoy myself.
Next time, I want to join with friends.

ひとりで参加しました。
効率よく回れてとても良かったです！
昔、修学旅行で見た記憶はほとんど無かったけど、ガイドさんの説明や対応が丁寧で安心して楽しめました。
次は友人と一緒に参加したいです。

The other customers were kind, and it was fun.

The weather was great, which was absolutely wonderful. If I have the opportunity again, I would love to participate through Beltora.

Thank you for your help.

他のお客様も親切で
楽しかったです

お天気が良かったのが、さいこうに良かったですね
また、機会がありましたら、ぜひベルトラさんを通して参加させてくださいね

お世話になりました

It started to rain partway through, but I was able to visit many temples. The temple tour was very fulfilling, and the guide's explanations were easy to understand, which was great.

途中から雨になりましたが、たくさんのお寺を巡る事が出来ました。盛りだくさんのお寺巡りで、また、ガイドさんの解説も分かりやすく、良かったです。

During the ongoing Shosoin Exhibition, there was a traffic jam, but I appreciated the change in course. The temple that was arranged for us on such short notice within the limited time of two and a half hours left a strong impression on me. Thank you very much.

正倉院展開催中で渋滞が発生している中、コースを変更していただき２時間半という限られた中でも急遽案内していただいたお寺がとても印象に残りました。ありがとうございました。

Choosing the bus tour was definitely the right decision. It covered attractions that are far from the center of Nara, and the guide was organized and thorough, providing satisfaction beyond the cost. The beautiful Buddha statues and treasures were explained using photo materials on the bus beforehand, making it easier to understand and leaving a lasting impression. The guide's personality was also great—refreshing and friendly. They even helped us get goshuin (temple stamps) and took commemorative photos with my companions, providing excellent service. I have participated in various bus tours before, but if you're sightseeing in Nara, I highly recommend this tour. Meals are available for an additional fee (around 1000 yen) if requested in advance. There were a few places to eat during lunch time. The walking distance is quite considerable, and the schedule is tight, so it might be tough for those with mobility issues or lacking physical stamina to handle a full-day tour.

バスツアーにして大正解でした。奈良の中心部から離れている見所を網羅して、計画的、かつ丁寧にガイドしてくださり、金額以上の満足感です。美しい仏像や宝物について、事前にバス中で写真付の資料を使って解説されていたので、より分かりやすく印象に残りました。ガイドさんの人柄も良く、さわやかで気さく。御朱印もかわりにもらっていただけたり、連れとの記念写真を取ってくださったりと、至れり尽くせり。これまで、色々なバスツアーに参加してきましたが、奈良で観光するならこのツアーはおすすめです。食事は別料金（1000円位）で事前にお願い出来ます。昼食時間に各自で食べるお店は多少ありました。歩く距離はさすがに結構ありますし、スケジュールがタイトなので、足の悪い方や体力に自信のない方は１日ツアーは辛いかも。

The service from both the sightseeing taxi and the accommodation was wonderful. It was not as pushy as the hospitality in Kyoto, but rather had a subtle thoughtfulness that was lovely.

All the shrines and temples were fascinating and wonderful. Next time, I would like to stay for about three nights. It was a city I didn't want to leave.

観光タクシーの方も宿の方の対応も素敵でした。京都の接客のように押せ押せではなくてさりげない心遣いも素敵です。

神社仏閣はすべてが興味深い素晴らしいものでした。今度は3泊くらいで来たいです。
離れがたい街でした。

You can have a great time even in a short half-day. The guide was very nice and shared various interesting trivia along with the history. The fact that we ended at Kōfuku-ji and could take our time exploring the National Treasure Hall was also a highlight.

半日という短い時間の中でも十分楽しめます。ガイドさんもとてもいい方で歴史はもちろん楽しい雑学など色々おしえて戴きました。最後が興福寺なので国宝館をゆっくり見学できるのも魅力でした。