Shrines & temples
Shrines and temples in Nara
Nara's temples are older than Kyoto's, and many of them are bigger. Most of the famous ones sit around the deer park, a short walk from the station.
24 places · 19 nationally protected
In the 8th century Nara was Japan's capital and the center of Buddhism in the country, and the great temples of that time still stand. Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji and Kasuga Taisha are next to each other on the east side of the city, linked by Nara Park and its free-roaming deer; Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji are a short bus or train ride west. Together with Horyu-ji, they are Japan's oldest group of UNESCO sites.
Outside the city the shrines get older still. Omiwa Shrine has no main hall at all, because the mountain behind it is the god. Hase-dera climbs a hillside in Sakurai on a long covered stairway, and Tanzan Shrine hides a 13-story wooden pagoda in the forest.
Good to know
- Todai-ji, Kofuku-ji and Kasuga Taisha fit in one easy day on foot from Kintetsu Nara station.
- Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji are about 10 minutes apart on foot from Nishinokyo station: see them together.
- Visit Todai-ji at opening time or after 3 p.m. to avoid the school groups.
Start with these
The ones worth planning a day around.
- Nara City
Todai-ji Temple
東大寺Home of the bronze Great Buddha, in a vast wooden hall. Look for the pillar with a hole at its base: squeezing through is said to bring good luck.
- Nara City
Kasuga Taisha
春日大社Vermilion halls and around 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns along the forest paths. All of them are lit only at the lantern festivals in February and August.
- Nara City
Kofuku-ji Temple
興福寺The Fujiwara family's temple, with a five-story pagoda over the pond and a museum of Buddhist statues, including the six-armed Ashura.
- Ikaruga
Horyu-ji Temple
法隆寺Some of the world's oldest wooden buildings, founded by Prince Shotoku. Allow half a day with the trip out of town.
- Nara City
Yakushi-ji Temple
薬師寺Twin pagodas in west Nara: the east pagoda dates from the 8th century, the west one is a rebuild in bright original colors.
- Nara City
Toshodai-ji Temple
唐招提寺Founded by the Chinese monk Ganjin, who reached Japan on his sixth attempt. Its main hall is a rare 8th-century original.
- Sakurai
Hase-dera Temple
長谷寺A long covered stairway climbs to a hillside hall in Sakurai. Famous for peonies in spring and autumn leaves.
- Sakurai
Omiwa Shrine
大神神社One of Japan's oldest shrines, where Mount Miwa itself is the god, so there is no main hall. Pilgrims can climb the mountain with permission from the shrine.
- Sakurai
Tanzan Shrine
談山神社A forest shrine on Mount Tonomine with a 13-story wooden pagoda, at its best in autumn.
More Shrines & temples in Nara
Every place shows its Japanese name, so you can search it on a map or show it to a taxi driver.
- Kashihara
Kume no Miagata Shrine
久米御縣神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Nara City
Naratsuhiko Shrine
奈良豆比古神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Nara City
Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine
手向山八幡宮A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Nara City
Konbu-in
興福院A Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Nara City
Tomi Shrine
登彌神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Asuka
Kawara-dera Temple
川原寺A Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Tenri
Wanishita Shrine
和爾下神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Asuka
Omiashi Shrine
於美阿志神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Tenri
Isonokami Jingu
石上神宮A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Kashihara
Kashihara Jingu
橿原神宮A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Tenri
Izanagi Shrine
伊射奈岐神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Kashihara
Iruka Shrine
入鹿神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Show all 15 places
- Tenri
Juni Shrine
十二神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Kashihara
Tochi no Miagata Nimasu Shrine
十市御縣坐神社A Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
- Tenri
Yatsugi Shrine
夜都岐神社A notable old tree in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Shrines & temples in Nara on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
How big is the Great Buddha of Todai-ji?
The seated bronze Buddha is about 15 meters tall, one of the largest in Japan, inside a hall that is among the largest wooden buildings in the world.
Can I see the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha lit?
The lanterns line the paths all year, but all of them are lit only at the Mantoro lantern festivals in early February and mid-August.
Is Nara better than Kyoto for temples?
They are different. Nara's temples are older and closer together, so one day covers the big names. Kyoto has more variety, gardens and shrines spread across the city.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- UNESCO World Heritage CentreHistoric Monuments of Ancient Nara (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) (opens in a new tab)
- UNESCO World Heritage CentreBuddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) (opens in a new tab)
- www.todaiji.or.jpTodai-ji, official site (opens in a new tab)
- www.kasugataisha.or.jpKasuga Taisha, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- www.kohfukuji.comKofuku-ji, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- nara-yakushiji.comYakushi-ji, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- toshodaiji.jpToshodai-ji, official site (opens in a new tab)
- www.hasedera.or.jpHase-dera, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- oomiwa.or.jpOmiwa Shrine, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- www.tanzan.or.jpTanzan Shrine, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)