Within Nara Park you’ll find Todai-ji Temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The main gate to Todai-ji Temple. The Todai-ji Nandaimon Gate is a National treasure. The stone-statues of Kongorikishi and of a pair of lions on either side of the gate are very famous. The Great Buddha of Nara, commonly known as Nara-no-Daibutsu, can be seen at Todai-ji Temple, it is the largest Buddha statue in Japan. Nara Park is notorious for the 1200 or so wild deer that live freely within the park. The deer here are a protected species. You can hand-feed the deer some Shika-sembei (biscuits made specifically for feeding deer).Osaka castle is a famous symbol of Osaka and it is a must see on your Osaka visiting tour.
Osaka castle was built in 1583 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, but was later demolished by flames twice. The present day Castle is the third version rebuilt by charity of the citizens of Osaka. Osaka Museum of Housing and Living has re-created buildings and streets that show what life was like in Osaka in the past. A model of the entire city during the Edo Period, the only one of its kind in Japan, is housed in the building. Visitors can learn all about Osaka's development, experiencing via interactive exhibits the different ways of life in the city during different periods of its history.
Umeda Sky Building was chosen as one of the top 20 buildings around the world in 2008 and was listed on ""The Times"". At the top, there is an observation platform called the Floating Garden Observatory which commands a panoramic view of Osaka. At night, visitors can enjoy the gentle night breeze while seeing the beautiful night view. Photos courtesy of Nara City Tourist Association.
Meeting/pick-up point: Namba 'OCAT' 1st Floor. Near large TV and Daiso. The tour conductor will have a sign that says 'Heart Tour'. Pick-up Time: 8:40am.
Duration: 7 hours approx.
Start/opening time: At 8:50am.
Others: On the days Osaka Museum is closed, the tour will be changed to Umeda Sky Building (Floating Garden Observatory). Todai-ji and Nara Park (free time for Lunch)-10am-12:10am. Osaka Castle: 1pm-1:50pm. Osaka Museum of Housing and Living: 2:10pm-3:10pm.