Gangoji

🛕 Temple

Part of Naramachi

📍

Prefecture

Nara

🛕

Type

Temple

⭐

N/A

1 review

🎟️

¥500

Entry Fee

🚃 Train Access

About This Destination

A World Heritage temple and one of Japan's oldest, where remarkably some original roof tiles from its Asuka-period founding over 1,400 years ago remain in use today.

Gangoji traces back to Asuka-dera, Japan's first full-scale Buddhist temple, founded around 593 in the ancient capital of Asuka. When the capital moved to Nara in 718, the temple was relocated and renamed Gangoji—one of the Seven Great Temples. Some roof tiles on the Gokurakudo Hall date back to the original Asuka-period construction, over 1,400 years old and still in use. Gokurakudo and the adjacent Zen Hall are National Treasures. The museum has Buddhist stone carvings and artifacts. Located in Naramachi, it's quieter than central Nara's temples and a good starting point for exploring the old merchant quarter.

Location

Prefecture: Nara

Address: 11 Chuin-cho, Nara-shi, Nara 630-8392

Nearest Station: Kintetsu Nara Station

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No dining within the temple, but Naramachi surrounding the temple is filled with cafes and restaurants in converted machiya townhouses, serving kakinoha-zushi, kuzu sweets, and creative Japanese cuisine.

Official Website