Nara Uji Moe Deer Matcha Hot Spring One-Day Tour

▼Uji（Approximately 120 minutes, free time）

For matcha lovers, Uji is a foodie paradise—streets lined with top‑notch matcha soft‑serve ice cream and matcha cakes, and even soba noodles come in a shade of green matcha. For literature enthusiasts, it is a cultural paradise: the final ten chapters of the literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji, often dubbed the Japanese Dream of the Red Chamber, are set in Uji. Anyone who has read The Tale of Genji will want to trace the love and rivalry of the Japanese aristocracy here.

Recommended sightseeing routes (please choose one of the following)

Recommendation 1: Byōdō‑in Omotesandō Matcha Street

Recommendation 2: The Tale of Genji Museum

Attraction introduction (entrance fees to be borne by visitors)

【Byōdō‑in】 A representative example of a Heian‑period pond garden temple, listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. Its most famous feature is the Phoenix Hall, whose wings extend outward like a phoenix about to take flight. Inside enshrines a seated statue of Amida Nyorai, designated a National Treasure and depicted on the 10‑yen coin. (Admission: Uji River free; Byōdō‑in adults 600 yen, junior/senior high school students 400 yen, primary school students 300 yen; Phoenix Hall requires an additional 300 yen per person.)

【The Tale of Genji Museum】 Using multimedia audiovisual effects and vivid high‑definition imagery, the museum introduces the charm and outline of The Tale of Genji, displaying a model of the Rokujō‑in estate that symbolises the glory and wealth of Hikaru Genji. A quick browse can be completed in about 2 minutes, but a careful appreciation may take 1–2 hours or more. Seasonal exhibits feature aristocratic pastimes such as kaiawase (shell‑matching), go, and sugoroku, along with annual Heian‑period court events, presenting court culture in an accessible way. (Admission: adults 500 yen, primary and secondary school students 250 yen; closed on Mondays.)

Recommended long‑established Uji matcha shops (expenses to be borne by visitors)

【Taihō‑an】 Named for its position directly facing the Phoenix Hall. Address: 2 Uji Togawa, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture.

【Nakamura Tokichi Uji Main Store】 A hugely popular dessert shop where you can enjoy exclusive soft‑serve ice cream desserts made with premium Uji tea and served in bamboo tubes. Address: 10 Uji Ichiban, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture.

【Ito Kyūemon Main Store】 A time‑honoured representative of Kyoto Uji tea; its dine‑in matcha parfait and matcha soba are well worth trying. Address: 19‑3 Uji Arakaki, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture.

▼Genji no Yu（Approximately 60 minutes）（Hot spring fees to be borne by visitors）

Immerse yourself in a thousand years of warmth and enjoy an urban hot‑spring retreat. Savour the pleasures of the bath and fine food in this harmonious haven for relaxation.

High craftsmanship combines with traditional architecture to create a serene, purely Japanese space, evoking the leisurely hours of a mountain hot spring. Fully enjoy this moment of healing and tranquillity—and Genji no Yu is the only natural hot spring in Uji City.

The outdoor area features both shallow and deep baths, along with Shigaraki‑ware pot baths and a sauna. The indoor baths offer an open space overlooking the garden through large windows, and three pools featuring nano high‑concentration carbonated spring water, a first in Kyoto.

The facility also includes a relaxation massage salon, lounge area, and dining zone, allowing you to spend a leisurely time of physical and mental healing.

(Entrance fees to be borne by visitors: adults 1,100 yen, children 500 yen; towels and meals charged separately. Children of primary school age and below must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.)

▼Nara Park Area（Approximately 120 minutes, including time for lunch at your own expense; free time）

Each group will be given 1 serving of deer crackers worth 200 yen as a complimentary gift. This is a gift; if sold out, no refund will be provided. Nara Park Area: feed the deer amidst the maple forest.

Located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa in Nara City, this urban park is home to famous Nara landmarks such as Tōdai‑ji and Kasuga Taisha, making it a must‑visit when touring Nara. Mount Wakakusa, near the park, offers superb panoramic views of Nara, and hosts the traditional “Wakakusa Yamayaki” (mountain burning) event every January. Strolling at a leisurely pace is the best way to explore the park, which also has the largest concentration of deer—feeding the adorable deer is a major highlight for visitors. These deer are remarkably spirited: if they see crackers in your hands, they will approach on their own, so beware of being mobbed by herds of them. (Deer crackers reference price: 200 yen for 10 pieces.)

Recommended attractions: free time; entrance fees to be borne by visitors（Please choose one based on your actual schedule and preferences~）

Attraction introduction

【Tōdai‑ji】 Also known as Daikaku‑san‑ji or the Great Eastern Temple, it was built in 752 by Emperor Shōmu to enshrine the Great Buddha and serve as the head temple of all provincial temples in Japan; it is the head temple of the Kegon school. Two fires destroyed the original buildings; the current structure, rebuilt in 1692, is about two‑thirds the size of the original. The Great Buddha Hall — 57 metres wide and 50 metres deep — is the largest wooden building in the world. Inside, the hall houses a Great Buddha statue (Rushana Buddha) over 15 metres tall. The temple grounds also include the Nandaimon (Great South Gate), Nigatsu‑dō, and Sangatsu‑dō. (Admission: Tōdai‑ji Great Buddha Hall, adults 600 yen, children 300 yen; Great Buddha Hall + Museum, adults 1,000 yen, children 400 yen.)

【Kasuga Taisha】 Kasuga Taisha is located in Nara Park, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and was founded in the 2nd year of Wadō (710 AD). The deities enshrined include Takemikazuchi‑no‑mikoto, Futsunushi‑no‑mikoto, Amenokoyane‑no‑mikoto, and Hime‑gami. The annual festival is held on 13 March (Kasuga Matsuri), and the shrine was founded by Fujiwara no Fuhito. As part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, it is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and ranks among the Twenty‑Two Shrines. Its 1.5‑kilometre approach begins at a red torii gate, flanked by towering cedars and birch trees in a primeval forest. There are also over 2,000 donated stone lanterns of various sizes, and Nara deer hidden among the woods. (Admission: outer precincts free; main hall 500 yen.)

Lunch recommendations (expenses to be borne by visitors)

Kasugano

Kasugano, established in 1927 (Shōwa 2), is located in the shopping street in front of Mount Wakakusa. While dining, you may spot deer passing by. To let guests appreciate the natural beauty of Mount Wakakusa, the restaurant offers a variety of seasonal dishes.

Address: 494 Zōshichō, Nara City

Kasuga Nika Chaya

Kasuga Nika Chaya is run by Kasuga Taisha, one of Nara's famous attractions. Tucked away among the shrine and its deer, it serves traditional Japanese cuisine, and its signature dish is “Manyō Kayu” (porridge), made with ingredients inspired by seasonal plants, so the flavour varies from month to month—delicious and delightfully unpredictable. It is the perfect spot to recharge after visiting Kasuga Taisha, and travellers who love trying new things should not miss it. Address: 160 Kasugano‑chō, Nara City, Nara Prefecture.

Men Tōan

Udon noodles are a beloved staple across the Kansai region, and Men Tōan, located in Nara's shopping street, is one of Nara's most popular queue‑up restaurants. Its signature dish is “Kinchaku Udon” (udon wrapped in a pouch of fried tofu), while the “Ko‑jika Udon” featuring a deer imprint is exclusive to Nara and hugely popular. Address: 30‑1 Hashimoto‑chō, Nara City, Nara Prefecture.

After an enjoyable day of sightseeing, we begin the return journey. The return time is for reference only; we may return earlier depending on how smoothly the day goes and traffic conditions.

Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori Area（Approximately 1 hour, free time）

Guests may choose to spend about 1 hour exploring the Shinsaibashi area in Osaka.

Guests on the hotel pick‑up/drop‑off package who choose to sightsee will have their tour end here (this is considered waiving the hotel return service, and no refund of the transfer fee will be given).

Guests on the meeting‑point boarding/alighting package will be dismissed in the Shinsaibashi area, ending the tour.

Guests who do not wish to sightsee in Shinsaibashi and require the hotel/guesthouse return (or pick‑up and return) package should wait for the shuttle to arrive and be transferred back to their hotel/guesthouse to end the tour.

Shinsaibashi: One of Osaka's most famous shopping streets, lined with large department stores, chain drugstores, long‑established shops, and small boutiques. Goods of every grade and style are available, including Hello Kitty and Disney speciality stores. It is also a hub for drugstores beloved by shoppers, where you can browse cosmetics and skincare products freely. Most shops have Mandarin‑speaking staff and accept UnionPay, making shopping a breeze.

Dōtonbori: Synonymous with Osaka's food culture; day or night, this street never rests. As the birthplace of Osaka's legendary “eat till you drop” food culture, Dōtonbori offers a wealth of street food such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and Kinryū Ramen, along with traditional Japanese izakaya and trendy restaurants, including the hugely popular Kani Dōraku among visitors from China.