What to See in Nara - Top Sights and Attractions

Landmark 7th-century Buddhist temple. Yakushi-ji is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, that was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, located in Nara. The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism. Yakushi-ji is one of the sites that are collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under the name of "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."

The main object of veneration, Yakushi Nyorai, also named "The Medicine Buddha", was one of the first Buddhist Deities to arrive in Japan from China in 680, and gives the temple its name.^[4]

Buddhist temples opened in 710 A.D.. Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school.^[6]

Panoramic hall at Tōdai-ji temple. Nigatsu-dō is one of the important structures of Tōdai-ji, a temple in Nara, Japan. Nigatsu-dō is located to the east of the Great Buddha Hall, on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa. It includes several other buildings in addition to the specific hall named Nigatsu-dō, thus comprising its own sub-complex within Tōdai-ji.^[8]

Castle in Yamatokoriyama, Japan. Kōriyama Castle was a Japanese castle in what is now the city of Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The Sengoku daimyō Tsutsui Junkei started construction of the castle, and Toyotomi Hidenaga made it his residence. In the Edo period, it became the headquarters of the Kōriyama Domain. During this time it was held by members of the Mizuno, Okudaira Matsudaira, Honda, Fujii Matsudaira, and Yanagisawa clans.

Today, many walls and moats are preserved in a public park in the city. The Yanagisawa Shrine stands on the grounds. The Castle was listed as one of　the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.^[9]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Hannya-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon Ritsu sect in Nara, Japan. Its foundation is variously dated, but mention in a document in the Shōsōin provides a terminus ante quem of the mid-eighth century.^[10]

Historic treasure house from 8th century. The Shōsō-in is the treasure house of Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. The building is in the azekura style with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Great Buddha Hall. The Shōsō-in houses artifacts connected to Emperor Shōmu and Empress Kōmyō, as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyō era of Japanese history.^[11]

Museum in Nara, Japan. The Nara National Museum is one of the pre-eminent national art museums in Japan.^[12]

Ancient Buddhist temple in lush setting. Gangō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple, that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in Nara, Japan.^[14]

Convention center in Nara, Japan. Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA, formerly known as Nara Prefectural New Public Hall, is a convention center in Nara, Nara, Japan. Located near Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara Park, the venue re-opened on July 1, 2015, annexing its adjacent public building that served as Nara Park Silk Road Exchange Hall that closed on December 31, 2014.^[15]

Temple in Kizugawa, Japan. Jōruri-ji is a temple of the Shingon Ritsu school with an historic Japanese garden located in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the few remaining examples of a Paradise Garden of the early Heian period. The three-storied pagoda, the main hall, the group of nine sitting Amida Nyorai statues and the group of Four Heavenly Kings are all designated as National Treasures. The temple is heavily influenced by Pure Land thought.^[16]

Shinto shrine in Nara, Japan. The Himegamisha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is built in 1981 by the people of this neighborhood on the tomb called Hime-zuka that is estimated to be a burial place of Princess Tōchi, an Empress-consort of Emperor Kōbun. It is a sessha of the Kagami Shrine.^[17]

Serene temple with 2 annual festivals. Daian-ji was founded during the Asuka period and is one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, Japan.^[18]

Temple established in the 8th century. Saidai-ji or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was first established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison, took over administration in 1238. It has undergone several reconstruction efforts since then during the succeeding centuries.

One building, the Aizen-dō, houses a statue of Aizen Myō-ō, while the main image is of Shakyamuni Buddha, erected by Eison in 1249.^[19]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Akishino-dera is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, its Kamakura-period Hondō is a National Treasure.^[20]

Museum in Yamatokoriyama, Japan. Nara Prefectural Museum of Folklore opened in Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture, Japan, in 1974. Located at the foot of the Yata Hills within the 26.6 hectare Yamato Folk Park, the Museum collects, preserves, and displays artefacts relating to everyday life in Nara Prefecture from the Edo period to the Shōwa 40s. Among the forty-two thousand objects in the collection are 1,908 relating to forestry in the Yoshino District that have been jointly designated an Important Cultural Property. In the adjacent park are fifteen Edo-period minka, relocated from elsewhere in the prefecture, including the Former Usui Family Residence.^[21]

Museum in Nara, Japan. Nara Prefectural Museum of Art opened in Nara, Japan in 1973. The collection numbers some 4,100 items and special exhibitions are also held.^[22]

Shinto shrine in Nara, Japan. Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine near Tōdai-ji, Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is a Hachiman shrine, dedicated to the kami Hachiman. It was established in 749. Kami enshrined here include Emperor Ojin, Emperor Nintoku, Empress Jingū and Emperor Chūai in addition to Hachiman.^[23]

Shinto shrine in Nara, Japan. Himuro Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 710. Kami enshrined here include Emperor Nintoku and Nukata no Onakatsuhiko no Mikoto. The shrine's main festival is held annually on October 1.^[24]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Kikō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, its Muromachi-period Hondō and the Heian-period statue of Amida Nyorai enshrined within are Important Cultural Properties.^[25]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Futai-ji, also known as Narihira-dera, is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan.

The temple was opened by Ariwara no Narihira in 847, known as the author of the Tales of Ise. The temple was built over a place where it was formerly a mansion of Narihira's grandfather, former Emperor Heizei. The main hall houses a Shō-kannon (聖観音) (a form of Avalokiteśvara or Guan Yin) buddha image as its primary worship object, surrounded by five Myo-O, as well as a small Shinto shrine also inside the same building.^[26]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Enjō-ji is a Shingon temple in the northeast of Nara, Japan. A number of its buildings and images have been designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and its late-Heian period gardens are a Place of Scenic Beauty.^[27]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Byakugō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. A number of wooden statues of the Heian and Kamakura periods have been designated Important Cultural Properties and the temple's five-coloured camellias are a Prefectural Natural Monument.^[28]

Art museum in Nara, Japan. Isui-en is a Japanese garden located in Nara, the old capital of Japan near Kyōto. It has been preserved since its creation in the Meiji era, and is the only walking garden in Nara. It is divided into two sections, which were originally two separate gardens, and each features a pagoda.^[30]

Museum in Nara, Japan. Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City opened in Nara, Japan, in 1992. Located near Shin-Yakushi-ji and designed by Kishō Kurokawa, the Museum was formerly known as the Nara City Museum of Photography. The collection includes the complete oeuvre of Irie Taikichi, some 80,000 works; a set of 1,025 Meiji and Taishō glass plates by Kudō Risaburō that are a Registered Tangible Cultural Property; and photographs by Tsuda Yōho.^[31]

Museum in Nara, Japan. Neiraku Museum is an art museum in the city of Nara, central Japan.

The museum opened in April 1969. It contains the works collected by Nakamura Junsaku (1875-1953), who was the founder of the Isuien Garden. The collection totals over 2000 items, which includes bronze wares, seals and mirrors of ancient China as well as pottery of ancient Korea. The museum building was built in a traditional style and features rotating exhibitions.^[32]

Temple in Nara, Japan. Ryōsen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, the Hondō is a National Treasure and a number of other buildings and temple treasures have been designated Important Cultural Properties.^[33]

Concert hall in Nara, Japan. Nara Centennial Hall is a multi-use complex in Nara, Japan. It opened in 1999 as part of the centennial celebrations of the municipality of Nara. There is a large hall that seats up to 1720, a smaller concert hall with a capacity of 446, and a gallery. Arata Isozaki was the architect, with acoustical design by Nagata Acoustics.^[34]

Museum in Nara, Japan. The Museum of Japanese Art Yamato Bunkakan is a museum of Asian art in Nara, Nara.

The museum was established in 1960 to preserve and display the private collection of Kintetsu Corporation (named Kinki Nippon Railway Co. Ltd. till June 27, 2003).^[35]