NaraFood

Admire the World Heritage main hall with ancient Asuka Period roof tiles and the Futoda field lined with stone Buddha statues

About this spot

An ancient temple counted among the World Heritage 'Cultural Properties of Historic Nara,' and Naramachi's townscape once spread across this temple's grounds. Its predecessor was the Houko-ji (法興寺), the first full-scale temple built in Asuka by Soga no Umako, and it was relocated here when the capital moved to Heijo. The roofs of the National Treasure Gokuraku Hall and the Meditation Hall still bear some of Japan's oldest roof tiles, continuously used since the Asuka Period, and the undulating roofs with tiles of varying hues are a must-see. The Futoda field within the grounds features countless stone pagodas and Buddha statues arranged in orderly rows, creating a distinctly Nara landscape blanketed with lespedeza flowers in autumn. Starting your town walk by quietly bowing together here will deepen your appreciation of the latticed town's heritage and make the subsequent lane wandering all the more meaningful.

Tips

About 12 minutes' walk from Kintetsu Nara Station; enter Naramachi just south of Sarusawa Pond. Admission is at the east gate; the grounds have many gravel paths, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Also visit the Hourin-kan hall which houses National Treasures including a five-story stone pagoda. Omamori (amulets) can be obtained at the treasure office. September, when the lespedeza flowers peak, sees increased visitors, so arriving right after opening is safer.