Page 214 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Children playing by a
pond in the expansive
Nara Park

1 3 "
NARA Nara National
Museum
⌂ 50 Noboriojicho
奈良 # 9:30am–5pm Tue–Sun
∑ narahaku.go.jp
! D5 ⌂ Nara Prefecture £ JR line from Kyoto, Kintetsu Most of the exhibits in the
line from Kyoto n At Kintetsu Nara Stn; www.visitnara.jp
Nara National Museum’s
Founded in 710, Nara, then known as Heijo-kyo collection, including Buddhist
(citadel of peace), became one of Asia’s most splendid sculptures, paintings, and
cities. Avidly absorbing ideas from the mainland, the calligraphy, date from the
city became the grand diocese of Buddhism and the Far Nara and Heian periods. The
Eastern destination of the Silk Road. Having retained museum holds an annual Todai-ji Nigatsu-do
exhibition in October and
its natural beauty, Nara remains a symbol of tranquility. early November of treasures Kaidan-in Sangatsu-do
from the Shoso-in Treasure Kagami
1 reconstruc tions can lay claim Repository, a storehouse in N A T I O N A L H I G H W A Y 3 6 9 Pond
to antiquity – the current five-
the Todai-ji complex (p216)
Nara Park story pagoda, burned to the that was built to preserve TAKAMAICHICHO Nara Prefectural SUIMONCHO Nandai-mon
Museum
This 1,300-acre (502 ha) park ground five times, dates from Emperor Shomu’s private JR Nara Station Gate
is the cultural heart of the city, 1426. The Treasure House collection of precious objects 800 yd (750 m) Isui-en
and it’s where most of Nara’s has one of Japan’s foremost from all along the Silk Road. O M I Y A - D O R I Garden
temples are located. Over collections of Buddhist art.
Kintetsu-
1,200 tame deer, regarded Nara Station Golden Hall Nara National
Museum
as messengers of the gods, Kofuku-ji
roam the park. PICTURE PERFECT 4 "- Five-Storey
Oh Deer! Isui-en Garden SAN JO - DOR I Pagoda Ichino-Torii Nara Park
Gate
Kasuga
These hooved nomads ⌂ 74 Suimoncho # 9:30am– Toshodai-ji Sarusawa Taisha Shrine
2.5 miles (4 km)
Pond
have wandered Nara Yakushi-ji
2 " Park for centuries, 4:30pm Wed–Mon (daily in 2.5 miles (4 km) NARAMACHI Ara
Sagi
Deer
Kofuku-ji nagging passersby for Apr, May, Oct & Nov) Pond Pond Enclosure
food. Grab your camera ∑ isuien.or.jp/en STREET SHOPPING MOCHIDONO
⌂ 48 Noboriojicho § (0742) and stroll through the
22-7755 # 9am–5pm daily This Meiji-era garden, with its
park to snap a shot or many teahouses, is popular in N A R A M AC HI-O DO R I
Few of the 175 buildings in two of these beautifully spring for its plum, cherry, and N A T I O N A L H I G H W A Y 1 6 9
this temple’s origi nal 669 photogenic critters. azalea blooms, and in autumn
complex remain. But even the for red maples. 0 meters 400 N TAKABATAKECHO Yakushi-ji
Shin-
214 0 yards 400
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