53 Sights in Nara, Japan (with Map and Images)

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Explore interesting sights in Nara, Japan. Click on a marker on the map to view details about it. Underneath is an overview of the sights with images. A total of 53 sights are available in Nara, Japan.

Sightseeing Tours in Nara

1. Tōdai-ji

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Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE. The temple has undergone several reconstructions since then, with the most significant reconstruction taking place in 1709. Its Great Buddha Hall houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese as Daibutsu (大仏). The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara.

Wikipedia: Tōdai-ji (EN), Website

2. Yakushiji Temple

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Yakushi-ji (薬師寺) is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, and was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, located in Nara. The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism. Yakushi-ji is one of the sites that are collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name of "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."

Wikipedia: Yakushi-ji (EN), Website

3. Heijō Palace

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Heijō Palace was the imperial residence in the Japanese capital city Heijō-kyō, during most of the Nara period. The palace, which served as the imperial residence and the administrative centre of for most of the Nara period from 710 to 794 AD, was located at the north-central location of the city in accordance with the Chinese models used for the design of the capital.

Wikipedia: Heijō Palace (EN)

4. Nara Park

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Nara Park is a public park located in the city of Nara, Japan, at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. Established in 1880, it is one of the oldest parks in Japan. Administratively, the park is under the control of Nara Prefecture. The park is one of the "Places of Scenic Beauty" designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Over 1,200 wild sika deer freely roaming around in the park are also under designation of MEXT, classified as natural treasure. While the official size of the park is about 502 hectares, the area including the grounds of Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Grand Shrine and Nara National Museum, which are either on the edge or surrounded by Nara Park, is as large as 660 hectares.

Wikipedia: Nara Park (EN)

5. 五社神古墳

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五社神古墳

Empress Jingū was a legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her husband's death in 200 AD. Both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki record events that took place during Jingū's alleged lifetime. Legends say that after seeking revenge on the people who murdered her husband, she then turned her attention to a "promised land". Jingū is thus considered to be a controversial monarch by historians in terms of her alleged invasion of the Korean Peninsula. This was in turn possibly used as justification for imperial expansion during the Meiji period. The records state that Jingū gave birth to a baby boy whom she named Homutawake three years after he was conceived by her late husband.

Wikipedia: Gosashi tomb (EN)

6. 松伯美術館

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松伯美術館

Shōhaku Art Museum opened in Nara, Japan, in 1994. It was established thanks to donations of artworks and the support of Kintetsu. The collection comprises paintings and sketches by Uemura Shōen, Uemura Shōkō , and Uemura Atsushi , and special exhibitions are staged to help promote the appreciation of Nihonga. The shō (松) element of the museum's name is derived from the first character of the first two of these artists' given names, as well as from the pines in the garden of the former honorary chairman of Kintetsu, where the museum now stands, while the haku (伯) element comes from its tea house, known as Hakusentei (伯泉亭).

Wikipedia: Shōhaku Art Museum (EN)

7. 福寺の跡

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Fukudera was a temple located in Nanjing-shu-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Fukudera Pond existed on the site until it was reclaimed in 1970 (Showa 45). The first appearance in the literature is after the Muromachi period, but in the materials of the Edo period, it is identified with Fukudera (Fukudera, Haridera), a phantom temple whose whereabouts are unknown, which is said to have been founded in the Nara period, and in recent years, tiles that can be traced back to the Nara period have been found in the ruins of Fukuji Pond. In this section, we will also describe the "Clothing Temple" that is identified with it.

Wikipedia: 福寺 (JA)

8. やくよけ観音寺 慈眼寺(jiganji)

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Jigenji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Nishiyama Jodo sect located in Kitakoji, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Daihizan, and the main temple is the Bodhisattva of Saint Kanseon. It is said that the Kannon-do Hall was founded at the request of Emperor Shomu. It is known as "Yakuyoke Kannon". The 21st temple of the southern capital of the West Country. In addition, persimmon trees, which are more than 400 years old and are designated as natural monuments by Nara City, grow in the precincts.

Wikipedia: 慈眼寺 (奈良市) (JA)

9. Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City

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Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City opened in Nara, Japan, in 1992. Located near Shin-Yakushi-ji and designed by Kishō Kurokawa, the Museum was formerly known as the Nara City Museum of Photography (奈良市写真美術館). The collection includes the complete oeuvre of Irie Taikichi, some 80,000 works; a set of 1,025 Meiji and Taishō glass plates by Kudō Risaburō (工藤利三郎) that are a Registered Tangible Cultural Property; and photographs by Tsuda Yoho (津田洋甫).

Wikipedia: Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City (EN)

10. 西大寺

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Saidai-ji (西大寺) or the "Great Western Temple" is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The temple was first established in AD 765 as a counterpart to Tōdai-ji and it is the main temple of the Shingon Risshu (真言律宗) sect of Buddhism after the sect's founder, Eison (叡尊), took over administration in 1238. It has undergone several reconstruction efforts since then during the succeeding centuries.

Wikipedia: Saidai-ji (EN)

11. 常徳寺

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Jotokuji Temple is a temple of Nichiren Buddhism located in Kitamukai, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Mt. Hosei. The main hall was built in 1686 and is a designated cultural property of Nara Prefecture. It enshrines the Great Bodhisattva of the Asahi Myomi, which was dedicated by the Yagyu clan chief Suzu Oyamada during the Kyoho year (1716-1737). The former main temple is Kyoto Chomyoji Temple, and the temple is a temple in Kyoto.

Wikipedia: 常徳寺 (奈良市) (JA)

12. Shin Yakushi-ji Temple

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Shin-Yakushi-ji (新薬師寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Kegon sect in Nara, Japan. It was founded in 747 by Empress Kōmyō. Initially a large complete Shichidō garan temple, it suffered from fire damage and deteriorated during the Heian period. The temple was revived during the Kamakura period. Only one building, the present main hall or Hon-dō (本堂), has survived from the 8th century. All other structures date to the Kamakura period.

Wikipedia: Shin-Yakushi-ji (EN)

13. 瓢箪山古墳

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瓢箪山古墳

Saki Hyotan-yama-kofun Tumulus is a keyhole-shaped mound in the early half of the middle of the Kofun period (tumulus period) located in Sakemon-ko, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is one of the Sakitatenami tumulus Cluster, and it is often called Hyotanayama-kofun Tumulus, but this name is used to distinguish it from Hyotanayama-kofun Tumulus located all over the country. This tumulus is designated as a national historic site.

Wikipedia: 佐紀瓢箪山古墳 (JA)

14. 菅原天満宮

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菅原天満宮

Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Sugawara-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is a Shikinai-sha (shrine listed in Engishiki laws) and was ranked as a gosha (village shrine) under the old shrine classification system. It is also called 'Sugawara-jinja Shrine.' It is the oldest Tenmangu Shrine in Japan. It is known as a shrine related to the Haji clan and Sugawara clan of ancient clans.

Wikipedia: 菅原天満宮 (奈良市) (JA)

15. 春日神社

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Kasuga Jinja is a shrine located in Houkaji -cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Originally, he worshiped the Tenjin roof life as a guardian company of Kai Ryuoji Temple, but the left and right two seats were enshrined during the Kanno year, and they were worshiped as the deity. It is religious as the god of the Hokke -ji -cho, calling Una Tari Shrine Nishinomiya and the company is called the East Palace.

Wikipedia: 春日神社 (奈良市法華寺町) (JA)

16. Irie Taikichi's old residence

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Taikichi IRIE's former residence is a historic site and cultural facility located in Minato-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. He was the former residence of a photographer Yasukichi IRIE. The dark rooms, which are as far as photographers, the study of the work, the garden of Manyo plants are open to the public. The letter 'Taikichi IRIE' on the front card was written by Kaiun KAMIKAMI.

Wikipedia: 入江泰吉旧居 (JA)

17. Nara Episcopal Church

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Nara Church is a church of the Japan Holy Public Association in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. In 1965, it was built as a pure Japanese style church because there was no Western -style architecture that did not fit the scenery of the Nara Park area. Design and construction is a church believer, Yoshitaro Oki, a palace carpenter. There is a parameter inside the church.

Wikipedia: 奈良基督教会 (JA)

18. 不空院 (Fukūin)

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Fuku-in Temple is a Shingon Ritsu sect temple located in Takahata-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Its sango (literally, "mountain name"), which is the title prefixed to the name of a Buddhist temple, is Mt. Kasuga. The principal image of Buddha is Fukukenjaku Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). It is known as a temple of origin because it was once 'Kakekomi-ji Temple.'

Wikipedia: 不空院 (JA)

19. Kairyuo-ji Temple

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Kairyūōji Temple is a temple of the Shingon Ritsu sect located in Hokaji Kitamachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. There is no mountain number. The honzon is the eleven-sided Kannon. It was built in the northeast corner of the Empress Dowager Palace of Empress Kōmyō (the ruins of the residence of Fujiwara Fubi, etc.), so it has another name of Sumidera.

Wikipedia: 海龍王寺 (JA)

20. 天石立神社

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Amanoishi Tatei Shrine is a shrine located in Iwadoya, Yagyu -cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. There is no main shrine in the mountains of 330 meters above sea level, the northern foot of a small mountain called Towaiwa Mt. The old -fashioned shrine is a village shrine, which is described as "Amano Isatari Shrine" in "Enki Shikijin Shrine".

Wikipedia: 天石立神社 (JA)

21. 崇道天皇陵

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Yashima no Misasagi (also known as the Yashima-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture) is the mausoleum of Imperial Prince Sawara. It is also written as Yashima no Misasagi, and it is also called Emperor Sudo's Mausoleum because the Imperial Prince was posthumously honored as Emperor Sudo. It was determined in the Bunkyu era.

Wikipedia: 八島陵 (JA)

22. 奈良学園セミナーハウス志賀直哉旧居

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Shiga Naoya's former residence is a literary museum located in Takahata-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The former residence of the novelist Naoya Shiga of the Shirakaba school. It is also called Takahata Salon. It is open to the public and is also used as a seminar house for the Nara Gakuen School Corporation.

Wikipedia: 志賀直哉旧居 (奈良市高畑) (JA)

23. 伝香寺

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Denkoji is a temple of Ritsune in Nara City, Nara Prefecture. There is no mountain name. The principal is Shaka Nyorai. The "scattered camellia", where petals are scattered one by one, is counted as "Nara Three Tsubaki" along with "Glue Bokoshi" and Hakusho -ji Temple "Goshiki Tsubaki" in the Todaiji Temple.

Wikipedia: 伝香寺 (JA)

24. Himegamisha Shrine

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The Himegamisha Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is built in 1981 by the people of this neighborhood on the tomb called Hime-zuka that is estimated to be a burial place of Princess Tōchi, an Empress-consort of Emperor Kōbun. It is a sessha of the Kagami Shrine.

Wikipedia: Himegamisha Shrine, Nara (EN)

25. Kasuga-taisha

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Kasuga-taisha (春日大社) is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine.

Wikipedia: Kasuga-taisha (EN), Website

26. Jurin-in Temple

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Jurin-in is a temple of the Shingon sect of the Daigo sect located in Jurin-in, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Mt. Rain. The main Buddha is a stone Jizo Bodhisattva. It is located in a corner of Nara Town, where the townscape of the Edo and Meiji periods remains.

Wikipedia: 十輪院 (JA)

27. 手向山八幡宮

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Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine near Tōdai-ji, Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is a Hachiman shrine, dedicated to the kami Hachiman. It was established in 749. Kami enshrined here include Emperor Ojin, Emperor Nintoku, Empress Jingū and Emperor Chūai in addition to Hachiman.

Wikipedia: Tamukeyama Hachimangū (EN)

28. Enshō temple

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Enshō-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in Nara founded by Queen Bunchi, daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo, in 1656. Together with Chūgū-ji and Hokke-ji, it is considered one of the Three Yamato Monzeki (大和三門跡), or imperial temples, belonging to the Myōshin-ji school of Rinzai Zen.

Wikipedia: Enshō-ji (Nara) (EN)

29. Toshodaiji temple

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Tōshōdai-ji (唐招提寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Risshū sect in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The Classic Golden Hall, also known as the kondō, has a single story, hipped tiled roof with a seven bay wide facade. It is considered the archetype of "classical style".

Wikipedia: Tōshōdai-ji (EN)

30. Isuien Garden

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Isuien Garden Kimon Berlin (Gribeco) / CC BY-SA 4.0

Isui-en is a Japanese garden located in Nara, the old capital of Japan near Kyōto. It has been preserved since its creation in the Meiji era, and is the only walking garden in Nara. It is divided into two sections, which were originally two separate gardens, and each features a pagoda.

Wikipedia: Isui-en (EN)

31. 野神古墳

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野神古墳

Nogami Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in Nanjing-shu-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is presumed to be an anterior-posterior mound. One of the burial mounds that make up the Daianji burial mound group. It is designated as a Nara City Designated Historic Site.

Wikipedia: 野神古墳 (JA)

32. 富雄丸山古墳

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富雄丸山古墳

Tomio Maruyama Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in Maruyama, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is a circular mound. It has not been designated as a historic site. The excavated items have been designated as important cultural properties of Japan.

Wikipedia: 富雄丸山古墳 (JA)

33. 十念寺

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Junenji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Pure Land sect located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Mt. Ninja, and the official name is Mt. Ninja Aizen-in Kinbira Junen-ji. Hanazono Emperor's Imperial Palace. The honzon is Amitabha.

Wikipedia: 十念寺 (奈良市) (JA)

34. 円満寺

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Enman-ji Temple is a temple located in Yama-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Its principal image is aomen-kongo. The ninth temple of the eighty-eight sacred sites in northern Yamato Province. The temple office is also used as Shimoyamacho Community Center.

Wikipedia: 円満寺 (奈良市) (JA)

35. Himuro Shrine

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Himuro Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 710. Kami enshrined here include Emperor Nintoku and Nukata no Onakatsuhiko no Mikoto (額田大仲彦命). The shrine's main festival is held annually on October 1.

Wikipedia: Himuro Shrine (EN)

36. 佐紀石塚山古墳

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佐紀石塚山古墳XIIIfromTOKYOOpenStreetMapへの協力者 / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Saki Ishizukayama Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in front of the Imperial Tomb in Yamaryo Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is an anterior-posterior mound. One of the burial mounds that make up the Saki Shield Row Tombs.

Wikipedia: 佐紀石塚山古墳 (JA)

37. Uwanabe Kofun

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Uwanabe Kofun

The Uwanabe-kofun Tumulus is a keyhole-shaped tumulus located in Hokkeji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is one of the tumuli that consists of Sakitatenami-kofun Tumulus Cluster (Uwanabe-kofun Tumulus Cluster), and is the largest of the tumulus.

Wikipedia: ウワナベ古墳 (JA)

38. 手力雄神社

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Terikio Shrine is a shrine located in Hashimoto Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Kasuga Taisha precincts. It is located on the east end of the north side of Sanjo-dori, and the rear is across the Tsukiji wall to become the Kofukuji Hall.

Wikipedia: 手力雄神社 (奈良市) (JA)

39. Kagami Shrine

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Nanto Kagami-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Takahata-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It was ranked as a sonsha (village shrine) under the old shrine classification system. The enshrined deity is FUJIWARA no Hirotsugu.

Wikipedia: 南都鏡神社 (JA)

40. 光明山 賢故坊 浄福寺

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Jofukuji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo sect located in Kozenin-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Kōmyōsan, the name of the temple is Kozen-in, and the name of the temple is Kenshobo.

Wikipedia: 浄福寺 (奈良市) (JA)

41. Kombuin

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Kombuin KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kofukuin is a temple of the Jodo sect located in Horen-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The name of the mountain is Mt. Horen. The main Buddha is Amida Sanson. Kaiki is also called Wakiki Kiyomaro and Fujiwara Momokawa.

Wikipedia: 興福院 (JA)

42. Buddhist Art Library

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The Nara National Museum of Art and Art Research Center is a Nara National Museum management facility established in 1980 (Showa 55) for the purpose of research, storage, and disclosure of Buddhist art and related materials.

Wikipedia: 奈良国立博物館仏教美術資料研究センター (JA)

43. Renchō-ji Temple

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Rencho -ji is a temple of Nichiren sect in Yuu -cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. Nichiren sect historic site. The mountain name is Mt. Koseni. Former Motoyama is Omotoyama Motokuni -ji (Rokujo Gate) and the Law (Takayaikai).

Wikipedia: 蓮長寺 (奈良市) (JA)

44. Kibizuka Tomb

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Kibitsuka-kofun Tumulus is a round tomb or a keyhole-shaped tomb mound located in the campus of Nara University of Education, Takahata-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is said that he was the grave of KIBI no Makibi.

Wikipedia: 吉備塚古墳 (JA)

45. Naramachi Museum

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The Nara Town Museum is a private museum located in Nishi-Shinya-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, in a corner of Nara Town, a district of townhouses built from the early modern period to the modern era of Nara City.

Wikipedia: 奈良町資料館 (JA)

46. Tomb of Emperor Heijo

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Tomb of Emperor HeijoVanishingDuck / Attribution

Ichiiwa Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in Tsukamoto, Saki-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is an anterior-posterior mound. One of the burial mounds that make up the Saki Shield Row Tombs.

Wikipedia: 市庭古墳 (JA)

47. Kiko-ji temple

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Kikō-ji (喜光寺) is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Founded in the eighth century, its Muromachi-period Hondō and the Heian-period statue of Amida Nyorai enshrined within are Important Cultural Properties.

Wikipedia: Kikō-ji (EN), Website

48. 春日若宮社

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Kasuga Wakamiya is a shrine located in Nakatsuji -cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. There is a covers in a small shrine in Kasuga. In the foreground, there are stone lanterns in Tempo 12 (1841) and Kaei 2 (1849).

Wikipedia: 春日若宮社 (奈良市中辻町) (JA)

49. Naramachi Ten-jinja Shrine

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Tenjinsha is a shrine located in Takahata, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is also called Naramachi Tenjinja Shrine. It is a heavenly shrine in Kitatenma, and the precincts are about 1,000 square meters.

Wikipedia: 天神社 (奈良市高畑町) (JA)

50. 佐紀陵山古墳

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佐紀陵山古墳XIIIfromTOKYOOpenStreetMapへの協力者 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Sakiryozan Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in Sanryo Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is an anterior-posterior mound. One of the burial mounds that make up the Saki Shield Row Tombs.

Wikipedia: 佐紀陵山古墳 (JA)

51. Mount Kasuga

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Mount Kasuga

Kasugayama is a 497 -meter -high Hanayama (Hanayama) at an altitude on the east side of Nara City, Nara Prefecture, or Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. Mt. It is also used as a general term for Ryoyama and Yoyama (518m).

Wikipedia: 春日山 (奈良県) (JA)

52. Hishiage Kofun (Mausoleum of Iwanohime no Mikoto)

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Hishiage Kofun is an ancient burial mound located in Saki Town, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shape is an anterior-posterior mound. One of the burial mounds that make up the Saki Shield Row Tombs.

Wikipedia: ヒシアゲ古墳 (JA)

53. The Kids Science Museum of Photons

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The Kizuzu Hikari Science Museum Futon is a science museum located in Umemidai, Kizugawa -shi, Kyoto (Kizu District, Kansai Cultural Scientific Research City). This is the first science museum on light.

Wikipedia: きっづ光科学館ふぉとん (JA)

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Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.