Best Visiting around Nara, Ikoma, Tenri Spot List

The second-oldest national museum in Japan, located in Nara Park. It boasts the nation's greatest collection of Buddhist art.

Encounter the Man’yoshu and plants from time immemorial

Reproduction of the center of the ancient capital, Nara. Daigokuden (Council Hall in the Imperial Palace) and gardens line up in this vast historical site.

A large temple in Nara featuring many structures that illustrate the culture from the Tempyo Period. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Beloved Buddha artifacts inside the school of Heijo Palace

One of Nara’s most famous gardens

An old town house to relax in

The graceful standing statue of Gigeiten is a must-see attraction

This is the remains of the garden of Daijo-in Temple, which was a monzeki temple (a temple of high rank where members of the imperial family and nobility enter the priesthood) of Kofuku-ji Temple. After the restoration was completed in 2010, these remains were made open to the public. You can also see them from Daijo-in Temple Garden Culture Hall located in the south of the garden.

Legend has it that the temple buildings were built by Emperor Shomu. In addition to the exquisite Kamakura-Period-style Romon Gate (National Treasure) facing the old road, there is a Kamakura-Period-style thirteen-story pagoda (Important Cultural Property) towering at the center of the temple grounds. The temple is also famous for its cosmos flowers.

A vault of many national cultural artifacts from the Nara period

Enjoy an ancient Nara ritual at the summit. The Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival is held every January

View three gardens, each with its own unique charm

The oldest surviving building of Todaiji Temple. All the Buddhist statues stored here are national treasures

An ancient ritual practice in which several deer are chased down to have their antlers trimmed

See the brave figures of twelve protective deities

Nara’s Great Buddha is seated here

A shrine to the beautiful Mount Miwa, worshiped since ancient times

A three-tiered pagoda and world heritage site, 1200 years old

During the Nara Period, the guardian deity of the hiike (pond where ice used in the Imperial court was made) and the himuro (storeroom for ice), which were built in the Kasugano field beside Yoshiki-gawa River, was enshrined in the shrine. It was later moved to the current location. On May 1 every year, a festival called Kenpyosai takes place in which workers at companies that make and sell ice pray for success in business. The current shrine pavilion is said to have been reconstructed in the Edo Period. Also, the weeping cherry trees in the shrine grounds are very beautiful.