from 710

National Treasures of the Nara period

With Heijō-kyō as the capital, the state built many great temples. Where a place has buildings from several periods, it is listed under the oldest.

By period

Asuka Nara Heian Kamakura Muromachi Momoyama Edo Meiji

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Gango-ji

Nara, Nara

At Gango-ji you can see the National Treasure Gokuraku-do and Zen-shitsu, Nara-period monks' quarters remodeled in the Kamakura period, and the Nara-period Miniature Five-Storied Pagoda kept in the Horinkan. Old tiles brought from Hoko-ji in Asuka are still used on the roofs of the Gokuraku-do and Zen-shitsu.

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Toshodai-ji

Nara, Nara

The head temple of the Ritsu school, founded by Jianzhen (Ganjin), the Tang monk who reached Japan only on his sixth attempt. Nara-period buildings stand here, including the late-8th-century Golden Hall in its original form and a Lecture Hall moved from the Heijo Palace.

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Yakushi-ji

Nara, Nara

The East Pagoda, the only building surviving from the founding, is a three-story pagoda that looks six-storied because of its intermediate roofs, earning it the nickname "frozen music." It stands beside the brightly colored West Pagoda rebuilt in the Showa era, and the Kamakura-period Toindo hall is also worth seeing.

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Todai-ji

Nara, Nara

Built around the Great Buddha commissioned by Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji has National Treasure buildings that trace its history of fire and rebuilding: the Edo-period Great Buddha Hall, the Nandaimon Gate rebuilt by Chogen in the Daibutsu style, and the Tenpyo-era Hokkedo.

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Shin-Yakushi-ji

Nara, Nara

At Shin-Yakushi-ji, inside the National Treasure main hall that survives from the temple's founding in the Nara period, you can see up close the seated Yakushi Buddha on its round earthen platform and the Twelve Heavenly Generals that surround it.

Nara · Temples · National Treasures

Taima-dera

Katsuragi, Nara

At Taima-dera you can see an ancient pair of three-story pagodas, the Nara-period East Pagoda and the early Heian West Pagoda, together with the late Heian Main Hall (Mandala Hall) that enshrines the Taima Mandala.