Yakushi-ji

🛕 Temple

📍

Prefecture

Nara

🛕

Type

Temple

⭐

N/A

1 review

🎟️

¥1,100

Entry Fee

🚃 Train Access

About This Destination

A World Heritage temple and one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, celebrated for its elegant East Pagoda from 730 AD, one of the few surviving original Nara-period structures.

Yakushi-ji was established in 680 by Emperor Tenmu to pray for the recovery of his ailing consort and later relocated to its present site in Nishinokyo when the capital moved to Nara. The East Pagoda, built around 730 AD, is one of the very few original Nara-period structures still standing, and its alternating large and small roofs have been poetically described as frozen music for their rhythmic beauty. The West Pagoda was faithfully reconstructed in 1981 using traditional techniques, letting you compare the weathered 730 AD original with the fresh 1981 reconstruction. The Kondo (Main Hall) has a bronze Yakushi Triad dating from the late 7th or early 8th century, considered a masterpiece of early Japanese Buddhist sculpture. The spacious temple precinct also includes the Genjo Sanzoin sub-temple, dedicated to the Chinese pilgrim monk Xuanzang.

Location

Prefecture: Nara

Address: 457 Nishinokyo-cho, Nara-shi, Nara 630-8563

Nearest Station: Nishinokyo Station

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No restaurants on the temple grounds. A few small eateries can be found near Nishinokyo Station. Consider pairing a visit with nearby Toshodai-ji and stopping at local shops for kuzu mochi and other arrowroot sweets.

Official Website