The site of an enormous capital of 1,300 years ago
This site was the center of Heijokyo during the Nara Period (710-784), which lasted for 74 years, and seven emperors (eight reigns) resided here. There are two exhibition facilities. One is Heijo Palace Site Museum, which exhibits the models of the buildings and plenty of artifacts such as wooden strips, coins, roof tiles and earthenware can also be seen here. The other one is the Excavation Site Exhibition Hall that preserves and exhibits the excavation site. The reconstructed Suzakumon Gate and Toin Teien also show their elegant structure.

［Heijo Palace Site Museum / Excavation Site Exhibition Hall /Toin Teien］　●Open/ 9:00-16:30
●Close/ Monday (the following day when Monday falls on national holidays)　●Fare/ Free　
●Tel/ 0742-30-6753 (National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara)

◆Access/ A 15-30 min. walk from Kintetsu Yamato-saidaiji Stn.

The temple with a symbolic five-story pagoda
The large precincts are dotted with buildings such as the famous five-story pagoda, three-story pagoda, Tokondo and Kokuhokan.
A lot of prominent works of Buddhist sculptures in Tenpyo and Kamakura period are housed here. The nearby Nara Park is a lusciously green park where people and 1,200 deer coexist, which is rare in the world.

●Open/ 9:00-17:00　●Close/ Open all-year round
●Fare/ Kokuhokan: Adults ￥500, Tokondo: Adults ￥300　●Tel/ 0742-22-7755

◆Access/ A 5 min. walk from Kintetsu-nara Stn.

Retaining the tiles from 1,400 years ago
This temple was originally constructed by Soga Umako at the end of the 6th century and was called Asukadera Temple (or Hokoji Temple). Gokurakudo (main hall) and Zenshitsu (meditation hall) are designated national treasures and they have a style of roofing known as "Gyoki buki". Zenshitsu is valuable architecture retaining its style as Sobo (monk's domitory) from the Tenpyo Period. In the storehouse, a wooden five-story small pagoda (national treasure), a wooden Amida-Nyorai statue (important cultural property), Chiko Mandara (important cultural property) and other property made in Nara Period are stored.

●Open/ 9:00-17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)　●Close/ Open all-year round　●Fare/ Adults ￥400　
●Tel/ 0742-23-1377

◆Access/ A 10 min. walk from Kintetsu-nara Stn. or a 20 min. walk from JR Nara Stn.

Famous for the world's largest statue of Buddha
"Daibutsuden", the world's largest wooden architecture houses the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha "Nara no Daibutsu". Todaiji Temple was founded in 743 by order of Emperor Shomu in order to enshrine Rushanabutsu (the great image of Buddha).

●Open/ 7:30-17:30 (vary according to the season)
●Close/ Open all-year round　●Fare/ Adults ￥500　●Tel/ 0742-22-5511

◆Access/ A 5 min. walk from Daibutsuden Kasugataisha-mae bus stop by City circulation bus from JR/Kintetsu Nara Stn.

Splendid vermilion-lacquered shrine pavilions
The vermilion-lacquered Shaden (main building) is fascinatingly beautiful and the shrine has been famous for its beautiful wisteria for many years. Homotsuden (treasure house) in the precinct stores 3,000 items including 520 national treasures or important cultural properties. Protected against logging as a sacred mountain for over 1,000 years, Mt. Kasuga is a primeval forest of ever-green broad leaf trees such as oak and Japanese chinquapin.

［Kasuga Taisha Shrine］　●Open/ 6:30-17:30 (vary according to the season)
●Fare/ Free (with the exception of Homotsuden which is ￥420.)　●Tel/ 0742-22-7788

◆Access/ A short walk from Kasuga Taisha Honden-mae bus stop by Nara Kotsu Bus from JR/Kintetsu Nara Stn. or a 10 min. walk from Kasuga Taisha Omotesando bus stop by City circulation bus from JR/Kintetsu Nara Stn.

The greatest treasure house of Buddhist culture
Founded by Shotoku Taishi, Horyuji Temple is the oldest wooden construction in the world. In the spacious precinct, there are a lot of buildings using the most skilled techniques from each era since the Asuka Period. Nearby is Hokiji Temple, which is also a world heritage.
(Photograph: Taikichi Irie)

●Open/ 8:00-17:00 (8:00-16:30 in winter)　●Close/ Open all-year round
●Fare/ Adults ￥1,000 (Saiin Garan, Daihozoin and Toin Garan are available)　●Tel/ 0745-75-2555

◆Access/ A short walk from Horyujimon-mae bus stop by Nara Kotsu Bus from JR Horyuji Stn.