Nara Japan attractions. Nara - the ancient capital of Japan, and tame deer. The magnificent temples of Nara
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY:
Nara is the fourth most popular city in Japan, located in the prefecture of the same name in the Kansai region, about an hour's drive from Kyoto and Osaka. About 400 thousand people live here. Thanks to rich history, the city is full of ancient attractions that have survived to this day. By the way, eight of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The most famous site in Nara is Todai-ji Temple, which is considered one of the most impressive temples in the country. Its main feature is the Big Buddha statue made of copper and gold, the largest Buddha statue in the world.
The city is often said to be the birthplace of Japanese history. The first permanent capital of the Land of the Rising Sun was founded in 710 in the city of Heizo, which was later renamed Nara. The city was considered cultural capital country, mostly due to the fact that it was there that the Great Silk Road ended - interesting ideas from Europe and Asia flocked here, and it was also where Japanese literature and art originated. While in power, the ruling family and the aristocrats close to it actively built up the city with temples and sanctuaries. True, already in 784, due to the strong Buddhist influence, they decided to move the capital to Nagaoka.
It is believed that it was in Nara that they began to produce traditional sabers and the first sake, as well as create typical Japanese gardens where you can relax both soul and body. Additionally, Nara calligraphy brushes and Akahada pottery also come from there.
Nara is a fairly compact city that can be seen in one day. In addition to the temple with Big Buddha, there are many others in the city interesting places: temples Gangoji, Hokki-ji, Yakushi-ji, Kasuga-Taisha, Tosodai-ji, Horyuji (one of the oldest Buddhist temple ov of the country), Shinyakushi-ji (747), Koufuku-ji (710), Nara (deer park) and Yoshikien parks, the primeval forest of Mount Kasuga-Yama, the historical district of Naramachi, Kasuga Taisa Shrine (768), National Museum Nara, Sarusawa Pond with a beautiful five-tiered pagoda, Isuyen Garden, Mount Wakakusa (where the Grass Burning Ceremony takes place), Heijo-kyu Palace and others.
Various events are held in Nara every year, including: Kemari festivals (November 3 at Tanzan Shrine) and Wakamiya (December 15-18 at Wakamiya Shrine), Flower Ceremony (March 30-April 5 at Yakushiji Temple), Bamboo Ceremony (June 23 at Dayanji Temple), Grass Burning Ceremony (Wakakusayamayaki in January) and some others.
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THE CITY'S ATTRACTIONS:
Gangoji Temple Gangoji Temple was transferred to Nara from another ancient capital called Asuka. It is believed that this sanctuary was the first stronghold of Buddhism in Japan, and it was from Asuka that the new religion spread throughout the Land of the Rising Sun. History In the 6th century, groups of Buddhist monks wandered around Japan preaching their faith. They managed to fall under the patronage of the Soga clan, powerful at that time, which played a decisive role in the further spread of Buddhism. Empress Suiko strongly supported the new religion, presented to her by an influential courtier, the head of the Soga-no-Umako clan. At the same time, the first temple on the Yamato Plain was founded - in those days it was called Asuka-dera. It is believed that in the pagoda on the territory of the sanctuary a sacred relic was kept - the tooth of the Buddha himself. In 718, after the transfer of the capital, the temple buildings were also dismantled and transported to a new place - to the district of artisans and traders of Nara-mati. The sanctuary received a new name - Gangoji - by which it is known to this day. The temple complex was not spared by wars and natural disasters - but the greatest damage to the buildings was caused by a fire in 1451 - only the Main Pavilion and the Zen meditation hall survived. In 1998, the sanctuary was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is protected by the state. What to see Once the complex included seven pavilions and several pagodas, but over time the temple has significantly decreased in size. The Nara-machi shopping district grew on its territory, which still retains the charm of old Japan in its narrow streets. The best preserved buildings are the Main Hall "Gokurabo" and the meditation pavilion. Also in Gangoji there is a small pagoda with a height of 5.5 meters. An institute has been founded at the temple, dedicated to the study and description of Buddhist relics - over the long history of the sanctuary, more than 10,000 objects donated by pilgrims have been collected here. The pearls of the collection are considered to be wooden statues of Prince Shotoku, dating back to the 10th century. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara station, 10 minutes walk Opening hours 8:00 - 16:30 Weekends No Entrance fee 400 yen
Saruzawa Pond Not far from the Kofuku-ji Temple there is a picturesque pond, the same age as the famous Buddhist shrines of the ancient capital. Its name, Sarusawa-ike, can be translated from Japanese as “Monkey Pond.” Such a strange, at first glance, name was not chosen by the monks by chance - it is a reference to the legendary Indian city of Vaishali, sacred to Buddhists. According to legend, under its walls monkeys dug a lake for Buddha, which later became a place of pilgrimage for many believers. The Japanese Monkey Pond is also considered unusual place- several legends are associated with him, brief descriptions which are carved on stones at the water's edge. One of the most famous is the story of the unfortunate Uneme. Strictly speaking, Uneme is not a name, but a position at court - that was the name of the girls who served the emperor. One of them was the ruler’s favorite for some time, but the passion faded over time, and Uneme, suffering from unrequited love, threw herself into the lake, preferring death to separation. In memory of the unfortunate girl, a small sanctuary was built on the shore of the pond. But even the local spirits mourned the death of the beautiful servant, and one night they turned the idol so as not to see the surface of the water under which her body was hidden. This story is first found in scrolls dating back to the 10th century - since then an annual festival has been held on the lake Uneme is a colorful and memorable event. Children and young girls, dressed as the emperor's servants, begin their procession from the city center. By 6 o'clock in the evening, the solemn procession reaches the sanctuary, where the ceremony of offering a flower fan to the spirit of the girl takes place. Then the lights are lit around the lake and the priests board the boats to complete the ritual - a flower fan should be lowered into the lake towards the beautiful Unema. The entire performance is accompanied by traditional music and dancing. Saruzawa is also worth a visit on ordinary days - there is a restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine, whose terrace offers an extremely picturesque view of the Kofuku-ji Pagoda. There are a lot of turtles and fish in the pond, but for some reason there are no frogs. You can feed the carp and, if you're lucky, admire the decorative pleasure dragon boats. Saruzawa is repeatedly mentioned in literary works - for example, Ryunosuke Akutagawa cites the tale of a dragon flying out of the lake in his collection. There is also a Noh play based on the story of Unema. Many artists depicted this corner of the ancient capital in their prints. A short break on the shore of this lake in front of Kofuku-ji will put you in a calm and peaceful mood - admire the graceful silhouette of the pagodas, watch the turtles basking in the sun - all this will help you feel the unique spirit of old Japan. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 8 minutes on foot Opening hours always Weekends no Entrance fee none
Yoshikien Park If you are tired of the noisy tourist streets, then a small park away from popular routes- exactly what you need. Yoshikien (Yoshiki-en) is located in the very center of Nara, but the path leading into it is not very noticeable, and most tourists rush past, to the neighboring, more famous Isuien Garden. A nice bonus is free entry for foreign tourists (don't forget to have your passports ready). You will be asked to fill out a short form at the entrance, after which you can calmly enjoy the local landscapes. The garden gets its name from the Yoshiki-Gawa River, which runs nearby. In ancient times, this territory belonged to the Kofuku-ji Temple - the living quarters of the monks and the residence of the main priest were located here. However, over time, the temple lost its importance, the number of novices declined, and many areas were sold or alienated in favor of municipalities created during the Meiji era. From private ownership, the park came under state control in 1918, but was opened to the public only in 1989. Yoshikien is divided into several parts - a lakeside garden, a moss garden and a tea ceremony garden. Thus, by visiting this park, you will be able to enjoy several beautiful examples of traditional landscape design. And to appreciate another idea of the Japanese masters - a “walking garden” with carefully designed views, it’s worth taking a look at neighboring Isuien. In the park there is a tea house - a small building in a traditional style, topped with an original thatched roof. In the warm season it is surrounded by flowers, but autumn is considered the most picturesque season here. Harmoniously selected plants create a unique play of colors, and the entire garden is immersed in a fabulous atmosphere. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 15 minutes on foot Opening hours 9:00 - 17:00 Weekends from December 28 to mid-March Entrance fee
Yakushiji Temple The Yakushiji Temple complex represents a "Buddhist paradise" on earth - its unusual symmetrical layout is an interesting example of Chinese temple architecture brought to Japan along with the new religion. HistoryThe temple was originally founded in 680 in Kashihara by Emperor Tenmu, who prayed for recovery of his wife. The wife actually recovered and even outlived the emperor, who died six years later. It was she who, having become Empress Jito, completed the creation of the architectural ensemble. The statue of Buddha the Healer was installed in Yakushiji by order of the ruler in 697. And after 13 years, the temple was dismantled again - to move to the new capital. Work to move the sanctuary lasted until 718. Unfortunately, the complex was severely damaged by fires that devastated the ancient capital in the 16th century - of the original buildings, only the three-story Eastern Pagoda has survived to this day. In 1970, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out, during which the Main Hall and many auxiliary buildings were restored. The wall painting, carefully reproduced from surviving evidence, tells the story of the journey of a monk-abbot named Genzo-Sanzo to India. What to see The most notable attraction within the complex is undoubtedly the elegant pagoda. The roof of each of its levels is designed in 2 tiers, which is why the structure seems slightly higher than it is. The building is crowned by a spire with nine rings symbolizing the celestial spheres. For its special harmony and rhythmic silhouette, the pagoda is often called the “Frozen Music” of heaven. Unfortunately, since 2012, the Eastern Pagoda has been closed for reconstruction - the central pillar, shinbashira, began to collapse over time, and the roof eaves sagged dangerously. Now workers are carefully dismantling the building, replacing worn parts. In this case, only original technologies are used, and all surviving elements will be carefully cleaned and installed in place. The restoration is expected to be completed by 2018. The main treasure of the temple is the collection of Buddhist sculptures. Three of them - bronze cast sculptures of Buddha Yakushi-nerai and two accompanying bodhisattvas - are installed on a pedestal in the center of the Main Hall. The height of the seated deity is 255 cm, the figures behind his throne are slightly higher - about 300 cm each. The sculptures are distinguished by excellent detail and a desire for realism - ancient sculptors skillfully adjusted proportions to create majestic images of divine beings. Once the statues were covered with gold, but after the fire of 1528 they turned black, and in this form they have survived to this day. The pedestal is decorated with a sculptural bas-relief, symbolically representing the vows of the Healer Buddha. The deity itself sits on a medicine box, which is decorated with various symbols brought to the east along the Silk Road. In addition to the Main Hall, it is worth visiting the Eastern Pavilion - Toindo, founded in 717. The last time it was rebuilt was during the Kamakura period, between 1185 and 1333, when its floor was raised above the ground to protect it from moisture. In the hall there is an extremely interesting statue of the goddess of mercy Kannon - it was made around 600, and was a gift to the temple from the ruler of Korea. Where, when, how much Nearest station Nishinokyo Station (Kintetsu Kashihara Line), 5 minutes on foot Opening hours 8:00 - 17:00 Weekends No Entrance fee800 yen
Mount Wakakusa The name "Wakakusa-yama" can be translated as "mountain of young grass" - in fact, this is a later nickname for the sacred hill Mikasa-yama. Its height is 350 meters, and from the top of the hill there is an excellent view of Nara and its surroundings. Nowadays, the Yama-yaki festival - “setting fire to the mountain” - is held here annually. In winter, when last year's grass has already dried, the monks of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji set fire to the slopes with torches during a solemn ceremony. Nobody really remembers how this strange tradition began - according to one version, the mountain was set on fire during disputes over territory between temples, according to another, wild pigs and rodents were simply taken out. Be that as it may, the spectacular event began to be repeated every year – now it is preceded by prayers and fireworks, and attracts thousands of tourists. The rest of the time the mountain attracts lovers hiking with their extremely picturesque views. However, in order not to harm the grass and allow it to grow properly for the festival, the approach to Wakakusa-yama is opened only in autumn and spring. Deer also play a key role in maintaining ecological balance here - unique species of grasses grow on the hill, the seeds of which are ideally adapted to pass through the digestive tract of animals. At the base of the hill there are many cherry trees, and in April Wakakusa-yama becomes one of the most popular places for hanami throughout Nara. It will take you about 20 minutes to reach the site in the middle of the slope. Those who like to conquer mountain peaks will need another half hour to appreciate the panorama opening from the top of Wakakusa Yama.
The primeval forest of Mount Kasuga-yama Main Shinto shrine Nara - Kasuga-taisha - is located at the edge of the ancient forest of Mount Kasugayama (Kasugayama Primeval Forest). This unique landscape is recognized as special natural monument Japan, and is also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. More than 175 species of trees grow on the slopes of Mount Kasuga - including oaks, legwort, Japanese pieris, evergreen cedars and wild cherries. Of course, there are also many animals in the forest - here you can find the ubiquitous deer, wild pigs, raccoon dogs and many species of birds. It is no coincidence that this untouched corner of nature has been preserved here - the surroundings of the mountain have been considered sacred place. Legends say that Kasuga Yama is home to powerful spirits revered in the Shinto tradition. Since 841, hunting and tree cutting have been prohibited in this region. The primeval forest is truly unusual and mysterious place. The paths leading through the thicket to the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine are lined with moss-covered stone lanterns, which creates a truly fabulous atmosphere. Almost nothing has changed here since the founding of the ancient capital - small idols can be seen between the centuries-old trunks, the silence is broken only by the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves and occasionally the clicks of cameras. It’s easy to get lost in the forest - when going for a walk, do not forget to arm yourself with a map of the area or a navigator. Several stone-lined paths wind along the slopes of the mountain - however most of The forest is a nature reserve and is inaccessible to tourists. Nevertheless, open routes extremely picturesque: you can admire nature, see several waterfalls and, if you're lucky, meet a tanuki - a raccoon dog, the hero of many local legends. If you decide to take the short route, the walk will take about an hour. The longer route takes two to three times longer. Near the path there are stone lanterns, jizo figurines, and in some places there are small gazebos with benches for rest. Shops with water, snacks and restrooms are usually located at the starting and ending points of the routes. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 30 minutes on foot Opening hours always Weekends no Entrance fee none
Naramati Naramachi is a small quarter with historical buildings, which was once one of the busiest places in the ancient capital. Craftsmen worked here, making everything necessary for the imperial court and religious cults - ink and soft brushes for copying sacred scrolls were especially valued. Nara was the capital of medieval Japan for over 80 years - but even after the change in status it remained an important cultural and religious center of the country. Nara-machi carvers continued to make Buddha statues for temples, altars, amulets, boxes and other crafts, which to this day amaze us with the grace and subtlety of their work. Today Naramachi is a kind of historical reserve that preserves the atmosphere of old Japan. There are many souvenir shops, workshops, restaurants and several small private museums. It will take you at least an hour to walk through the narrow streets of the shopping area - try to plan your time correctly - the shops, for the most part, close by 5 pm. It is almost pointless to visit the Nara-machi area on Monday - for the tourism industry it is a day off. Houses located in the old quarters, as a rule, have a very narrow facade and are elongated in depth - once upon a time, property taxes were calculated based on the length of the front part of the building . The desire to save money contributed to the formation of such a specific urban landscape, characteristic of many ancient Japanese towns. Part of the trade and craft district grew on the territory of the Gango-ji Temple. Once this sanctuary was much larger and more influential, but over time it lost its position and part of its territory. But even now there are many small shrines and idols scattered throughout the territory of Nara-machi, reminding us of its past. Typical of the Nara period, a two-story wooden structure with a narrow facade is called a matiya. Nowadays, several museums have been opened in Naramati, reproducing the traditional interior of such a house, which belonged to a small merchant or artisan. At the front of the building there was a sales area for visitors, and inside, often behind a tiny garden, there were living quarters. It is worth visiting the Koshi-no-le residence (Lattic House) and the Shiryokan - in the latter you can learn about the history of the traditional migawari-zaru amulet that adorns many houses in Naramachi. At the Nara Kogeikan Museum you can see a collection of various crafts for which local craftsmen were famous. Of particular interest to visitors are the colorful kogakumen masks used in traditional performances and concerts. At the end of the tour, you can take a break at the Imanishike-Shoin residence. Once upon a time, a high-ranking minister from the Kofuku-ji Temple lived here, and the building is somewhat different from the traditional “machiya” - inside there is a fairly large internal garden and a spacious guest room where you can taste green tea and sweets. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 10 -15 minutes on foot Opening hours always Weekends no Entrance fee no
Shin-Yakushiji Temple Another temple dedicated to Buddha Yakushi is located in the ancient capital of the Land of the Rising Sun. The main attraction of the complex is considered to be a unique sculptural group representing the 12 Heavenly Generals. History Shinyakushiji was founded in 747 by Empress Komyo, who prayed for the recovery of her husband. Since by that time there already existed in the capital only a temple dedicated to the Buddha-healer Yakushi, the sanctuary received the prefix “sin” in its name, which means “new”. At that time it was believed that the statues of the Seven Healers - bodhisattvas were able to stop the machinations of evil spirits dead opponents, and influential clans did not skimp on the services of sculptors. During the Nara period, the temple grew rapidly - more than 100 novices were trained there, three-tiered pagodas were built, completing the traditional system of the “ideal sanctuary” shitido garan. However, later the status of the sanctuary fell greatly, and in the Heian era it fell into disrepair. More than once the buildings of the complex suffered from fires, and, after another disaster, when the Main Hall of Kon-do burned down, the sculptures of Buddha and his companions were moved to the surviving building of Kon-do, previously used as a refectory. The statues of the 12 Heavenly Generals were transferred to the temple from the destroyed Iwabuchi-dera shrine, located nearby on the slope of Mount Kasuga. During the Kamakura period, Shin-Yakushiji was finally restored again through the efforts of a monk named Jōkei. Then the East and South Gates, as well as the Jizo Pavilion and the Bell Tower were added to the complex's buildings. What to see The only building that has survived from the 8th century is Hon-do, now the Main Hall of the temple, which houses statues recognized as the national treasure of Japan. The building is topped with a hipped roof with small pediments - this type of roof called "irimoya" is characteristic of all East Asian sanctuaries. In the building you can see a unique monument from the Nara period - a sculptural group representing the 12 Heavenly Generals. The statues are arranged in a circle, in the center of which is the main relic of the temple - a two-meter statue of the seated Buddha Yakushi. The sculpture of the healer is carved from wood, as are the six small images behind him, representing various incarnations of the deity. In 1975, several ancient scrolls with the Lotus Sutra were discovered inside the central figure. The generals seem to be guarding Yakushi, turning their backs to him. These statues are made of clay, and were previously painted in bright colors and covered with gold. Each of the warriors is unique, and holds in their hands a ritual weapon made with extreme precision - you can look at the details for a long time, admiring their precision and the skill of the ancient sculptors. The southern gate, built during the Kamakura period, testifies to the high status of the temple - only in the most important Buddhist sanctuaries was this type of building erected - on four supports with chamfered corners. The nearby Jizo Pavilion is a small building designed in traditional Japanese style. Inside there is an eleven-faced statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. An ancient Japanese fairy tale is associated with the bell tower of the temple, telling about the exploits of a little hero - a traditional character in many stories. According to this legend, in the bell tower at the Gangoji sanctuary there was once a demon - Oni. He frightened pilgrims in every possible way and interfered with sacred services - but, in the end, he was kicked out by the legendary boy-hero. After another fire, the bell was transported from Gangoji to Shin-Yasukiji, where it remains to this day. And the scratches visible on its surface were left by that same evil spirit, banished to the mountains by the future monk. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 20 minutes on foot Opening hours 9:00-17:00 Weekends No Entrance fee 600 yen
Todai-ji Temple Todai-ji can be translated from Japanese as “great eastern temple”. The sanctuary fully lives up to its name, being the largest wooden structure in the world. The temple complex is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site - don't miss the chance to visit one of Japan's most revered shrines, surrounded by a beautiful park with sacred deer taking food directly from the hands of tourists. History Nara's main attraction was founded in 743 by decree of Emperor Shomu. Or rather, the ruler ordered the construction of a giant Buddha statue to begin, which was supposed to help gain the favor of the gods and bring peace to the country torn apart by civil strife. The temple complex was erected through the joint efforts of more than two million people. The design of the pavilion and statue was developed by Kuninaka-no-Muraji Kimimaro, a native of the capital’s Korean community. It took the master and his assistants more than a year. The throne, body and head and neck were made separately, and then soldered together and covered with a layer of gold. By the way, it was possible to assemble the giant statue only on the eighth attempt. Almost all the forces of the state were mobilized to build a relic of such a scale. The craftsmen burned more than 10,000 tons of coal and used more than 7.5 tons of wax. The implementation of Kimimaro's project required most of the bronze mined in the country and more than 150 kilograms of pure gold. The construction of the statue was not the only difficulty - the bronze deity needed decent shelter from the weather, and a spacious pavilion was built around the seated Buddha. In 752, during a magnificent ceremony with the participation of the imperial couple, the eyes of the Big Buddha were “opened” - while reading sacred sutras, a drawing on the bronze face of the statue was made by a monk specially invited from distant India. The buildings of the complex more than once suffered from natural disasters - the temple burned down twice to the ground, and after a strong earthquake in 1709, the two most damaged pagodas were dismantled. The sanctuary acquired its current appearance after the restoration in 1913. According to some reports, now it occupies no more than a third of the original volume, but, nevertheless, remains the largest wooden structure on the planet. What to see The entrance to the temple territory is marked by a massive gate - Nandaimon. 18 columns made from solid trunks of huge trees support a two-tiered roof, and the passage is guarded by a pair of mythical monsters Nyo. The building of the temple itself is designed in the best traditions of Japanese architecture - smooth curves of the roofs, intricate carvings and lacquer painting - the masterfully executed rich decoration of the temple speaks of its most important religious status in the Land of the Rising Sun. The dimensions of Daibutsu-den are impressive - its height is about 50 m, length – 57 m, and total area almost 3000 sq. m. Even now, this powerful wooden structure amazes tourists who have seen a lot with its dimensions, and in the 8th century it was considered a real divine miracle and the pinnacle of construction art. Inside the pavilion there is a famous 500-ton statue of Buddha Vairocana. Todai-ji belongs to the Kegon Buddhist sect - the school of the Majesty of the Flower of Law, and is still a functioning temple: services are held here every day, monks read sacred sutras and light ritual fire. When viewing the statue of the Big Buddha, try to imagine with what awe the inhabitants of the ancient capitals on a bronze giant: a golden throne in the shape of a lotus flower, inscribed with sacred texts, supports a massive figure; a huge palm, twice the size of a man, is folded in a blessing gesture, and the eyes, half-hidden by eyelids, calmly look at the world from a 20-meter height. The statue is a hollow structure supported from the inside by a wooden frame. Every year the sculpture is cleaned of soot and dirt, removing several buckets of dust. By the way, you can notice that the head and neck of the Buddha are slightly different in color from the torso - this is the result of repeated restorations. Behind the Buddha there are 16 more human-sized statues - they symbolize previous incarnations of the deity. Also in the pavilion are statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. And especially popular among tourists is the column, at the base of which there is a hole called “Buddha’s nostril.” According to legend, whoever can crawl through the hole will be freed from sins and will attract good luck. On the territory of Todai-ji there is the Shosso-in Museum Pavilion, whose art collection is considered to be the oldest in the world. The simple log structure, built in the 8th century, was best suited for storing temple relics in the difficult conditions of the Japanese climate thanks to the original solutions of the ancient builders. Shosso-in today houses an extensive collection of manuscripts, Buddhist relics, musical instruments, clothing, weapons and crafts . Of particular interest is a pair of richly decorated ritual swords - Yokohen and Inkohen. Only in 2010, museum staff confirmed that this is exactly the legendary gift of Empress Komyo, which was considered lost more than 1250 years ago. It is also worth visiting the Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do pavilions - their names translate respectively as the Hall of the second and the Hall of the third month. The February Pavilion takes its name from the sacred Xunye ritual that has been held here every year since the founding of the sanctuary. For two weeks, the monks of the temple pray with the Eleven-Faced Kannon for the atonement of the sins of mankind, and then symbolically burn all the filth in the flames of huge torches - after which, by the grace of the goddess, spring comes again to the world. The March Hall is also known as the Lotus Hall - every spring, the monks read sacred Buddhist sutras here. The pavilion contains many ritual scrolls and images, as well as a richly decorated statue of the Bodhisattva of Mercy Fukukenjaku Kannon. Where, when, how much Nearest station Kintetsu Nara Station, 25-30 minutes on foot Opening hours 8:00 - 16:30 (November-February) 8:00 - 17:00 (March) 7:30 - 17:30 (April-September) 7:30 - 17:00 (October) Weekends None Entrance fee Daibutsu-den Hall\museum 500 yen single ticket 800 yen
Heijo-kyu Palace
In the 8th century, the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun bore the official name Heijō-kyō, although the toponym “Nara” was also used quite often. The city was actually rebuilt “from scratch” in the image and likeness of the capital of China during the Tang period. The settlement plan resembled a chessboard - streets intersecting at right angles cut the city into small blocks. The central avenue, Suzaku-oji, ran from the Castle Gate to the entrance to the Imperial Palace (Heijo Palace), which was located in the northern part of the capital. History The palace, called “Heijo-kyu,” occupied an area of about one and a half square kilometers. The complex included many buildings - the Imperial Chambers, the Dynastic Hall, buildings of various ministries and departments, as well as residential buildings for court ladies and servants. However, after the capital moved to Kyoto, almost this entire part of the city was abandoned. The buildings, left to the mercy of fate, slowly deteriorated, and rice fields grew around them. The fate of the temples of the ancient capital turned out to be slightly better - religious shrines continued to exist, and the center of Nara gradually shifted towards them. Recently, the Japanese government has been able to pay more attention to the study cultural heritage Asuka and Nara eras – in place imperial palace Large-scale excavations were carried out. Since this area was used mainly as farmland and was not developed, it was possible to uncover many foundations of ancient buildings and restore the exact appearance of the residence. What to see Now the palace buildings continue to be reconstructed - on this moment Three large projects have been completed. These include the main gate of the complex - Suzaku-mon, the Audience Hall - Daigokuden and the garden of the Eastern Palace. Daigokuden was the most impressive building on the territory of Heijokyu - its restoration was timed to coincide with the 1300th anniversary former capital in 2010 year. The ceiling of the main hall is decorated with decorative patterns in the Chinese style, as well as images of animals from the lunar calendar. The palace garden was used by the imperial family for various celebrations and receiving guests - there are ponds, picturesque bridges and stone sculptures. The foundations of the remaining buildings are marked with hedges or small borders - from them you can get an idea of the scale of the complex as a whole. A small museum on the territory of the palace presents detailed maps, miniature models of buildings and some objects found during excavations. One of the most interesting exhibits is a model of a merchant ship from the Nara period - such ships plied between the shores of Japan and the Celestial Empire 1,300 years ago. And in the north-eastern part of the complex in the exhibition hall you can see an open area of archaeological work. Where, when, how much Nearest station Yamato-Saidaiji Station, 15 minutes on foot Opening hours 9:00 - 16:30 Weekends Monday Entrance fee palace territory - free museum - 500 yen
In ancient China, four animals were revered - the tiger, turtle, dragon and phoenix; in India they still believe sacred cow, but in Japan they are sensitive to deer. In the city Nara, located south of Kyoto, there is luxury park, where hundreds of these graceful animals live, but you can often see cute bambis on the city streets.
The city of Nara has many attractions. There are ancient ruins, temples, and it is famous for one of the oldest wooden buildings in the country and the largest known Buddha statue. From 710 to 784 Nara was the capital of Japan.
In total, about 1,200 deer live in Nara. According to local legends, a deity named Takemikazuchi arrived in this city riding a white deer, which was its protector. Since then, local residents have been revering deer for 13 centuries. Until 1637, killing an animal was punishable by death; from then until now, not a single similar crime has been recorded. Although deer lost their “sacred” status after World War II, they were recognized as a national treasure of Japan, so they are now protected by law.
Most deer live in the park, where they are fed by tourists, but some individuals are not averse to walking the streets; they may even enter a restaurant, look into the restroom, or steal a passerby’s wallet, mistaking it for food. Knowing that they will remain unpunished, deer are not at all afraid of people, and sometimes they actually “demand” that passersby approach the saltine cracker machines installed everywhere. Beggars may be pushed towards the machine and not allowed to pass until they are given a treat.
Despite the fact that deer serve as a real decoration for Nara, they also cause a lot of harm. The Kasugayama forest is endangered because these voracious animals eat tree bark and low-growing plants and destroy young shoots. Local authorities admit that the deer population in the city is becoming almost uncontrollable and causing a lot of problems local residents and tourists, but no measures have been taken yet.
Todaiji Temple, located in Nara Prefecture, is the largest Buddhist temple in Japan. It currently belongs to the Kegon school of Buddhism.
The name of the temple is translated from Japanese as “Great Temple of the East.”
The temple was built according to a vow by Emperor Semu (reigned 724-749) in the then capital of Nara. It was consecrated in 752. Todaiji acted as a symbol of statehood; state ceremonies of a non-Buddhist nature took place there (for example, the ceremony for awarding official ranks).
The golden pavilion of the temple, together with the huge bronze statue of Buddha Vairochana, has been preserved on a scale of 2:3 in relation to the original structure, with significant reconstruction due to fires.
It is the largest wooden structure in the world (height - 49 meters, length - 57 meters, depth - 50 meters). The Todaiji Temple complex preserves the Sesoin repository, containing several thousand objects of decorative and applied art from the Nara era.
Nara Park
Neighborhood Japanese park Nara is the most popular tourist destination as it is home to many historical and cultural centers and buildings.
The park refers to a huge area of 660 hectares, on which numerous temples are located, including the above-mentioned Todaiji, Kofukuji, and Kasuga. More than 1,200 practically tame deer, foxes, raccoons and other animals live here. About old City The Nara were often said to be personified by " Big Buddha, nature and deer."
Deer are considered Shinto divine messengers and are a landmark of the city. Deer have been carefully protected for centuries, so they have become completely tame and are not afraid of visitors, but on the contrary, they play with them and walk around the parks and streets of Nara. During the day they walk around the park, and in the evening, at the signal of the trumpet blown by the deer keeper, they return to their pens for the night.
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Gango-ji Temple
Gango-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple founded in the 6th century AD in the Japanese city of Nara, Nara Prefecture. The temple is protected and listed World Heritage UNESCO.
Full temple complex consists of three historical sites, of which the best preserved is the Gokurabo Hall, a miniature five-story pagoda, 5 meters high, and a Zen hall. The temple was once used by the Hosso, Sanron and Kusha schools of Buddhism, and the founder of Dose gave sermons and speeches there. The temple is included in the list of the seven largest southern temples in Japan. At the moment, the place is subordinate to the Todai-ji Temple, the Kegon-shu Buddhist school.
In 1451, the temple was severely damaged by fire, but was soon restored. But still, most of the original architecture was lost and rebuilt in a new way.
Tosedai-ji is an ancient Japanese Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara. The temple is protected and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The shrine is represented by the Risshu tradition and is administered by the Shingon school of Buddhism.
The temple was built in 759 by the Chinese monk Jianzhen (Ganjin). Ganjin tried to get to Japan five times, but he was unable to do so due to a storm, a shipwreck, and local officials. For the sixth time, Ganjin went blind, but still made it to Japan and was able to found a temple here, in which he was buried.
The only structure remaining in the original style is the lecture hall (kodo), and was formerly part of the imperial palace at Nara. In the Miei Hall there is a wooden pedestal of Ganjin, which is shown to tourists and visitors once a year - from July 5 to 7. In the same place is Vairocana (Buddha Rusyan), a statue of a seated Ganjin and the thousand-armed Kannon.
The main hall (condo) was built after the death of Ganjin, it is assumed that in 781. From 2000 to 2010, the temple underwent a large-scale reconstruction.
Horyu-ji
Horyu-ji is a Japanese Buddhist temple located in Ikaruga City, Nara Prefecture. The complex of temple buildings is considered the oldest wooden structure in the world.
The temple was founded by Prince Shotoku, and was named Ikaruga-dera. Its construction was completed in 607. Throughout the history of its existence, the temple was struck by lightning and burned down several times, but it was always reconstructed and restored. It was even rebuilt several times, at the beginning of the 12th century, in 1374 and 1603. According to archaeologists, it is claimed that only about 20% of the buildings of the temple complex have retained their original appearance and are made of original materials from the time of its construction, in the 600s.
The temple is divided into western and eastern areas. In its eastern part is the Hall of Dreams, or Yumedono, where sculptural compositions of the Bodhisattva Guanyin are exhibited. In the western part is the Golden Hall, or Kondo, by Kuratsukuri no Tori, which houses the famous Shaka sculpture. In the same part there is a five-tiered pagoda, 33 meters high and made in the old Chinese style. The pagoda is considered one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. The temple also has lecture halls, a dormitory for monks, libraries and refectories. The main temple contains a statue of the Medicine Buddha dating back to 600. In the same temple is the Serein Pavilion, the hall where the soul of Prince Setoku resides.
Ise Jingu Temple
Ise Jingu Shrine is the main Shinto shrine located in the city of Ise.
The sanctuary consists of two main complexes. The first is Nike - the inner sanctuary, which is dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu, who is the ancestor of the imperial family.
The second shrine is called Geku, it was built somewhat later than Naiku. The distance between them is about six kilometers, which form a trail for pilgrims. Geku Shrine is dedicated to the goddess of food, Toyouke.
Ise Jingu holds national treasures. For example, the Sacred Mirror, which is the imperial regalia.
Mikimoto Museum
The Mikimoto Museum is a pearl museum named after the jeweler Kokichi Mikimoto, which is located on a separate small island.
Mikimoto is a national hero in Japan. It was he who managed to turn cheap folk craft for pearl mining into the national industry.
For these services, a museum was opened in his honor. At the entrance to the museum you will see a monument to the famous jeweler. He began his first experiments in growing pearls in the second half of the 19th century, and already in 1899 the first store was opened in the Ginza district of Tokyo, which still exists today.
The museum displays both samples of oysters in which pearls are grown and jewelry. The museum also houses collections of jewelry that belonged to the imperial family.
Despite the fact that the museum is located quite far from the main tourist places, it is quite popular, especially among the fair sex, who cannot resist real beauty.
Great Buddha Statue
The Great Buddha statue is located at Todaiji Temple in Nara City. The Great Buddha is one of Japan's most famous landmarks.
The statue was carved in 749 by a Korean sculptor nicknamed Kimimaro. To make the huge statue, it took 437 tons of bronze, 150 kg of gold, 7 tons of wax, and other materials. The height of the statue with pedestal is 22 meters. The height of the seated Buddha figure is 16 meters. The face is 5 meters long and 3 meters wide. A person can freely crawl through the eye sockets - their length is 1 meter. The diameter of the lotus throne is more than 20 meters, the height of each petal is 3 meters. This ancient bronze statue weighs twice as much as the Statue of Liberty in New York, produced eleven centuries later.
The huge statue is hollow inside. In its depths a complex system of wooden structures was created that supported the entire figure. Once a year, the Great Buddha is cleaned, and several buckets of dust are removed from it.
Yoshino village
In Japan, in Yoshino County, in Nara Prefecture, the village of Yoshino is located. It covers an area of 95.65 square kilometers and has a population of 8,617 people with a population density of 90.09 people per square meter. This place is very revered by the inhabitants of Japan, as it is considered the town of origin of the ancient family of emperors.
The village of Yoshino is the center of a syncretic religion called Shugendo, which combines Shinto, Buddhism and some elements of Taoism. A trail of shugendo supporters (pilgrims) stretches from the village and leads to Mount Omine. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail begins here, leading to the Shinto shrines of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha.
Yoshino is famous for its cherry blossoms, growing on the mountain of the same name, there are 100,000 of them here. The trees grow at different heights, so they bloom for a long time, alternating with each other. Thousands of tourists come here to see the cherry blossoms.
Another attraction of the village is the Kimpusen-ji Temple. This is an ancient temple complex that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Yoshino you can also visit two Shinto shrines, the tomb of Emperor Go-Daigo, a large number of temples, ruins of the imperial palace and hot springs located in the mountains.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Apart from being a pilgrimage site, Kasuga Taisha Shrine attracts many tourists thanks to its countless lanterns. They were presented to the temple as donations from all over the country. You can see them lit only twice a year - during the Setsubun holiday (February 2-4) and during the Obon holiday (August 15-16).
Kasuga Taisha Shrine was built in 768, but was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt several times. The temple is painted in traditional bright red color.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine occupies an important place in the spiritual life of the Japanese. It is often visited by the imperial family, many holidays are held here, and traditional performances of ceremonial music and dances of ancient Japan take place.
Yakushi-ji Temple
Yakushi-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple in the Japanese city of Nara. The temple is protected and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The temple represents the Japanese Hosso tradition, and is famous for its sculpted Yakushi trinity, which includes the Buddha of Medicine (Yakushi-nerai), as well as the bodhisattvas Chandraprabhu and Suryaprabhu. Yakushi-ji is one of the seven largest temples in southern Japan.
Yakushi-ji was founded in the city of Kashihara in 680 by Emperor Tenmu, but construction was delayed and the emperor eventually died. Beginning in 697, a statue of Yakushi-nerai was installed near the temple, and the temple was completed. In 710, it was decided to move the temple to the city of Nara. The process lasted 8 years, and in 718 the shrine was moved.
The complete temple complex consists of the Kondo main hall, Kodo lecture hall, Western and Eastern pagodas. The structure of the shrine symbolizes the Buddhist paradise on earth. Yakushi-ji survived fires and natural disasters several times. They only miraculously did not affect the Eastern Pagoda, which is one of the oldest wooden buildings on the planet. On the walls of the temple you can see paintings telling about the travels of the monk Xuanzang. The shrine was built in traditional Japanese style.
Kofukuji Temple
Kofukuji is one of the oldest and most significant temple complexes in Nara. The temple was built on a hill overlooking Lake Sarusawa as a shrine to the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful clan of the Heian era.
Established as a family temple, Kofukuji Temple already in the 20s. VIII century it became an official temple and retained this status for centuries. Merciless time treated him cruelly. The history of Kofukuji is filled with fires and destruction. Only during the 11th century. the temple burned three times. As a result, of the 175 buildings that made up the complex, only a few precious structures have reached us. Today we can see the Tokondo (East Pavilion), the octagonal Hokuendo Pavilion with the Miroku Bosatsu statue by Master Unkei, the three-tiered and five-tiered pagodas. The five-tiered pagoda, almost 55 meters high, reflected in the waters of Lake Sarusawa, is visible from anywhere in the city. She became a kind of symbol of Nara.
The temple exhibits wonderful works of sculptors from different eras, starting from the 7th century. and up to the XIII–XIV centuries. Many of them are among the best examples of Japanese sculpture. The main values of the Kofukuji Temple are kept in the Kokuhokan treasury.
More than a thousand tame deer, considered sacred animals and messengers of the gods, live in the temple park. There are tents throughout the park selling special cookies for them. At the same time, they are not at all afraid of people; on the contrary, they can deliberately follow a person demanding food.
The most popular attractions in Nara with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Bunks on our website.
Individual and group
Nara is located near Kyoto. You can get there in about an hour by train from central station. Here you will find tame reindeer and the world's largest wooden building. This is a good day trip if you want to add variety to your stay in the old imperial capital.
However, Nara itself is also the old imperial capital.
In Japan, sometimes it seems that no matter what city you go to, it used to be the capital. Kyoto, Osaka, Kamakura, Nara, they are all in some kind of historical period ruled the Japanese Empire.
In the case of Nara, this was a very long time ago - from 710 to 785 AD. The so-called Nara Period served as a key period for Japan. At that time, its elites actively adopted culture, religion and writing from neighboring China. Nara itself, like Kyoto after it, was built in imitation of the urban planning of the Chinese capital (let me remind you that at that time it was not Beijing, but).
Nara became the capital of Japanese Buddhism. By imperial decree, temples and monasteries were built here. The Seven Temples of Nara (Nanto City Daiji) retained their power and influence in the religious life of the country even after the emperor's court was moved to Kyoto at the end of the 8th century. Interestingly, at about the same time, a little to the north it was founded.
Today, most of Nara's historical sites are located in the central Nara Park. Its entrance is a 20-minute walk from railway station J.R. (JR pass holders can get here from Kyoto for free.) Don't forget to pick up a park map at the station. They will not take any money from you for this. Moreover, the tourist service employee will politely ask you how much time you want to spend, suggest a suitable route, and even circle the necessary places on the map.
If you are too lazy to walk, you can take a “Japanese Limousine” - an old rickshaw pulled by a “cab driver”. They are surprisingly fast at running with these things!
At the entrance to the park, you will see a five-tiered pagoda belonging to Kofuku-ji Temple - one of the Seven Ancient Temples. It was founded even before the beginning of the Nara Period - in 669. Although the pagoda was built only a century later. The temple was destroyed many times (this is a common thing in Japan), and today's 50-meter pagoda is practically a remake: it was built in 1426.
Many Japanese cities have their own hero mascot. Nara is no exception, their Sento-Kun looks like a boy with deer antlers. It was invented in 2010, when Nara celebrated its 1300th anniversary.
Sento-Kun got the deer antlers for a reason. According to legend, when the imperial court settled in Nara, the thunder god came to protect it on a white deer. Since then, deer have been an integral part of the city. They roam freely in the park huge quantities, without being the least bit afraid of tourists. In the summer they are beautiful, red with white spots - just like Bambi.
And if you come in autumn or spring, their coloring is not so beautiful.
And most importantly, deer do not have antlers out of season. I didn’t know that deer shed their antlers like elk.
But tourists love them at any time of the year, and in any form.
In my opinion, they are much prettier in the summer. I heard that if you bow to them, they bow back. But I have never been able to achieve such reciprocity.
Look at this baby:
There are instructions posted throughout the park on how to behave around deer, but to be honest, they don’t care about people, unless the person has food.
Special food, however, is sold right there at neighboring merchants for 150 yen.
Deer know very well that if someone has bought food, then they need to quickly run to him and beg for food before it all goes to his fellow deer. At the same time, animals can be very persistent. One particularly hungry animal almost ruined my shirt, it was so actively grabbing at it.
It turns out that deer have a very long tongue!
On the roads around the park there are warnings for drivers - "Beware of deer!"
Pedestrians, however, should also be on their guard.
Okay, you can mess around with deer for a long time - until you run out of money for food or patience. But we will still go and look at the historical values. The main attraction of Nara is the Todai-ji Temple. He is also one of the Seven Great Ones (his name means "Great Eastern Temple"). It was founded at the very dawn of Japan's Nara Period - in the mid-700s. It is he who is shown in the title photo of the post.
Like many great temples, the path to Todai-Ji leads through a huge gate. They are called Nandaimon.
The gate is entirely wooden; it was erected in the 12th century to replace the previous ones, which were destroyed by a typhoon.
On weekdays, groups of schoolchildren come to visit Todai-ji, because it is one of the main historical monuments Japan. For children, this is the living history of their country.
Demonic guards are installed in the gate building - a kind of temple bouncers. This is also an established tradition of Japanese Buddhist temples.
For some reason they are behind a grid all the time, it significantly spoils the photographs, but this does not stop anyone.
And here is the main building of the temple. I have heard many times that this is the largest wooden structure in the world. In fact, this was true until 1998. There is a moment when you see it in its entirety for the first time, and its size comes as some kind of amazing surprise. The size is not immediately clear from the photograph, but look at the men for scale.
This building is called Daibutsuden, Pavilion of the Great Buddha. It was originally built in 743, by order of Emperor Shomu, to house a statue of the great bronze Buddha. The Emperor passed a law requiring the Japanese to take a direct part in the construction of temples - thinking that this would help the people gain the protection and patronage of the Buddha. According to the chronicles, more than 2.5 million people helped with the construction of the great pavilion. Subsequently, it was rebuilt twice; the current building was completed in 1709.
Of course, tourists love to take pictures against its background. (I also took a photo, but I won’t show it to you.)
In front of the entrance to the building, the Japanese light and place incense. If anyone knows what this ritual means, please tell us!
And here is the great Buddha himself. Work on it took almost ten years, and almost bankrupted the country. To make it, we had to buy up almost all the bronze that was then in Japan. Recently, scientists using X-rays found a pearl necklace, an ancient weapon, and even a human tooth in the knee of a 15-meter Buddha! (They didn’t dig all this out of their knee.)
On either side of the great Buddha in the temple sit two bodhisattvas.
And in the corners of the pavilion there are demonic guards in elaborate armor.
It's hard to believe, but this gigantic building is 30% smaller than the size of the original pavilion, which was built in the 8th century. A model of the original Todai-ji complex, which included two 7-tiered pagodas and the front gate, stands inside.
There is also an attraction “Buddha’s Nostril” - in one of the giant columns of the temple there is a loophole, crawling through which is considered a guarantee of good luck.
Surprisingly well-fed uncles and aunts crawl through a seemingly small hole. And I got through! So now I'll be lucky.
And they also have one of the best ways collect money from tourists that I have never met anywhere! The guys came up with the idea of giving huge clay tiles that cover the temple buildings for signature. You buy one, sign it, and immediately donate it back. The pleasure costs a thousand yen (about $10).
You can also ask the monk to write something for you for good luck. Many people have special books where they collect the calligraphy of monks from different temples around the country.
This time we were lucky - when we entered the pavilion building there was a concert going on! The musicians and singers stood right on the Buddha's pedestal.
The soloist, dressed in traditional attire, performed arias in Japanese, and children sat in a row behind her.
For a long time the children sat with a very bored look on their faces; it was unclear why they were being tormented so much.
But then it turned out that it was a children's choir, and soon it was time for them to perform (sorry about the sound quality).
Another group of schoolchildren noticed while I was photographing them, and immediately showed me their photo fingers. In general, the Japanese really love it when they take pictures, but it’s better that they don’t notice it, otherwise you won’t end up with anything other than those fingers.
A group with umbrellas was photographed outside the temple. I'm sure they're all pointing fingers at the front!
The children's choir has finished. As a reward for their performance, they were allowed to run around on the lawns. I've never seen anyone on the Todai-Ji lawn before!
Sitting near the exit from the pavilion wooden statue Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (the Japanese call him Jizo). They say that if something hurts you, you need to touch that place on that weird guy in the cap, and it will go away. I don't believe in such stories. But of course I touched it just in case.
It's beautiful here in the summer...
And in the fall it’s much cooler (that’s why).
In autumn everything here burns like flames!
You can also come in the spring, when the sakura blossoms. It's also incredibly beautiful.
In short, to hell with you, go whenever you want! There's no bad time to visit Nara. I keep thinking I need to get out here in winter.
There is still a lot of interesting things in the park. For example, this bell is healthy. It is struck during Buddhist ceremonies.
Alley of traditional stone lanterns.
Although Buddhism predominates in Nara, there is also a Shinto shrine.
There are many lamps beautifully hung here.
Also, don’t miss Nigatsu-Do (Second Month Pavilion) - it is located a little east of Todai-Ji, but is one of its buildings. Located on the side of a mountain.
Here you can go up to the terrace on the second floor.
There is a view of the entire Nara Park. You can look back at everything you saw during the day.
So, I advise you to include Nara in your plans for visiting Kyoto (?). If you try really hard, you can see Nara in one day. On the other hand, I’m sure you can spend a couple of days in Nara without any problems!
Nara is a prefecture and city in Japan, one of the ancient capitals of the state. This city was the capital for a relatively short time, but despite this it became religious and cultural center Japan, because it is here that all the most famous and most sacred temples in Japan are built - the largest, the most ancient, the most wooden, the most Buddhist, the most Shinto, the most lantern and the most deer. Well, how can you be in Japan and not come here at least for a day? Moreover, Nara is located only 40 km south of Kyoto (and 30 km east of Osaka), so you can visit it in one day using public transport.
I started my visit to the ancient capital of Japan with its main attraction - the temple Todai-Ji, which means "Great Eastern Temple". This largest Buddhist temple in Japan And The largest wooden structure in the world! At least that's what they say here.
Naturally, what stands here today is not the original, because... wood burns very well and the temple burned, more than once. But the Japanese, they are hardworking, restored it all the time. And this is how he appeared before me today. It's huge, isn't it?
At the entrance to the temple there is a bowl with “candles”. No real Buddhist will enter a temple without first placing a smoking stick there. But I'm not a Buddhist, I can.
Inside the temple - largest bronze buddha statue(nicknamed Vairocana). Its height is almost 15 meters, and it weighs 500 tons, 500 tons of pure bronze! Oddly enough, the statue is also not original. One day the temple burned so hard that the old statue melted. But the Japanese did not steal the bronze, but assembled and cast a new statue, no worse than the previous one!
On each side of the Buddha sit a pair of bronze Bodhisattvas, and in addition, inside the temple there is a magical column with a small hole equal in size to the nostrils of the giant Buddha. They say that whoever can crawl into this “hole” will receive a blessing. I didn’t take a picture of it because of the crowd of people wanting to crawl through it, but believe me, it’s very small! Not every child can squeeze through it, let alone an adult. But the Japanese (and all South Asians) are a rather tiny nation, so many skinny people still squeeze through it. And it’s hard for my head to get through there...
Todai-ji is not just a huge temple, but a whole temple complex with many pagodas, small temples and a huge park. While walking through the park away from tourists, I accidentally came across this stunning Japanese bell.
Maybe this is also some " the best" bell in Japan? - Don't know. But what surprised me was the complete absence of tourists here, although there are simply crowds of them at the temple! Because All the inscriptions are in Japanese, I didn’t understand anything, the only thing (it seems to me) is that for a small fee you can ring this bell, and at the same time make some wish.
In addition to architectural attractions, at Todai-ji Temple you can get acquainted with thousands of deer that walk around its territory. Nara is generally a city of deer; there are probably as many deer here as there are people.
The deer here are tame and are very fond of tourists, especially those who feed them something tasty. Unfortunately, I came empty-handed, so the deer didn’t run headlong towards me. I had to chase them with my camera...
But the deer settled here for a reason. According to legend, a certain god of thunder Takemikazuki(Whoever reprimanded him +100 to karma) arrived in Nara to guard the capital riding on a sacred deer, and all current deer are considered his (the deer’s) descendants, and therefore are also sacred.
Despite the fact that the deer are fed centrally here, they are still taken from tourists. And the hungriest ones hunt down visitors right at the entrance and almost forcefully knock out their food. And you can’t do anything - you can’t touch the sacred animal!
Literally a kilometer from Buddhist Todai-ji on the outskirts of Nara is a very famous Shinto temple of Japan - Kasuga Taisha(or Kasuga Taisha), who is considered the most ancient Shinto shrine in Japan. But the Japanese are primarily Shintoists (!), and then Buddhists!
I’m not strong in Shintoism (it’s something like Japanese polytheism like the ancient Slavs), so it was difficult for me to understand what was here, how, why and why, so I just walked, looked and photographed what I saw. And I saw many beautiful and interesting buildings in classic Japanese style, clearly for religious purposes.
They are completely empty inside. This is understandable; in Japan, minimalism is inherent in interiors, and not only in residential buildings, but even in temples and royal palaces. Here, too, there is practically nothing inside the sacred buildings, although... maybe I don’t know something.
But there are lanterns outside! Kasuga Taisha Shrine is famous for its lanterns, of which there are said to be more than three thousand, including stone lanterns on the grounds and hanging bronze lamps on the temples. All lanterns are offerings from pilgrims, so to speak, a piece of them and their contribution to the development of the temple.
Twice a year all the lights in Kasuga are lit - for the holidays Setsubun February 3 and O-bon August 15-16. Can you imagine when at night all these thousands of lanterns are burning throughout the temple? I think it's very beautiful! So plan your trip these days for a visual wow effect!
In one dark room, several lanterns are always on, so that at least something can be presented to those who will not come here during the holidays, when everything is lit.
Despite the fact that Kasuga Taisha Shrine is very popular, entry to it is completely free, and it exists solely on donations. Any offerings are welcome here, and none of them goes unnoticed. They don’t just take money from people, but instead the temple sells “signs” and “lanterns.” For small donations, you can buy a wooden sign with your name, which will be hung on a special stand near the entrance.
Wooden signs do not hang for long and are updated all the time, so those who are richer buy lanterns. You can buy a pendant bronze lamp that will be hung on some house, or you can put a special stone lantern that will stand forever.
Despite the fact that such lanterns are very expensive, there are thousands of them on the temple grounds! Literally the entire territory of the temple park is strewn with such stone pillars.
In addition, “wishing walls” are very popular here, on which you can hang a small sign with a wish or blessing. Naturally, you will also have to pay a couple of hundred yen for such a sign.
If I knew Japanese, I would know what they write on these signs, but for me they are just beautiful Japanese “chaka-malyaki”.
When I was in Nara, the emperor was very ill, and a special place was set aside for him in the temple with posters wishing him a speedy recovery. Judging by the number of such “placards,” the Japanese love their emperor.
This temple is also considered one of best places for religious marriage ceremonies and something similar to our baptism. Such rituals in this temple cost a lot of money, and the demand is huge and you have to sign up in advance and wait for your turn.
By luck, I witnessed a religious Japanese wedding ceremony. By the way, look, all the nuns of the temple, who are called “miko” here, wear twigs in their hair wisteria, which is considered the sacred plant of Kasuga Taishi.
The ceremony itself was somewhat reminiscent of our wedding, only in Japanese. Ordering such a ceremony in a temple costs about $10,000, so only wealthy newlyweds can get married in Japan. The rest either choose a simpler temple, or limit themselves to a “stamp in their passport.”
Do you see this strange headdress on the bride’s head? What do you think she is hiding under it? You'll never guess - horns! I was shocked when I found out about this. A bride with horns, horror... Maybe this ritual is just what is needed to rid her of these horns?
There are many more temples and pagodas in Nara itself, but I still decided to get to the suburb of Nara - the town of Ikaruga to visit there oldest Buddhist temple in Japan- temple Horyu-ji. There is much debate about whether this temple actually burned down or was preserved in its original form, but it is still one of the most revered temples in Japan. The five-level pagoda of Horyu-ji Temple (pictured right) is said to be the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world!
The temple was founded in the 7th century, at the very beginning of the penetration of Buddhism into Japan, and its main shrine is a statue of the Buddha-healer Yakushi, to whom people come for healing. In addition, Horyu-ji is not just a temple, but also a monastery, and an active one, in which monks have been studying since ancient times to this day. The monastery has a huge area, which I wandered around for the rest of the day, enjoying the beauty, silence and ancient Japanese architecture.
This ended my day in Nara and I returned to Kyoto. If three “best” temples are not enough for you and you want a deeper immersion in Nara, come here for 2-3 days and enjoy the beautiful cultural and religious capital of Japan. Just take something tasty for the sacred deer, there are a lot of them here.
