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History / Culture / Tour Spots in Ikaruga / Yamatokoriyama Area

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  • Jikoin Temple
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    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Yamatokoriyamashi Koizumichou 865
    This is a temple in Koizumi Town, Yamatokoriyama City. The father of Sekishu style tea ceremony and the second lord of the Koizumi clan built this family temple in 1663 in honor of his father. This is an unusual temple that has been built as a tea room. The garden was designated as a place of scenic beauty and the tea room and the drawing room are registered as National Treasures.

    奈良定期観光バスで訪れました。 父の菩提寺として当時の大名片桐石州が、1633年建立したのが慈光院です。片桐石州は茶の教えを説き、徳川将軍や各地大名の多くが学ぶようになり、茶人として名を残す事となりました。 それゆえ、こちらのお寺は境内全体が茶室の風情になるよう考えられているとの事です。 さつきの丸い刈り込みが絵のように美しい庭園を眺めながら、たてていただいたお抹茶とお菓子をいただきました。その間...

    Jikoin Temple image
  • Kudaraji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Kitakatsuragi-gun Koryocho Kudara 1411-2
    A temple in Kudara, Koryo Town, Kitakatsuragi County. It's said it was formerly the Kudara-Daiji Temple founded by Emperor Jomei during the Asuka Period. Presently only the main hall and a three-story pagoda built during the Kamakura Period remain. The three-story pagoda has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
    Kudaraji Temple image
  • Yatadera
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Yamatokoriyamashi Yatachou 3506
    Yatadera is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect located in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture. The temple is also known as the hydrangea temple because of the roughly 10,000 varieties of hydrangea, and 60 different species, planted there. The temple was built in 674 on the orders of Emperor Tenmu. Later, Jizo Bosatsu statues were erected and the temple became affectionately known as ‘Jizo of Yata,’ Temple halls and sub-temples, such as the main temple hall (Hondo), the temple hall dedicated to Yama (King of Hell), and the temple hall commemorating its founder, are dotted around the temple grounds. Yatadera houses many important cultural assets such as the wooden Jizo Bodhisattva statue and wooden seated statue of Amitabha. The best time to see the hydrangeas is from June through to early July. On the mountain behind the main temple is a walking course which takes in 88 sacred spots around Yatadera.
    Yatadera image
  • Rokujizo Stone Statue
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Goseshi Kujira
    This is a stone Buddha statue in Kujira, Gose City. This is a large rock carved with the figures of six jizo (guardian of children) located in the middle of the hill on the old road to the west side of Kamoyamaguchi Shrine. This area has been affected by flooding since ancient times and it is believed that the villagers carved the figures of jizo on the rock when it was washed to its present location in the Muromachi period.
    Rokujizo Stone Statue image
  • Takamahiko-jinja Shrine
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Goseshi Kitakubo 158
    This is a shrine in Kitakubo, Gose City. At this shrine, Takamimusubi no kami, Ichikishimahime no Mikoto, and Sugawarano Michizane are enshrined. There is no main shrine building at this shrine as it is believed that Mt. Hakuun in the background is the deity spirit. The area has strong connections to Japanese mythology including the story of Tenson Korin.
    Takamahiko-jinja Shrine image
  • Fujinoki Tomb
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Ikomagunikarugachou Houryujinishi 2-1
    This is a historic site west of Horyu-ji Temple in Ikaruga Town. The large round burial mound is 48 meters in diameter, however it is unknown who is entombed here. The archaeological artifacts discovered in excavations conducted in 1985 and 1988 include stone coffins, earthenware and gold and copper horse riding gear which are designated as Important Cultural Property. These artifacts are kept in the Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara.
    Fujinoki Tomb image
  • Uemura Residence Nagaya Gate
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Pref. Takaichiguntakatorichou Shimokoshima 3
    This is a historical building in Shimokoshima, Takatori Town. It is the gate for the head of chief retainers of the former Takatori clan and was built in 1826. The valuable remains of the modern-day samurai house gate in a namako-kabe wall design is designated as an Important Cultural Property of the prefecture. The historical building is still used as a residence by the Uemura family.
    Uemura Residence Nagaya Gate image
  • Shimanoyama Kofun
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Shiki-gun Kawanishicho
    This excellently-preserved burial mound dates to between the end of the fourth century and the beginning of the fifth and is one of the 20 largest such burial mounds found in Nara Prefecture. The keyhole-shaped mound is 200 meters long with a 104-meter-long oblong base and 113-meter-in-dimater rounded top. The mound is also 17.42 meters tall and is surrounded by an oblong moat that is 265 meters long north to south and 175 meters wide east to west. According to legend, it is the grave of Soga no Iruka, a member of a powerful governing family who was assassinated.
  • Kakinomoto Shrine
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Katsuragi-shi Kakinomoto 162
    "This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, an Asuka period imperial court poet with over 400 poems included in the ancient ""Man'yoshu"" and ""Kokin Wakashu"" poetry anthologies. Some of the many highlights on the grounds include a fudegaki persimmon tree which produces brush-like ears in the fall, a cherry tree said to have grown from a left behind walking stick, a double-blossomed plum tree, and monuments inscribed with the poet's poems. The shrine is famous for its annual spring festival held on the second Sunday in April."
    Kakinomoto Shrine image
  • Katsuraki Imasuhono Shrine (Ikazuchi Shrine)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Katsuragi-shi Fuefuki 448
    "The Fuefuki Muraji family, who served the court as flutists, moved here in ancient times and established this shrine as a family shrine dedicated to Honoikazuchi-no-Kami. Accordingly, the shrine is nicknamed the ""Flute Player Palace."" Listed in the ancient ""Engi-shiki"" shrine register, the shrine is one of many ancient shrines in the former county of Oshimi and was ranked as a Kanpei Taisha shrine. There is a round burial mound 26 meters in diameter on the grounds which enshrines a family sarcophagus in a cave tomb to the northwest of the main shrine, and this is said to be the grave of Taketa Ori-no-Mikoto, the seventh generation Fuefuki Muraji."
  • Taimadera Temple Gonen'in
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Katsuragi-shi Taima 1263
    This is a sub temple of the Taimadera Temple, famous once the residence of Chujo-hime. Serving as a dressing room during the Nichiren memorial service held by the Taimadera on May 14, the sub-temple cares for all of the masks and costumes used in the ritual. The temple's garden makes use of Japan's only paired pagoda towers as part of its scenery and is planted with a variety of seasonal plants, including some 1,000 tree peonies, a group of 100-year-old great azaleas, and a three-hundred-year-old weeping cherry tree.
  • Handa Gokurakuji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Gokurakuji 108
    "This ancient Buddhist temple is enwrapped in the abundant natural beauty of Mt. Kongo and Mt. Katsuragi. The temple is also known as the Handa Gokurakuji after Handa, an ancient name for the local area. Extolling the virtues of Ten'e Nyorai, the temple is also believed to grant faithful worshippers protection from misfortune and good luck. Records state the temple was built at the request of the samurai Kusunoki Masashige during the Nanboku-cho period and, as a key pint of contact between Kawachi, Kongo, and Yoshino, it is also said that ""Gokurakuji"" was used as a password by the Southern Dynasty side."
  • Midoro Kofun
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Kose
    The Midoro Kita-kofun and Midoro Minami-kofun tumuli, separated by around 100 meters, were jointly designated a National Historic Site in 1961. The Midoro Kita-kofun is located on the grounds of the Nishio Residence; a round burial mound 20 meters in diameter, the mound has a tunnel tomb which flares out on both sides from an access passageway. The large-scale tomb was constructed in the mid-sixth century. In comparison, the Midoro Minami-kofun is smaller. Its 25-meter-in-diameter round mount was built in the latter half of the sixth century and the entrance to its tunnel tomb faces south.
    Midoro Kofun image
  • Hashimotoin (Kotenji Temple)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Takama 350
    Records state that the honorary mountain title and name of this Kannon Buddhist temple, known for its flowers, date back to 718. The temple's principal object of worship is a huge, 5.4-meter-high wooden statue of an eleven-faced Hase-style Avalokitesvara (Kannon) holding a water vessel in the left hand and a staff in the right. The temple's meditation garden blooms with beautiful seasonal flowers, and visitors are charmed by cherry blossoms in spring, lotuses, camellias, and other flowers.
  • Muro Miyama Tomb (Muro no Oobaka)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Muro
    This vast keyhole-shaped burial mound seemingly appeared in the early 5th century without any archeological precedents in the area. The exceptionally large tomb is 238 meters long. There are two graves on either side of the round mound portion, north and south, and both consisted of stacked stone pit tombs holding chest-shaped sarcophagi made of hyaloclastite stone. Of the many large-scale burial mounds managed by the Imperial Household Agency, this is the only one the general public may tour.
    Muro Miyama Tomb (Muro no Oobaka) image
  • Nakamura Family Residence
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Gose-shi Nagara 339
    This residence situated on the east side of the Former Residence of Naoya Shiga, was built in 1919. It was built as the home of Western-style painter Gen'ichiro Adachi. Designed by Adachi, the two-story wooden structure is finished with mortar on the outside and is roofed with red pantiles. Some of the main highlights include the entranceway decorated with stained glass, studio with atrium, and a sunroom. In 2000, the residence was designated a Tangible Cultural Property.
    Nakamura Family Residence image
  • Kashiba City Nijo-san Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Nara Kashiba-shi Fujiyama 1-17-17
    This mineral museum is Japan's first dedicated to Paleolithic culture. In volcanic eruptions several millions of years ago, Mt. Nijo produced three types of stone: Sanukite, tuff, and emery. And these three types of stone have been a significant part of human life from the Paleolithic to the present. Focusing on these three minerals, the museum presents the history, cultural features, and nature of the Mt. Nijo area in an easy-to-understand and intriguing way.
    Kashiba City Nijo-san Museum image
  • Todaimon (Great East Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    "Also called the ""Nakanomon,"" this gate stands between the Horyuji temple's Western and Eastern Precincts. Apparently, the gate once faced south on the east side of Kagami Pond and is said to have been moved to its current location in the Heian period. A superb example of Nara period architecture, the gate employs an unusual three ridgepole design. The gate has been designated a National Treasure."
  • Nandaimon (South Main Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This gate stands at the entrance to the Horyuji temple. A three-ridgepole single-tier gate with eight secondary pillars and a single opening, it originally stood at the top of the stone steps in front of the Middle Gate when the current main temple building was built but was later moved to its current location as the temple grounds expanded. The original gate was lost in a fire in 1435; the current gate was rebuilt in 1438. The gate has been designated a National Treasure.
  • Chumon (Middle Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nara Ikoma-gun Ikarugacho Horyuji Sannai
    This gate is the front entrance to the Western Precinct. Decorated with large eaves, the four-bay gate has two entrances. An example of the magnificent architecture of the Asuka period, the gate has entasis columns, and, on the upper level, a balustrade adorned with manjikuzushi latticework and split support columns similar to that of the Main Hall. The gate has been designated a National Treasure.
Nara Ikaruga / Yamatokoriyama
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With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of "traditional Japan." The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.

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