How to Spend a Perfect Day in Nara with Travel Map

Itinerary Map

Horyu-ji Temple area map

Nara city center map

Click the square mark on the top left of the map to see a list of tourist spots. If you open the enlarge button on the top right corner on your smartphone, this model course will be displayed on Google Maps along with its location information. You can also quickly return to this map from the table of contents in the sidebar (if using a smartphone, select “Go to table of contents” from the menu at the bottom of the screen).

【Start】

①Horyu-ji Station

You can get there by taking the Yamatoji Line train from JR Nara Station towards Osaka (fare: 230 yen).

★Route time required：15 min

Take bus number 72 from the bus terminal at the south exit of Horyu-ji Station and get off at the last stop, Horyu-ji Sando (fare: 220 yen). Continue along the approach to the temple and you will see the gate of Horyu-ji Temple.

②Horyu-ji

Time required：1 h

Admission fee：2000 yen

Opening hour：8 am – 5 pm
（until 4 h30 pm 11/4 – 2/21）

Close：No

This temple was built in 607 by Prince Shotoku together with Empress Suiko for his late father, Emperor Yomei. When it was first built, it was called Ikaruga-dera Temple because it was located next to Ikaruga Palace, where Prince Shotoku had moved to. It is divided into two areas, the Western Temple Compound and the Eastern Temple Compound, and was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, along with Himeji Castle. It is famous as the world’s oldest wooden building, but in fact it is the Western Temple Compound that was burned down in 670 and rebuilt by the beginning of the Nara period. The Eastern Temple Compound is centered on the Yumedono Hall, which was built by the high priest Gyoshin Sozu on the former site of the Ikaruga Palace in the Nara period to hold a memorial service for Prince Shotoku. Horyuji Temple has 150 national treasures (38 items) and approximately 3,000 important cultural properties, and most of the buildings are national treasures or important cultural properties.

Here we will introduce the main attractions of each of the east and west areas, focusing on the national treasures.

Western Temple Complex

Five-story pagoda:
This is the first building that comes to mind when you think of Horyuji Temple. It is the oldest pagoda in Japan, built during the Asuka period. It is 32.55 meters tall, and the higher the floor, the smaller the roof. In the lowest floor, statues that recreate four anecdotes about Buddha are installed on the east, west, north, and south.

Main hall:
This hall is located next to the five-story pagoda, and is the oldest building in the Western Temple complex. Although it looks like a two-story building from the outside, it is actually one story. Inside are Buddha statues that are all national treasures, including the Shaka Triad, Yakushi Nyorai statue, and Amida Triad.

Great lecture hall:
This hall is located behind the five-story pagoda and the main hall. Unlike today, it used to be independent outside the corridor. Inside the hall, there is the Yakushi Triad, which was created at the same time as the reconstruction in 990, along with the Four Heavenly Kings.

Daihozoin:
Many of the temple treasures related to Horyuji Temple are enshrined here, and it is made up of three buildings: the Baekje Kannon Hall, the Toho Hall, and the Saiho Hall. Many national treasures such as the statues of Kannon Bodhisattva and Jizo Bodhisattva are on display here. Among them, the storage device called Tamamushi Zushi is famous for its decoration, which is covered with real Tamamushi wings.

Eastern Temple Complex

Yumedono:
This octagonal hall was built for Prince Shotoku by the high priest Gyōshin on the former site of the Ikaruga Palace, and is the main hall of the Toin Garan. It was completed in 748, but renovated in 1230. Inside are the Guze Kannon statue, a life-size statue of Prince Shotoku, and the Gyōshin Sozu Seated Statue. These can only be viewed during a limited period, and you must go during the special exhibition periods of 4/11-5/18 and 10/22-11/22.

Eden:
There are shōji paintings that record the history of Prince Shotoku. The work from 1069 is on display at the Tokyo National Museum, and the one here was painted in the Edo period.

Shariden:
Shari is a relic of Buddha, and here is placed the one that came out of Prince Shotoku’s palm when he put his hands together in prayer at the age of two. It is open to the public on the first three days of the New Year.

Denpo-do:
The residence of Tachibana Konakachi, wife of Emperor Shomu, was converted into a Buddhist temple, and various Buddhist statues are enshrined in the central, eastern and western rooms, including a dry lacquer Amida Triad.

★Route time required：25 min

Take the bus back to Horyu-ji Station and return to JR Nara Station (fare: 230 yen).

③JR Nara station

★Route time required：15 min

Go left along the street in front of the station and turn right at the first traffic light to enter Sanjo Street, where the sidewalk is paved. Continue straight for a while and you will see a temple on your left.

④Kofuku-ji

Time required : 1 h

Admission fee：1400 yen

Opening hour：9 am – 5 pm

Close：No

This temple is famous for its five-story pagoda, and was originally built in 669 when Fujiwara Kamatari’s wife built a place to enshrine a Buddha statue in prayer for his recovery when he fell ill. It was originally called Yamashina-dera Temple. It was later called Umayasaka-dera Temple during the Asuka period, and when the capital was moved to Heijo-kyo it took on the current name of Kofuku-ji Temple. It was the family temple of the Fujiwara clan, and became one of the four great temples in the Nara period and one of the seven great temples in the Heian period.

The Chu-kondō Hall, National Treasure Museum, and To-kondō Hall are paid areas.

The main sights are as follows:

Chukon-do:
This building is the core of Kofuku-ji Temple and enshrines the Shaka Nyorai statue. It was built by Fujiwara no Fuhito, who built the prosperity of the Fujiwara clan. Its name comes from the fact that it is located between the Tokon-do and Seikon-do. It has burned down many times in the past, and after the fire in 1717, it was not restored for financial reasons, and 100 years later, a temporary hall was built behind it with donations from residents. The current Chukon-do was rebuilt in 2018.

National Treasure Museum:
This museum was originally a dining hall (jikido), where monks ate. It displays national treasures such as the Ashura statue and the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva, which was enshrined in the dining hall, as well as paintings, crafts, and ancient documents.

Tokon-do:
This hall was built by Emperor Shomu to pray for the recovery of his aunt from illness, and enshrines Yakushi Nyorai. At the time, the floor and platform were decorated with greenery to recreate the Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land of Yakushi Nyorai. It has been damaged by fire five times, and the current one was built in 1415.

Five-story pagoda:
This pagoda was built by Empress Komyo, the daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito, who built the Chukondo. At about 45m tall, it is the second tallest wooden building in Japan after Toji Temple in Kyoto, and was the tallest in Japan when it was completed. It has been burned down five times, and only the one built in 1426 remains to this day.

Three-story pagoda:
This is the oldest building in Kofuku-ji, along with the North Round Hall, which is said to be the most beautiful of Japan’s remaining octagonal round halls. It is open to the public only on July 7th, and inside you can see the seated statue of Benzaiten from Seson-in, a sub-temple of Kofuku-ji.

★Route time required：5 min

Exit next to the five-story pagoda inside Kofuku-ji Temple and continue through the park.

⑤Nara Park

This park is famous for its deer. Most of the tourist spots in this article are located within the grounds of Nara Park. It was established in 1880 and covers an area of ​​approximately 660 hectares including the Kasuga Primeval Forest. There are approximately 1,300 deer, known as messengers of the gods of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, within the park, and they are wild and a natural monument. They are usually docile, but be careful as they can be dangerous during the birthing season from May to July and the mating season from September to November. The deer will be very happy if you buy them deer crackers at the shop in the park.

★Route time required：10 min

Exit onto the road and when you reach the intersection with the approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, turn left and continue along the road with the building on your left until you see the gate.

⑥Todai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate)

Time required : 5 min

This is the main gate of Todaiji Temple, standing at a height of approximately 25.5m. The original gate was destroyed by a typhoon during the Heian period, and the current gate was built in 1203. It is one of Japan’s largest multi-story gates, and its architecture incorporates the style of the Song dynasty. The Kongorikishi statues inside the gate are famous, and the two statues, A-gata and Un-gata, each about 8.4m tall, are said to have been made by Unkei and Kaikei in just 69 days. During the first renovation carried out between 1988 and 1993, various documents were found inside the statues, leading to many discoveries.

★Route time required：5 min

Go out the gate and go straight to the temple.

⑦Todai-ji Temple Great Buddha Hall

Time required : 30 min

Admission fee：800 yen

Opening hour：7 am – 5h30 pm
（8 am – 5 pm from November to March）

Close：No

This is the building where the famous Great Buddha is located. Todaiji Temple itself originated from Kinshozan-ji Temple, which was built by Emperor Shomu to mourn the crown prince. During that period, there were many other disasters such as smallpox epidemics and earthquakes, so provincial temples and provincial nunneries were built in various places to save the country with the power of Buddhism. Later, Todaiji Temple was built as the head temple of these temples, and the Great Buddha was enshrined there. Construction began in what is now Shiga Prefecture, where the capital was at the time, but it was destroyed by fire and earthquakes, so it was rebuilt at the Kinshozan-ji Temple site when the capital was moved to Heijo-kyo. Therefore, this Great Buddha Hall is the main building, or Kondo, among the many buildings of Todaiji Temple. It has suffered two fires since the Nara period, and was rebuilt in the Edo period in a smaller size, but it is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, measuring 57m east to west, 50.5m north to south, and 48.7m high.

The official name of the Great Buddha enshrined here is Vairocana or Vairocana, which means a Buddha who everywhere shines with the light of wisdom and compassion.

The gigantic Great Buddha, standing approximately 15m tall, has been damaged and repaired many times, not only during the Nara period, but also during the Heian, Kamakura and Edo periods. The base of the Great Buddha represents the world of enlightenment preached in the Avatamsaka Sutra. There is a hole in the pillar to the left of the Buddha, and it is said that if you can fit through it, you will become intelligent. In front of the Great Buddha Hall building there is an octagonal lantern, designated as a national treasure. It is the oldest and largest surviving cast copper lantern in Japan, created during the Nara period.

★Route time required：10 min

Go past the Great Buddha Hall, go around to the back and continue straight along the road until you see the storehouse on your left.

⑧Shosoin Treasure House

Time required : 5 min

This is a storehouse that stored the treasures of Emperor Shomu. It is long, about 33m wide and 9.3m deep, and has a raised floor with a floor depth of about 2.5m. You cannot visit inside, so you can only see the outside. Shosoin refers to the storage of grains and other items, and is a place surrounded by a moat. There were other places, but now this is the only one, so Shosoin refers to this place. Shosoin is composed of three parts: the Kitakura, which contains the treasures of Emperor Shomu, the Nakakura and Minamikura, which contain Buddhist altar implements for ceremonies and events at Todaiji Temple. Most of the treasures were made in Japan, but Western Asian patterns and materials were used, and some were imported, so it is said to be the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Some of these treasures are exhibited at the Nara National Museum every autumn as part of the Shosoin Exhibition.

★Route time required：10 min

Follow the path back to the back of the Great Buddha Hall and turn left. After a short distance, you will come to a fork in the road. Go right and you will see the temple on your left.

⑨Nigatsu-do, February Hall

Time required : 15 min

Admission fee：0 yen

Opening hour：24 hours

Close：No

Another name for the Jōin Kannon-dō, the name comes from the fact that in February of the lunar calendar, Todaiji monks hold a memorial service called Shunie (also known as Omizutori) to the principal image of the temple, the Eleven-Headed Kannon, to repent of people’s sins and pray for the peace of the nation. From the stage here, you can get a panoramic view of Nara, making it a popular tourist spot. As the scale of the Shunie ceremony grew over time, the hall was expanded accordingly, resulting in the current shape.

★Route time required：a few minutes

As you exit Nigatsudo Hall, go to the hall immediately to your left.

⑩Sangatsu-do, March Hall

Time required : 15 min

Admission fee：800 yen

Opening hour：8h30 am – 4 pm

Close：No

It was named Sangatsudo Hall because the Hokke-e ceremony, where lectures on the Lotus Sutra were held every March, was held here, and it was also the place where the first lecture on the Lotus Sutra took place in Japan. It was also called Kousakudo Hall because it enshrines the statue of Avalokitesvara. It is the oldest building in Todaiji Temple and consists of a worship hall in the front and a main hall in the back. Inside, you can see nine of the ten national treasure Buddha statues.

★Route time required：10 min

Leave Sangatsudo and go left, then follow the road until you reach a road. Continue straight and you will come to a curve, where there are stairs. Go down the stairs and cross the bridge in front of you. Turn left at the end of the road and you will reach a gate. Continue right along the building and you will reach the entrance.

⑪Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Time required : 20 min

Admission fee：700 yen

Opening hour：6h30 am – 5h30 pm
（7 apm – 5 pm from November to February）

Close：No

Built in 768 as a prayer for the protection and prosperity of Heijo-kyo, it is the head shrine of the approximately 1,000 Kasuga Taisha shrines across the country. The Kasuga Festival, held every year on March 13th, is one of the three imperial festivals, along with the Aoi Festival at Kamo Shrine in Kyoto and the Iwashimizu Festival at Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.

The following four main deities are enshrined in the main hall.

① Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto

② Futsunushi-no-mikoto

③ Amenokoyane-no-mikoto

④ Himegami

Originally, only Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto was enshrined there, but later, by order of the emperor, other gods were moved there from various places. Also, when Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto came to this area, he rode on a white deer, which is why deer became messengers of the gods, and is the reason why there are so many deer in Nara Park. This main shrine is located inside a building surrounded by a corridor called the main shrine (Omiya), but you cannot go directly there, and general visitors pray from the offering hall. If you take advantage of the special visit, you can enter from the middle gate and see the corridor. However, there are many days when it is not possible to visit, so please check the Kasuga Taisha website for details.

KasugaTaisha Shrine Homepage
https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/basic/

★Route time required：5 min

As you leave Omiya and walk along the road ahead, you will see a red building on your left. There are many lanterns along the road, but Kasuga Taisha Shrine has around 3,000 lanterns and used to be the brightest place in Nara. It is said that 70% of the lanterns from the Muromachi period were located here, and this is also where the tradition of lining the approach to the shrine began. Every year on the nights of February 3rd and August 14th and 15th, all of the lanterns are lit up.

⑫Wakamiya Jingu Shrine

Time required : 1 h

Admission fee：1500 yen

Opening hour：9 am – 3 pm

Close：No

Among the 62 Kasuga Taisha shrines, this shrine is a special one and has almost the same structure as Omiya. The four main deities of Omiya, Ameno-Koyane-no-Mikoto and Amenooshikumone-no-Mikoto, the child of Hime-no-Kami, are enshrined here.

The Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri festival is held every year from December 15th to 18th, and is the annual festival of Wakamiya that has been held since 1136. It began when Fujiwara Tadamichi, who was the regent at the time, prayed for peace in the world and bountiful harvests, and is registered as an important intangible folk cultural property. The shrine is picked up at midnight on the 17th and returned by midnight on the 18th, and various events such as yabusame and a procession called owatari-shiki are held throughout the city.

You can also visit other shrines and sub-shrines, including this Wakamiya Shrine, on the Wakamiya 15 Shrine Tour. The reception is at Meoto Daikoku-sha, the only shrine in Japan that enshrines a married couple of Daikokusama, and is said to bring good luck in marital harmony and matchmaking. Each shrine enshrines a different deity and offers different benefits.

★Route time required：5 min

Return the way you came, and when you reach the entrance to Omiya, turn left and go down the slope. Once you leave the torii gate, there is a parking lot on your right, so go to the adjacent museum.

⑬Kasuga Taisha Kokuhoden (Museum)

Time required : 40 min

Admission fee：500 yen

Opening hour：10 am – 5 pm

Close：No

This museum holds the treasures of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, with 354 national treasures and 2,526 important cultural properties. As most of the treasures are from the Heian period, it is also called the Shosoin of the Heian period. The exhibits change depending on the theme of the special exhibition, and there is a wide variety of items on display, including crafts, armor, and swords. On the first floor, there is a 6.57m-tall taiko drum, the largest in Japan, said to have been donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo.

★Route time required：40 min

When you return to the parking lot, go left and then go left at the fork until you reach the road. Continue left along the road and you will return to the intersection leading to Namdaemun Gate. Take the same road back to Nara Station.

【Goal】

JR Nara station

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