Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

194  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

1 Nara
Nara
Founded in 710 on the Yamato Plain, Nara, then known as
Heijo-kyo (citadel of peace), became one of Asia’s most
splendid cities. Avidly absorbing ideas from mainland Asia,
the city became the grand diocese of Buddhism and the far Deer – “messengers of the gods” –
eastern destination of the Silk Road. Miraculously, many in Nara Park
buildings have survived. With its wooded hills, temple
parks, and some of the world’s oldest wooden buildings, Japan’s foremost collections
this ancient city remains a symbol of tranquility. of Buddhist art, including an
8th-century statue of Ashura.
P Nara National Museum
Tel (050) 5542-8600. Open 9:30am–
5pm Tue–Sun. &
This two-part muse um consists
of the original Beaux-arts
building, the Buddhist Sculpture
Hall and Ritual Bronzes
Gallery, created in
the 1870s, now
The tree ensconced temple of Todai-ji, as seen from hills to the east

Exploring Nara only a precious few remain. In
Nara’s rectangular design, a Nara, however, even reconstruc- Nara Koen
Chuo Byoin
checkerboard of streets based tions can lay claim to antiquity.
on the ancient Chinese city of The current five-story pagoda,
Ch’ang-an, is straightforward burned to the ground no less
and clearly divided into zones. than five times, dates from 1426. Oike Pond
The downtown area around The temple’s Eastern Golden Hall, Todai-ji
the two stations, JR Nara and containing several priceless Daibutsden Nigatsu-do
Kintetsu Nara, is within walk ing statues, is of similar vintage. In Sangatsu-do
distance of Nara Park, a 1,300- the Treasure House is one of Kaidan-in
acre (1,300 ha) area where most Kagami
of the temples are located. Over Pond
1,200 tame deer, regarded as
messengers of the gods, roam Nandai-mon
Gate
the park. South of the center is
Naramachi, the old city. Other Isui-en
notable areas like Nishino-kyo O M I Y A - D O R I Garden Nara Park
and Horyu-ji (see p200) are to OSAKA, Kofuku-ji
KYOTO
Kintetsu-
the west and southwest of Nara. Nara Station Temple
Five-Storey Nara National
 Kofuku-ji Temple Pagoda Ichino-Torii Museum
Tel (0742) 22-7755. Open 9am–5pm S A N J O - D O R I Gate Kasuga
daily. & for Treasure House and Taisha Shrine
Eastern Golden Hall. JR Nara Station NARAMACHI
500 m (550 yards)
Deer
Kofuku-ji, approached up a wide Toshodai-ji, Ara Sagi Enclosure
Yakushi-ji,
staircase from Sarusawa Pond, Horyu-ji temples Pond Pond
was founded in 669. Of the 175
buildings in the origi nal complex
Wariishi
Bus Stop
Shin-Yakushi-ji
Temple
0 meters 250
0 yards 250
The temple of Kofuku-ji, with its five-story pagoda
For hotels and restaurants see pp304–5 and pp331–3

194-195_EW_Japan.indd 194 08/08/16 2:54 pm