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.

The head temple of Tendai sect with beautiful views
This is the head temple of the Tendai Sect in the vast sacred area on Mt. Hiei. It started as a hermitage founded by Saicho on Mt. Hiei in the end of Nara Period. The precinct in the towering giant cedars has a dignified atmosphere as a monastery. On top of the mountain, there is the Todo area where Konponchudo is centered, Saito area that Shakado is centered and Yokawa area that was opened by Priest Ennin.

●Open/ 8:30-16:30 (-16:00 Saito & Yokawa)　●Close/ Open all-year round　●Fare/ Adults ￥550
●Tel/ 077-578-0001

◆Access/ A short walk from Sakamoto Cable Car Enryakuji Stn. from Keihan Sakamoto Stn. or JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Stn.