Gango-ji Temple (元興寺)
4.0
A Buddhist temple located in Chuin Town, Nara City. The temple was originally constructed as the Hoko-ji Temple (Asuka-dera Temple), Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple, by Soga no Umako in the end of sixth century. The temple was later moved to its current location and given a new name with the transfer of the capital to ancient Nara. In addition to being registered as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara World Heritage Site, the temple’s Gokuraku-do hall, Zen meditation room, and five-tier pagoda are all designated National Treasures. Special themed exhibitions of the temple’s collection of artwork and treasures are held each year in spring and autumn in the special exhibition room of the temple’s Horin-kan hall.
Review of Gango-ji Temple
TripAdvisor Traveler RatingDetails
- Hours
- 9:00-17:00 (Introduction until 16:30)
- Closed
- open everyday
- Fees
- [Admission fee to worship]
[Adult] 500yen
[Junior and senior high school students] 300yen
[Elementary School Students] 100yen - Parking Lot
- Available(10spaces)
- Credit Card
- Not available
- Smoking
- Not available
- Wi-Fi
- Not available
Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN
Access
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.