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Temple Spots in Nara Area

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  • Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Tenrishi Nakayamachou 401
    This temple carries a unique legend that differs from generally excepted historical fact. In it, it is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu narrowly avoided death after being defeated in Yamashiro Province by the army of Sanada Yukimura during the Winter Siege of Osaka in 1614 by escaping to Nara and hiding at the temple inside of an Okeya no Hitsugi (cooper's coffin). The temple is lined with numerous and diverse stone monuments and Buddhist images, including a large Muromachi- period image of the K?itigarbha and the grave of Matsudaira Sadakatsu, giving the temple grounds an atmosphere reminiscent of a hidden temple. The main temple gate is clearly marked with the Tokugawa family crest.
  • The Kohfukuji National Treasure Hall
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Narashi Noboriojichou 48
    The exterior of this museum located in Kohfukuji Temple recreates the appearance of the temple's dining hall when it was first built in the Nara period. The museum's collection includes paintings, Buddhist images, handicrafts, writings, documents, historical materials, artifacts, and other items related to the history of Kohfukuji Temple. Its centerpiece, however, is the Senju Kannon Bosatsu statue, which was the principal object of worship of the temple's former dining hall. Another item of note in the collection is a Nara period Ashura statue believed to be a masterpiece of the Tenpyo style of sculpture.
    The Kohfukuji National Treasure Hall image
  • Genjo-sanzo-in Garan, Yakushi-ji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457
    Genjo-sanzo-in Garan, Yakushi-ji Temple image
  • Katsuraki Imasuhono Shrine (Ikazuchi Shrine)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Katsuragi-shi Fuefuki 448
    "The Fuefuki Muraji family, who served the court as flutists, moved here in ancient times and established this shrine as a family shrine dedicated to Honoikazuchi-no-Kami. Accordingly, the shrine is nicknamed the ""Flute Player Palace."" Listed in the ancient ""Engi-shiki"" shrine register, the shrine is one of many ancient shrines in the former county of Oshimi and was ranked as a Kanpei Taisha shrine. There is a round burial mound 26 meters in diameter on the grounds which enshrines a family sarcophagus in a cave tomb to the northwest of the main shrine, and this is said to be the grave of Taketa Ori-no-Mikoto, the seventh generation Fuefuki Muraji."
  • Taimadera Temple Gonen'in
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Katsuragi-shi Taima 1263
    This is a sub temple of the Taimadera Temple, famous once the residence of Chujo-hime. Serving as a dressing room during the Nichiren memorial service held by the Taimadera on May 14, the sub-temple cares for all of the masks and costumes used in the ritual. The temple's garden makes use of Japan's only paired pagoda towers as part of its scenery and is planted with a variety of seasonal plants, including some 1,000 tree peonies, a group of 100-year-old great azaleas, and a three-hundred-year-old weeping cherry tree.
  • Saigyoan
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Yoshino-gun Yoshinocho Yoshinoyama
    This historic landmark is believed to have been the humble abode of the great priest Saigyo at the time of his death during the Kamakura period. Saigyo was originally a samurai charged with protecting the Imperial Palace in the capital of Kyoto, but he rebelled and ran away to become a poet with a love of flowers and the moon, eventually coming to live on Mt. Yoshino. The only way to reach the landmark is to walk from Kinpu Shrine, and the footing is poor, so take care when visiting.
    Saigyoan image
  • Ominesanji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Yoshino-gun Tenkawamura Dorogawa 703
    According to records, this temple, a fundamental center for the Shugendo syncretic faith, was founded when the mystic En no Gyoja saw a vision of the deity Zao Gongen after engaging in a period of asceticism in 672 and carved a representation of the figure in a cherry tree, enshrining it in a temple. The temple's current main temple building was constructed in 1691. Thereafter, the temple expanded and reached its current scale in 1703. A rare extant example of a temple built on a high mountain and also one of the few remaining Shugendo temples, the temple is of high historic value and has been designated a National Important Cultural Property.
    Ominesanji Temple image
  • Handa Gokurakuji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Gokurakuji 108
    "This ancient Buddhist temple is enwrapped in the abundant natural beauty of Mt. Kongo and Mt. Katsuragi. The temple is also known as the Handa Gokurakuji after Handa, an ancient name for the local area. Extolling the virtues of Ten'e Nyorai, the temple is also believed to grant faithful worshippers protection from misfortune and good luck. Records state the temple was built at the request of the samurai Kusunoki Masashige during the Nanboku-cho period and, as a key pint of contact between Kawachi, Kongo, and Yoshino, it is also said that ""Gokurakuji"" was used as a password by the Southern Dynasty side."
  • Hashimotoin (Kotenji Temple)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Takama 350
    Records state that the honorary mountain title and name of this Kannon Buddhist temple, known for its flowers, date back to 718. The temple's principal object of worship is a huge, 5.4-meter-high wooden statue of an eleven-faced Hase-style Avalokitesvara (Kannon) holding a water vessel in the left hand and a staff in the right. The temple's meditation garden blooms with beautiful seasonal flowers, and visitors are charmed by cherry blossoms in spring, lotuses, camellias, and other flowers.
  • Ishii Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Sakurai-shi Ossaka 870
    "This small kaisho ""meeting"" Buddhist temple has no presiding priest. A small storage room, located behind the main temple building, enshrines a stone relief carving depicting the Bhaisajyaguru Triad which is said to be the oldest stone Buddhist statue in Japan. A reservation is required to view the statue. In addition, as the statue is scheduled to undergo restoration work from April 13, 2019 to the end of March, 2020, a banner depicting the statue will be hung in its place during this time."
    Ishii Temple image
  • Todaimon (Great East Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    "Also called the ""Nakanomon,"" this gate stands between the Horyuji temple's Western and Eastern Precincts. Apparently, the gate once faced south on the east side of Kagami Pond and is said to have been moved to its current location in the Heian period. A superb example of Nara period architecture, the gate employs an unusual three ridgepole design. The gate has been designated a National Treasure."
  • Nandaimon (South Main Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This gate stands at the entrance to the Horyuji temple. A three-ridgepole single-tier gate with eight secondary pillars and a single opening, it originally stood at the top of the stone steps in front of the Middle Gate when the current main temple building was built but was later moved to its current location as the temple grounds expanded. The original gate was lost in a fire in 1435; the current gate was rebuilt in 1438. The gate has been designated a National Treasure.
  • Chumon (Middle Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This gate is the front entrance to the Western Precinct. Decorated with large eaves, the four-bay gate has two entrances. An example of the magnificent architecture of the Asuka period, the gate has entasis columns, and, on the upper level, a balustrade adorned with manjikuzushi latticework and split support columns similar to that of the Main Hall. The gate has been designated a National Treasure.
  • Kondo (Main Hall)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This is the oldest structure in the Horyuji temple's Western Precinct. The hall's deep eaves give it a beautiful shape which exudes stability. The hall has two hip-and-gable tiled roofs as well as a pent roof on the lower level; the roof tiles blend more harmoniously than shingles would with the rafters, mica, and cloud-shaped brackets under the deep eaves. The hall has been designated a National Treasure. The hall enshrines statues of the Shakyamuni Triad, Bhaisajyaguru, and the Amitabha Triad.
  • Daihozoin (Great Treasure Gallery)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This gallery enshrines the many treasures which the Horyuji temple has collected over the years. The Tamamushi no Zushi altar, an example of Asuka period architecture, is particularly famous. Other items which continue to bring ancient culture to life today include an altar stated to have belonged to Agata Inukai no Michiyo depicting the Amitabha Triad on lotus flowers in a pond backed by detailed halos and a backdrop; and the Yumechigai Kannon.
  • Kondo (Main Hall)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Gojocho 13-46
    This is the main hall of the Toshodaiji Temple, which is one of the sites which make up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO World Heritage listing. Built in the latter half of the eighth century, the hall enshrines nine Buddhist statues designated National Treasures, including the temple's principal object of worship, a seated statue of Vairocana Buddha; as well as a standing statue of Bhaisajyaguru, and a thousand-armed Kannon. The only extant main hall of a Buddhist temple erected in the Nara period, the hall itself has also been designated a National Treasure.
    Kondo (Main Hall) image
  • Ordination Platform
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Gojocho 13-46
    This ordination platform is located on the grounds of the Toshodaiji Temple, which is one of the sites which make up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO World Heritage listing. Used to ordain Buddhist priests, the current platform consists of stone steps built in the Kamakura period, and a two-tier tower erected in 1978 modeled after an ancient tower at Sanchi in India.
  • Tanjo-ji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Mitsumunecho
    This Buddhist temple is located in Mitsumune-cho, Nara City. The temple is located on the site of the former residence of Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Toyonari. The location is believed to be the birthplace of Toyonari's daughter, Chujo-hime, who, according to legend, wove the Taima Mandala owned by the Taimadera Temple in Katsuragi City in a single evening.
  • East Pagoda
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457
    This National Treasure-designated three-tier pagoda is located on the grounds of the Yakushiji Temple in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City. Since it was founded some 1,300 years ago, the Yakushiji has been damaged several times through natural disasters and war fires, and this structure is the only extant one dating to the time of the temple's establishment. Between 2009 and 2020, the pagoda was completely dismantled for the first time ever for repair and restoration purposes.
    East Pagoda image
  • West Pagoda
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457
    This three-tier pagoda is located on the grounds of the Yakushiji Temple in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City. The original was destroyed in a war fire in 1528; the current pagoda was rebuilt approximately 450 years later in 1981. In contrast to the National Treasure-designated East Pagoda, the temple's only original structure dating to the time of its foundation, this pagoda is notable for its vivid colors and looks much as the rest of the temple would have when newly built over a millennia ago.
    West Pagoda image
Nara
Nara City Ikaruga / Yamatokoriyama Asuka Kashihara Yamanobe Road / Sakurai Yoshino Tenkawa Village / Totsukawa Village Ikoma
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With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of "traditional Japan." The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.

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