Nara 奈良

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The entrance to Toshodaiji, this temple is a world heritage site and is visited by many national and international tourists alike. It currently owns 17 National Treasures and more than 200 Important Cultural Properties.

This five-storied pagoda designated as a National Treasure is housed in the Saikondo or “Western Main Hall” of the Kairyuo-ji Temple in Nara-city.

a stone path leading to a pagoda in the middle of a park with flowers and trees on both sides

The Hannyaji Temple in Nara or also called the Cosmos temple. It is said that Priest Ekan from Kokuri (Korea) built it in 629 and put Monju Bosatsu-zo (or image of wisdom and intellect Bodhisattva) in this temple, and it is also said that in 735, Period of the Emperor Shomu, its hall pagoda was built to protect from unfavourable directions of Heijo Palace. After a fire in this temple, it was rebuilt again in the Kamakura Period (the 13th Century).

an animal statue on the roof of a building

A roof ornament on the Shoryaku-ji Temple in Bodaisen-cho, Nara-City. This temple is in the mountains and the Bodaisen river runs through it precincts. They brewed a drink called “Bodaisen” it was a kind of "soboshu" (monk's sake), brewed at Shoryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Bodai in Nara, using both the water of the Bodaisen-gawa River running through the temple precinct and "Bodai-moto" (the starter mash, or the sake brewing method using the mash), and it belonged to "Nanto moro-haku".

Tegaimon Gate, Todaiji Temple（東大寺転害門). This tiny but dignified gate is the only existing structure which has survived across the ages since the establishment of Todaiji Temple in the mid 8th century. At that time, Tegaimon Gate was the main west entrance of the temple.

many lights are lit up in the night sky over a hill with trees on it

Nara “Daimonji Okuribi” -Great bonfire for seeing off spirits! This fire festival is performed each year on August 15th and one of the most famous summer events in Nara. Fire is set at 108 grates placed on Mt. Takamado, and the fires produce a huge Chinese character “大” (dai) in the darkness. This character symbolizes the universe, as well as wishes for the burning up of the earthly desires within us and for the peace of the spirits of the dead.