Regional discoveries | Value Village

NaraShrines & Temples

Nara

Kofukuji Gojunoto

About 50 metres tall. The second highest wooden pagoda in Japan.

NaraShrines & Temples

Nara

Ashura

A youth with three faces and six arms. Made in dry lacquer, and famous for its troubled expression.

NaraShrines & Temples

Ikaruga

Horyuji Kondo

The oldest wooden buildings standing anywhere in the world. Among the first World Cultural Heritage sites in Japan.

NaraShrines & Temples

Ikaruga

Yumedono

An octagonal hall. Its hidden Guze Kannon stayed wrapped in white cloth until the Meiji era.

NaraShrines & Temples

Nara

Yakushiji Toto

Called frozen music. The stacked pent roofs make it look six-storeyed, but it is a three-storey pagoda.

NaraShrines & Temples

Nara

Gangoji

Asuka-period tiles are still laid on its roof, the oldest roof tiles in Japan.

NaraShrines & Temples

Sakurai

Miwayama

The sacred body of Omiwa Jinja itself. To climb it you must apply and wear a white sash.

NaraShrines & Temples

Sakurai

Noborirou

Three hundred and ninety-nine roofed steps. Famous for peonies, it is called the temple of flowers.

NaraShrines & Temples

Uda

Muroji

Where Koyasan barred women, this temple took them in, and was called the Koyasan for women. Its five-storey pagoda is the smallest National Treasure pagoda standing outdoors.

NaraShrines & Temples

Yoshino

Zaodo

The central seat of shugendo. Its three blue Zao Gongen are hidden images.

NaraShrines & Temples

Yoshino

Yoshino Mikumari Jinja

The word mikumari, water-parting, shifted to mikomori, child-guarding, and became a faith for conceiving a child.

NaraShrines & Temples

Around Yoshino

Omine Okugake

The shugendo route from Yoshino through to Kumano. Parts of it are still closed to women.

NaraShrines & Temples

Asuka

Asukadera

The oldest full-scale temple in Japan. The Asuka Great Buddha has sat in the same place for 1,400 years.

NaraShrines & Temples

Kashihara

Kashihara Jingu

Held to be where Emperor Jimmu acceded. It holds a vast precinct at the foot of Mount Unebi.

NaraShrines & Temples

Ikaruga

Chuguji

Its half-seated meditating figure is called one of the three great smiles of the world.

NaraShrines & Temples

Ikaruga

Horinji (Ikaruga)

Its three-storey pagoda burned after a lightning strike, and was rebuilt through the efforts of Koda Aya and others.

NaraShrines & Temples

Ikaruga

Hokiji

Its three-storey pagoda is the oldest still standing, and a National Treasure.

NaraShrines & Temples

Sakurai

Abe Monjuin

One of the three great Monju temples of Japan. Its Monju Bosatsu by Kaikei is a National Treasure.

NaraShrines & Temples

Sakurai

Jusanjunoto

Said to be the only wooden thirteen-storey pagoda in the world.

NaraShrines & Temples

Kashihara

Fukada-ike

A pond reflecting Mount Unebi, which shows how wide the precinct is.

NaraShrines & Temples

Katsuragi

Taimadera

The only temple with both an east and a west three-storey pagoda. It preserves the Taima Mandala.

NaraShrines & Temples

Gose

Hitokotonushi Jinja

Said to grant a wish if you keep it to a single word. A great ginkgo stands here.

NaraShrines & Temples

Gose

Tenporinji

A shugendo mountain opened by En no Gyoja. It keeps a register of how many times each person has climbed.

NaraShrines & Temples

Nara

Akishinodera

Its Gigeiten figure is called the Muse of the East. The moss garden is beautiful.