Temple Spots in Heijo Palace Remains / Nishinokyo Area

Area

Nara
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Nara City

Heijo Palace Remains / Nishinokyo

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Yakushiji Temple

4.0

497 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Nishinokyouchou 457

Together with the Kohfukuji Temple, the Yakushiji Temple is the headquarters of the Hosso school of Buddhism. The temple was built in 680 in the then-capital of Fujiwara-kyo by Emperor Tenmu to pray for the recovery of his ill consort, who later succeeded him as Empress Jito. The temple was moved to its current location in 718. Originally, the temple was comprised of a magnificent number of structures connected via galleries, but, excluding the East Pagoda, these were destroyed by fire and war. The colorful main hall, West Pagoda, central gate, galleries, and the largest grand hall inside the grounds have been rebuilt. The East Pagoda, a National Treasure and the temple’s only original structure remaining from when it was first erected, appears at first glance to be a six-tier pagoda but is in fact a three tier-one. (Note: The East Pagoda is scheduled to undergo restoration until June 2020.)

If you havent visited Kyotos temple districts or want to see temples without the crowds in and around Kyoto, or youd like to see more temples, and youre in Nara overnight, Yakushi-ji and...
Auditorium

4.5

639 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Gojocho 13-46

A bit out of town but you can get a bus at train/bus station. It’s a lovely temple and there was a row of blooming plums which made me really feel I was here during cherry season Great pagodas If...
Akishino-dera Temple

4.5

111 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Akishinochou 757

"A Buddhist temple located north of the Saidai-ji Temple in Akishino-cho, Nara City. The temple's principal object of worship is a statue of Bhaisajyaguru, and the main temple building, erected in the distant Kamakura period, has been designated a National Treasure. The main temple building famously enshrines Japan's only wooden statue depicting a standing Gigeiten deva. Once a year on June 6th, the temple unveils its six armed wooden statue depicting a Atavaka entwined by a serpent (this statue has been a ""hidden Buddha"" statue not normally shown to lay people since the temple was dedicated to Shingon Esoteric Buddhism), attracting large numbers of visitors. Collectors should take note that this is also the only day you can receive the temple's goshuin seal mark."

This monastery autumn bamboo according to tradition founded in the 8th century. Very nice and quiet complex of the temple. There were a lot of tourists.
Saidai-ji Temple

4.0

91 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Saidaijishibamachi 1-1-5

A Buddhist temple located in Saidaijishiba Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. The head temple of Shingon Risshu Buddhism, the temple’s history stretches back to the time when Empress Shotoku commissioned of statures of the Four Heavenly Kings in 765. The temple’s principal object of worship, a standing stature of Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni) housed in the main temple building, as well as a seated stature of Ragaraja (esoteric school deity of love) in the Aizen-do hall (not provided for public viewing) and an 11-faced standing stature of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) in the Shio-do hall are all designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple also possesses various other treasures, including rare Buddhist images, esoteric ritual implements, and sculptures from the Heian and Kamakura periods, a portion of which are displayed in the temple’s Shuho-kan hall.

Saidaji is less known probably due to its size and it is a few stations away from Nara Kintetsu station. It is located less than 4 min walk from Kintetsu Yamato Saidaji Station. Visited this temple...
Hokke-ji temple

4.0

59 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Hokkejichou 882

Once known as the Hokke Metsuzai no Tera, the head temple of all provincial temples in Japan, this Buddhist temple is located in Hokkeji Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. The temple was built in 745 by Empress Komyo on the site of the former home of her father, Fujiwara no Fuhito. The main temple building, belfry, and south gate, rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo-dono, are designated Important Cultural Properties. It is said that the temple’s principal object of worship, a 11-faced standing statue of Kannon designated a National Treasure, was modeled after Empress Komyo; this figure is only revealed to the public for special events in spring and autumn. Highlights include a bathhouse which hints at Empress Komyo’s interest in social welfare and a garden with beautiful rabbitear irises.

聖武天皇の妃、光明皇后の発願で創建された名刹、毎年、春と秋に特別公開されている様子。本尊国宝の「十一面観音」は光明皇后がモデルとも伝承されている。今回は平安時代の浄土芸術の傑作、国宝絹本着色阿弥陀三尊など、１０月２５日から１１月１５日まで公開されていました。仏像以外にも池にせり出した堂宇や庭園も必見の古寺名刹です。
Kairyuou-ji Temple

4.0

60 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Pref. Narashi Hokkejichou 897

A Buddhist temple located along Prefectural Route 104 in Hokkeji Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. During the Tempyo period, the temple’s first head priest, Genho, who had traveled to Tang China, encountered a fierce storm on the journey home; he washed ashore at Tanegashima and returned safely in spite of this disaster. It is believed that this is thanks to Genho fervently intoning the Kairyu-o-kyo (the sutra on the king of the sea dragons) while aboard ship, and even today the temple is visited by many worshippers seeking to ensure their safety while traveling or studying abroad. The temple is also said to be the originator of the practice of copying the Heart Sutra.

平城宮跡への旅行予定が、たまたま秋季特別開帳の最終日と重なったため参拝にうかがいました。驚いたのは、十一面観音菩薩立が秘仏として保存されてきたため、遠い昔の鎌倉時代の慶派仏師の作にもかかわらず彩色や切金細工が長い時代を乗り超えてきたことです。こんなにも極めて往時の姿を彷彿とさせる仏像を拝見するのは初めての経験でした。これからは特別拝観の時季を選んでお寺や神社に出かけようと思いました。
Ryosenji Temple

4.0

21 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nakamachi 3879

A temple in Naka-machi, Nara City. It was founded by the monk Gyoki under orders from Emperor Shomu in 736. The main hall was rebuilt during the Kamakura Period and has been designated a National Treasure. The temple holds many precious Buddhist statues including the principal object of worship, a seated statue of Yakushinyorai which has been designated an Important Cultural Property. There's also a rose garden on the grounds with 2,000 rose plants covering 200 different varieties.

綺麗に設えられたバラ園はそれなりに美しい。花は咲き始めたり既に盛りであったりする。いくつかの香り高い種類を期待して行ったが蕾もろくにない種類もあった。見事なバラ園は世間にいくつもあるが、この種類豊富なバラ苗販(直)売所は珍しいかもしれない。次々と売れていくから、今年は何度か通ってみようかと思う。
Kikoji Temple

4.0

27 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Sugaharacho 508

山門前に設置されている縁起からですが奈良時代の初期、721年に行基上人によって創建されました。その後荒廃しましたが、室町時代に再興、現在に至ります。
Genjo-sanzo-in Garan, Yakushi-ji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457
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.
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.
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.
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.
Toindo

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457

This National Treasure-designated Buddhist temple hall is located on the grounds of the Yakushiji Temple in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City. The hall was built in the first half of the eighth century by Princess Kibi to pray for the eternal repose of the soul of her mother, Empress Genmei. The current hall was rebuilt in 1285. The hall enshrines a National Treasure-designated statue of Avalokitesvara dating to the Hakuho period, and Kamakura period statues of the Four Heavenly Kings designated an Important Cultural Property.
Genjo Sanzoin Complex

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nishinokyocho 457

This is one of the temple complexes of the Yakushiji Temple in Nishinokyo-cho, Nara City. The complex was built in 1991 to enshrine a portion of the ashes of Chinese monk Xuanzang, who travelled to India and brought back numerous sutra books; as well as a statue of the monk. There's also a mural created by painter Ikuo Hirayama depicting Xuanzang's journey.
Toshodaiji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Gojocho 13-46
Oryuji Temple

4.0

4 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nimyo 6-chome 1492

Passed a couple of golf courses ad a country club trying to find it. You really need some transport to access the Oryuji. There is a mountain gate you can go through and enjoy the uphill mountain...
Jokoji Temple

5.0

2 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Oshikumacho 212

This Temple has many very old and unique scrolls and statues. The Head Master is very knowledgeable about Shingon Buddhism and especially Shingon Risshu Saidaiji
Anrakuji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Nakayamacho 1303
Enpukuji Temple

Travel / Tourism

Nara Nara-shi Sakicho 2667

Nara Nara City Heijo Palace Remains / Nishinokyo

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Temple Temple

Nara Areas

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.