Guided Tours

Matcha Tour: Nara Park, Uji, and Hot Spring from Osaka

Name: Matcha Tour: Nara Park, Uji, and Hot Spring from Osaka
Start: 2026-08-04T08:30:00
End: 2026-08-04T18:30:00
Location: Osaka

Discover Nara and Uji in a day, with deer encounters, Byodo-in Temple, Uji’s matcha culture, and a relaxing soak in a natural hot spring.

Feed friendly deer in Nara Park, home to Todaiji Temple’s 15m Great Buddha and Kasuga Taisha Shrine with its lantern-lined forest paths.

Explore Uji, Japan’s tea capital, visit landmarks like Byodoin Temple and the Tale of Genji Museum, or enjoy the local flavors with matcha sweets and soba along Omotesando Street.

End your trip at Uji’s Genji Hot Spring, where indoor and outdoor baths fed by natural waters offer the perfect way to unwind.

Opt for round-trip transfers from Osaka Namba Shinsaibashi area or hotel pickup in Osaka, avoiding the stress of transit planning.

Full-day guided tour of Nara & Uji

A/C transportation

Transfers from Osaka Namba Shinsaibashi (as per option selected)

Hotel pick-up from Osaka (as per option selected)

Landmarks visited:

Nara Park visit

Uji (Byodo-in Temple area) visit

Kasuga Taisha Shrine visit

Lunch, matcha tasting

Admission to Byodo-in Temple and the hot spring

Admission to attractions

Gratuities

TOTAL DURATION10 hours - 11 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERCar
Start point
2 starting points available
34 min by car
33.9 km
1. Nara Park Area
Tickets included
2 hr
2 attractions
Located at Mount Wakakusa’s base, the park also hosts Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and scenic spots like Wakakusayama, making it perfect for a stroll and deer encounters. In Nara Park, each group can get a 200-yen deer biscuit at their own expense to feed the friendly deer roaming the maple forest.
Highlights
Todaiji Temple
Tickets not included
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Tickets not included
Things to do
Local Lunch
Additional cost (on-site)
38 min by car
25.8 km
2. Uji
1 hr 30 min
2 attractions
8 min by car
3.6 km
3. Uji Matcha Tea Shops
Tickets not included
8 min by car
3.6 km
4. Hot Spring Experience: Genji-no-Yu (Optional)
Tickets not included
End point
2 ending points available

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

114 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Jun 2025
Went with my mom and younger bro—honestly, I didn’t expect to like it THIS much. Our guide (Masa?) was suuuuper patient with all my questions and somehow made all the old stuff feel ALIVE. Crowds were kinda wild at Fushimi Inari but worth it for those orange gates. My bro loved the deer at Nara, but beware—they WILL snatch your snacks if you’re not careful. Weather was sticky but the shade in the temple gardens helped. Left feeling tired but happy. If you want to see the Kyoto ‘greatest hits’ in a day, this is it.
Jun 2025
Pretty packed day! We hit all the main spots and our guide (Aki) shared so many fun stories, like the foxes at the shrine. Only issue was the bus AC was weak, so bring water! Can’t take pics inside Todaiji’s main hall, which was a bummer. Still, learned lots and got some great snaps outside.
Jun 2025
Absolutely loved this tour. Went solo, wasn’t sure at first, but the whole group was super friendly. Guide remembered all our names, which was a niiiice touch. The deer were a little pushy (one tried to eat my map lol) but still adorable. The mix of temples and shrines kept it interesting. A bit rushed at times, but that’s kinda what you sign up for with these group tours.
Jun 2025
So… mixed feelings. The sites themselves are STUNNING but the schedule felt tight. Barely had time to chill at Nara Park before getting herded back. Super informative guide though, and the bus was clean. Would’ve liked longer at Fushimi Inari for more pics. Still glad we did it!
Jun 2025
Family trip with my two teens. Even they were into it, which says a lot! The guide (Shiori) had a great sense of humor, and the deer at Nara were a highlight. Got to feed them (careful, they’ll chase you if you have cookies). Weather was perfect, sunny but breezy. Lunch spot was okay, nothing fancy. Would recommend for families.

What to bring

Bring Japanese yen for admission fees, meals, and personal expenses, as these are not included.

Carry a valid photo ID for verification if requested.

What’s not allowed

Pets are not permitted, except for registered service animals.

Alcohol, drugs, and any form of intoxication are strictly prohibited on the tour.

Smoking is not allowed on the bus or in designated non-smoking areas during the tour.

Accessibility

This experience is not wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Admission fees for Byodo-in Temple and the hot spring are not included in your ticket and must be paid on-site.

Lunch and matcha tasting is not included; please make your own arrangements.

This is a large group tour.

Hotel pickup is only available from designated hotels in Osaka for select variants; please check your booking confirmation for details.

The tour operates in all weather conditions; please dress accordingly.

Gratuities are not included and are optional.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Recommendations

Lunch at Kasugano, Kasuga Tea House, or Noodle House: Enjoy local dishes while observing the deer around Nara Park (meal cost at own expense).

Explore the Phoenix Hall and surrounding Heian-period gardens (admission 600 yen adults at Byodoin Temple, Uji; an additional 300 yen for Phoenix Hall.

Visit the Tale of Genji Museum, Uji and see classic literary work through models, multimedia, and seasonal exhibits (admission 500 yen adults, 250 yen children).

Matcha desserts at Duifengan, Nakamura Fujiyoshi, Ito Kuemon: Taste Uji’s famous matcha in sweets, ice creams, and noodles (cost at own expense).

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.