Tanzan Shrine

Shrine

Prefecture

Nara

Type

Shrine

N/A

1 review

¥600

Entry Fee

About This Destination

A mountain shrine famous for Japan's only remaining wooden thirteen-story pagoda and spectacular autumn foliage, set at the historic site of the Taika Reform conspiracy.

Tanzan Shrine is perched on the wooded slopes of Mount Tonomine in Sakurai, dedicated to Fujiwara no Kamatari, the patriarch of the powerful Fujiwara clan. It was on this very mountain in 645 AD that Kamatari and Prince Naka-no-Oe secretly plotted the Taika Reform, a political coup that reshaped Japanese governance and established centralized imperial rule. The shrine's most striking feature is its thirteen-story wooden pagoda, the only one of its kind remaining in Japan, originally built in 678 and faithfully reconstructed in 1532. During autumn, the mountainside erupts in a blaze of red and orange maple leaves, earning Tanzan Shrine a reputation as one of the finest autumn foliage spots in the Kansai region. The shrine complex contains numerous designated Important Cultural Properties, and the elevated mountain setting provides panoramic views over the surrounding Yamato countryside.

Location

Prefecture: Nara

Address: Sakurai, Nara, Japan

Nearest Station: Sakurai Station

View on Google Maps

Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: A small tea house near the shrine entrance serves simple meals and matcha. The Sakurai area is known for miwa somen noodles, a local delicacy best enjoyed at restaurants near Miwa Station before or after the shrine visit.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Tanzan Shrine?

Take the JR Manyo-mahoroba (Sakurai) Line or Kintetsu Osaka Line to Sakurai Station, then a Nara Kotsu bus toward Tanzan-jinja — 25 minutes (¥500). Buses run only about once an hour, and service nearly doubles during the November autumn season. Always check return times before boarding. By car, it's a 25-minute drive on a curvy mountain road; the shrine has a ¥500 lot. From Kyoto via Kintetsu, plan around 1.5 hours each way.

When is the autumn foliage at its best?

Mid-November to early December — typical peak is November 15–25. The thirteen-story pagoda framed by red maples is one of Kansai's iconic autumn scenes, and weekends in this period get crowded. Aim for a weekday arrival before 9:30 to enjoy the grounds before tour buses fill the lots. Evening light-up ceremonies run roughly 17:00–20:30 during peak (¥1,000 separate ticket); the lit-up pagoda glowing in the maple canopy is unforgettable.

What's special about the thirteen-story pagoda?

It's the only wooden thirteen-story pagoda still standing in Japan. Originally built in 678 as a memorial to Fujiwara no Kamatari (mastermind of the 645 Taika Reform), the current structure dates to 1532 and is an Important Cultural Property. Standing 17 m tall on the mountain ridge, its slim, multi-eaved silhouette inspired generations of builders. The pagoda is closed to interior entry but the surrounding viewing paths give you photographs from every angle.

What's the entry fee and how long to plan?

¥600 for adults; open 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30), year-round. Plan 60–90 minutes — longer in autumn when you'll want time on the upper viewing platforms and at the meeting-place stone (kettarami-no-iwa) commemorating Kamatari and Prince Naka-no-Oe's secret 645 plotting. The grounds include several Important Cultural Property halls and a small treasure house. Wear sturdy shoes; the precincts are stone-stepped throughout.