We had a delightful day exploring incredible spots, even though the crowds and traffic made things feel a bit rushed. With our small group, we would have loved more time to browse the shops and food stalls. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, speaking English well and providing insightful commentary at the destinations.
The highlights included Nara Park, where we enjoyed the fresh air, lush greenery, and the unique sight of deer mingling with people. The Todai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate) and Todai-ji Temple were truly breathtaking, and we realised we need to return to fully explore the vastness of Nara Park.
We found Gion a bit underwhelming. It’s one alley with a few restaurants and traditional architecture, but it felt limited. With only 1.5 hours to spare, we rushed through lunch, but had one of our best meals in Japan, and didn’t have time to explore the Geisha museum or the shops on the main streets.
Overall, The earlier stops felt a bit hurried as but we enjoyed our trip as a small family of three.
