Sightseeing in Nara

The symbol of Nara Park, the deer, has long been protected as a sacred deer for Kasuga Taisha Shrine and is designated as a national natural monument. There are nearly 1,200 deer in the park. Every year, on Sundays and national holidays in October, events such as “antler cutting” and “deer gathering” are held in the deer park during winter when food is scarce.

Known for the Daibutsuyō, Nara's representative temple, the Daibutsuden is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. In Tenpyō 15 (year 743), Emperor Shomu issued an imperial decree for the construction of the Rushana Daibutsu (Great Buddha), which was built with the cooperation of many people in the hope that it would bring happiness to all. In Tenpyō-shōhō 4 (year 752), a memorial service was held to open the eyes of the Great Buddha, and since then, buildings were constructed one after another, and it took nearly 40 years to complete the temple.

Of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, this temple developed with the closest ties to the city of Nara. The current temple buildings, some of which remain from the Kamakura period, are lined up within the spacious grounds, including the Central Golden Hall, the Eastern Golden Hall, the Northern Round Hall, the Southern Round Hall, the Five-story Pagoda, the Three-story Pagoda, the Great Bathhouse, the Daimido Hall, and the National Treasure Museum. The temple also preserves many masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture from the Tenpyo and Kamakura periods. With the renovation in 2010, the Ashura and other Buddhist statues, which were previously displayed in glass cases, are now on open display, allowing visitors to view them directly from a distance of just one meter.

Surrounded by deep groves of trees, the shrine itself is home to several colorful vermilion-lacquered pavilions, many of which are designated national treasures or important cultural properties. Many sacred artifacts and ancient tools of the Fujiwara clan and other peoples can be seen in the Houmotsuden Hall.

Kasugayama, the sacred mountain of Kasugataisha Shrine, was prohibited from being logged for more than 1,000 years. As a result, the area is a primeval evergreen broadleaf forest dominated by Live oak and Castanopsis trees. The primeval forest is home to rare animals such as the forest green tree frog, the Japanese Euterpnosia chibensis (cicada), and the Japanese Clouded Salamander.

Many masterpieces of Buddhist painting, including Buddhist sculptures and paintings, are on display.

Wakakusayama is also known as "Mikasa" because of its three overlapping mountains. Every year in January, there is the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival. The spectacular flames that scorch the night sky are a New Year's celebration for the ancient capital of Nara. Many visitors come to the area every year.

Wakakusayama is also known as "Mikasa" because of its three overlapping mountains. Every year in January, there is the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival. The spectacular flames that scorch the night sky are a New Year's celebration for the ancient capital of Nara. Many visitors come to the area every year. The area is also called Higashimuki Shopping District, Mochiidono Center Street, and the Kintetsu Nara Station. The town's scenery changes drastically, with rows of latticework townhouses, giving a sense of the Edo period. In addition to traditional craft shops and workshops, there are rows of Japanese goods that are now popular among women. If you walk down a narrow street, you'll be able to enjoy the life of old-fashioned townspeople at the Nara Museum, which displays everyday tools from that time, and the Nara Craft Museum, which shows and introduces traditional crafts.

It was built in the Fujiwara-kyo Capital in the Hakuho Period (1300 years ago) by Emperor Temmu to pray for the recovery of his empress (Empress Jitō) from illness. It is said to have been moved to its present location in Yoro 2 (year 718), following the relocation of the capital to Heijō. The unique configuration of two three-story pagodas, the East and West Pagodas, centered around the Kondo and Kodo halls, is called the Yakushiji Temple-style layout of the main temple complex.

According to temple legend, in Tenpyō 19 (year 747), Empress Kōmyō commissioned Gyoki to build the temple to cure Emperor Shōmu's eye disease and enshrined the Seven Buddhas Yakushinyorai (buddha able to cure all ills). Once a venerable temple with seven halls, only the main hall remains today (the national treasure). The East Gate, South Gate, Bell Tower, and Jizo temple hall were built in the Kamakura period and designated important cultural properties. They were also known as "Hagi no tera," the entire temple compound is imbued with a tranquil mood unique to Takahata. The temple is famous for its wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (the national treasure) and the life-size standing statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals (the national treasure) surrounding it.

Its predecessor was Japan's oldest temple, Hokko-ji (Asuka-Dera), which was said to have been built by Soga no Umako at the end of the 6th century and was moved to its current location and named Gangoji when the capital was moved to Heijō. Gokurakubo was once part of the monks' quarters at Gangoji and was remodeled into the Gokurakudo Hall (the national treasure) and Zen Room (the national treasure) during the Kamakura period.

It was built by the Tang dynasty monk Ganjin, who, in response to an invitation from Emperor Shomu, arrived in Japan after a difficult journey across the ocean. After Ganjin's death, the main hall and eastern pagoda were built, and the entire temple complex was completed in the early Heian period. At that time, the name was changed from "Toshodaiji Temple" to "Tōshōdai-ji Temple."

Heijo Palace, the center of the Heijo-kyo Capital, was relocated from Fujiwara-kyo in Wado 3 (year 710). While walking through the vast green area leading to the Suzaku Gate, visitors can take in the grand scale of the Heijo Palace and its wonderful vista.