Full-Day Guided Experience: Osaka's Historic Kokubun-ji Temple, the Legendary Matazaemon Cherry Blossom Tree, Nara's Scenic Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Nara Park & Mt. Wakakusa Area (Lunch here, lunch fee not included) This urban park sits at the base of Mt. Wakakusa and serves as home to major Nara attractions including Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, making it essential for any Nara itinerary. Between late March and early April, some 1,700 cherry trees blanket the park in successive blooms. Soft pink Somei-yoshino petals frame ancient temples and open grassland, while free-roaming deer complete the archetypal Nara spring landscape. Tōdai-ji (Admission fee not included) Spring cherry blossoms soften the austere presence of this temple's Great Buddha Hall, creating one of Nara's most iconic seasonal views. Founded in 752 by Emperor Shōmu to house the Great Buddha and serve as the principal temple for Japan's provincial monasteries, Tōdai-ji is now the head temple of the Kegon sect. Fire destroyed the complex twice; the present structures date to 1692 and measure roughly two-thirds the original size. (Admission: Great Buddha Hall - Adults 800 JPY, Ages 13-18 800 JPY, Ages 6-12 400 JPY; Great Buddha Hall + Museum - Adults 1200 JPY, Children 6-12 600 JPY) Mt. Wakakusa At 342 meters high, this mountain features gentle, grass-covered slopes that resemble three stacked hats, earning the nickname "Mikasa-yama." The peak attracts visitors annually for January's Yamayaki festival, a traditional mountain-burning ceremony unique to Nara. Kasuga Taisha (Shrine grounds are freely accessible. Main Sanctuary, Treasure Hall, and Manyō Botanical Garden entry require separate fees, not included.) Established in 768 under Empress Kōken's orders, this shrine differs from typical shrines by enshrining four deities brought from Kashima (Saga), Katori (Chiba), Hiraoka (Osaka), and other locations. Matazaemon Cherry Tree Located in Ōuda City's Hongō district, this weeping cherry of the Shidare-zakura type ranks among Nara Prefecture's most celebrated specimens. Local tradition ties it to Sengoku warrior Gotō Matazaemon, who allegedly settled here following the Siege of Osaka; the tree stands near his former residence and carries his name in local memory. Kokubun-ji Temple (Admission fee included) Beyond celebrated destinations like Nara Park and Mt. Yoshino, this lesser-known temple offers stunning spring cherry blossoms alongside spiritual significance. Devotees come to pray for eye health while over a thousand trees on the grounds burst into bloom during peak season. The