9 Best Todai-ji Temple Day Trips from Kyoto

Most day trips from Kyoto reach Todai-ji around midday, when it’s busiest, so if you get any choice, push for a morning arrival. The Nandaimon gate on the way in holds two huge wooden guardian kings carved by Unkei’s workshop in 1203; don’t walk past them.

1.Kyoto & Nara & Uji Day Tour: Nara Park Cute Deer & Fushimi Inari Taisha Thousand Torii Gates & World Cultural Heritage Todai-ji & Byodo-in & Uji Matcha Food Street & Uji River & Uji Park & Asagiri Bridge Day Tour

See Nara’s deer, Todaiji, Uji’s matcha quarter and Fushimi Inari in one day, with transfers and an English or Chinese-speaking guide.

Most Popular★ 4.8

“I had such a wonderful experience on this tour! Our guide, Sarah, was incredibly sweet, upbeat, and knowledgeable about the history, culture, and food. She was also very thoughtful-my friend and I got cold at one point, and she kept checking in on us throughout…”

1,116 reviews9 hoursFrom $46.65

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2.Best of Kyoto & Nara: Kiyomizudera, Nara Park, Todaiji & Much More

Visit Nara, Uji and Kyoto in one day from Osaka, with temple time, deer, matcha stops and an English-speaking guide.

★ 4.8

“Absolutely! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing Kyoto Tour Experience! We had such a wonderful time on our Kyoto tour! Everything was well organised, and the whole experience was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we got to see and…”

187 reviews10 hoursFrom $44.85

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4.Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine Senbon Torii & Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Togetsukyo Bridge & Nara Park Todai-ji Temple One-Day Tour [Can upgrade to A5 Wagyu “Kobe Beef” (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)]

See Arashiyama, Nara Park and Fushimi Inari in one day by bus, with self-guided stops, optional Kobe beef lunch and English or Chinese guidance.

★ 4.6

“Special thanks to Nick, our guide! very patience with us and even shared his umbrella during the rainy day. Interesting tour and great experience!”

67 reviews9.5 hoursFrom $44.85

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5.One-Day Tour of Three Ancient Capitals in Kansai, Japan: World Heritage Sites Todai-ji Temple & Byodo-in Temple & Fushimi Inari Shrine’s Thousand Torii Gates & Adorable Deer in Nara Park & Uji Matcha Gourmet Street (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)

Visit Nara, Uji and Fushimi Inari in one day, with deer, the Great Buddha, matcha stops and transport from Osaka or Kyoto.

★ 4.8

“Tina was a great host as she and our driver were generous with time during the tour. My rating for itinerary doesn't reflect their ability but would have preferred to have closer parking meetups rather than spending the time walking to and from the sights…”

45 reviews9.5 hoursFrom $44.85

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6.Kyoto & Nara Full-Day Tour: Kinkaku-ji, Todai-ji & Nara Park

See Kyoto’s castle, Golden Pavilion and palace, then meet Nara’s deer and Great Buddha on a guided 10.5-hour coach tour.

★ 4.8

“we had the best tour guide, Momo, and excellent & safe bus driver! Momo provided so much of Japanese history and culture that helped us appreciate the experience. Especially had fun feeding the deer at Nara Park!”

32 reviews10.5 hoursFrom $186.30

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8.Nara Todaiji Kasuga Taisha Private Full Day Tour From Kyoto

Fascinating tales await on the 'Nara Todaiji Kasuga Taisha Private Full Day Tour From Kyoto,' where ancient history and cultural wonders converge in Nara.

★ 5.0

“Nara is the must-see city in Japan. Just a short train ride from Kyoto or Osaka. The deer are so charming and friendly. Feeding them is a blast. Temple and Shrine are off the charts beautiful. Don’t forget to eat Mochi. Our guide Yochee is…”

13 reviewsFrom $195.00by TripGuru

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9.Kyoto Nara Day Trip [with Fried Chicken Set Meal] – Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple Day Trip (Pick-up available in Osaka and Kyoto)

Compare this Kyoto and Nara day trip: temple views, Fushimi Inari’s torii gates, Nara deer, transport options, costs, and practical tips.

★ 4.6

“Eigai was an amazing tour guide. We had a blast exploring, Kyoto and Nara. He gave us personalized recommendations for the day, and even gave us the best route to make it back home. The ride was smooth, the group was very well prepared. Would…”

13 reviewsFrom $44.79

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