This is a Shinto shrine located in Nara City. Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the grand head shrine of approximately 1,000 Kasuga shrines nationwide. The origins to the shrine lie in the early days of the Nara period, when Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto from Kashima-jingu Shrine was enshrined at Mt. Mikasa. The main shrine of the Kasuga structure which is a National Treasure has four buildings lined up, and in addition to the majestic and splendid south Gate and middle gate, there are many things such as fine and industrial art objects which have been designated as Important Cultural Properties. The Bantoro Festival (Lantern Festival) event is held on the day of Setsubun (Bean throwing night) and on the 14th and 15th of August when around 3,000 stone lanterns and hanging lanterns are lit with fire, and many worshipers come to look at this magical sight.

The Tanize Suspension Bridge is an iron wire suspension bridge over the Totsukawa River that the local villagers built for their own use and at their own expense in 1954. At a length of 297 meters and a height of 54 meters from the surface of the river, it is Japan’s longest suspension bridge for everyday use. Due to safety concerns, no more than twenty people can cross at the same time, and the way it sways when one walks on it makes for a thrilling experience. It affords a view of the clear waters of the Totsukawa River below and the wonderful scenery formed by the surrounding mountains. Crossing this bridge is said to be like walking in the sky. Please be aware that only one-way crossings are allowed during the Golden Week holiday period in May and the O-Bon festival period in the summer.

Tamaki-jinja Shrine is a miraculous shrine near the top of the 1,076 meter Mt. Tamaki at the southern end of the Omine Mountains. Legend says that the shrine was built in 37 B.C. in the era of Emperor Sujin in order to guard against fire at the imperial castle and to ward off evil spirits. The shrine is on the World Heritage Omine Okugake-michi (paths) and has prospered as a spiritual retreat for Buddhist Shugendo followers from Kumano and Omine for a very long time. In the grounds of the shrine are gigantic cedar trees including some cedar trees said to be 3,000 years old, and in 2004 the temple was designated a World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

This shrine is dedicated to Emperor Jimmu and his wife. The shrine was erected by Emperor Meiji in 1890 based on the Nihon Shoki, one of Japan’s oldest history books, which records that the Emperor Jimmu was enthroned at the site. Located at the foot of Mt. Unebi, the hinoki bark thatched, bare-wood main shrine and kagura hall harmonize perfectly with the thick and verdant forest which surround the shrine’s gravel path. The main shrine was a sanctuary in the Kyoto Imperial Palace that was moved here.

This is a museum which opened in Nara City in 1895. The “Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall (in the main building)” which was designed by the court architect, Katayama Tokuma is a Western-style architectural structure from the Meiji period and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. There are four exhibition halls in the museum, with the museum’s collection focusing on Japanese Buddhist art from the Asuka period up until the Kamakura period. In addition, a great number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are among the artifacts held and exhibited at the museum. The museum is famous for opening an exhibition of “Shosoin-ten” (Exhibition of Shosoin Treasures) in Autumn every year.

Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine (Tenkawa-jinja) is a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten (Sarasvati), the deity of art and music. It is considered one of the Three Great Shrines of Benzaiten. The shrine is famous for attracting many entertainers to its doors. It also has a history of being the place where the Buddhist monk, Kobo Daishi, retreated to for a thousand days. The solemn atmosphere found here in the mountains cleanses the heart and in recent years it has become popular as a power spot. There is also a large collection of valuable artifacts related to Noh, and Noh performances are held at the shrine three times a year.

Together with the Kohfukuji Temple, the Yakushiji Temple is the headquarters of the Hosso school of Buddhism. The temple was built in 680 in the then-capital of Fujiwara-kyo by Emperor Tenmu to pray for the recovery of his ill consort, who later succeeded him as Empress Jito. The temple was moved to its current location in 718. Originally, the temple was comprised of a magnificent number of structures connected via galleries, but, excluding the East Pagoda, these were destroyed by fire and war. The colorful main hall, West Pagoda, central gate, galleries, and the largest grand hall inside the grounds have been rebuilt. The East Pagoda, a National Treasure and the temple’s only original structure remaining from when it was first erected, appears at first glance to be a six-tier pagoda but is in fact a three tier-one. (Note: The East Pagoda is scheduled to undergo restoration until June 2020.)

Large and small waterfalls cascade into emerald green waters in this fantastical gorge. The sight of the forceful water flowing beneath the swinging bridge is as beautiful a scene can be. The natural beauty that can be seen by walking the paths along the river’s edge is beautiful in any season but the autumn foliage is especially recommended.

This mountain pass, a Nara Prefecture Landscape Heritage, has long been known as the road taken from Osaka to Nara or to Ise Grand Shrine by people on pilgrimages. The path is lined with stone monuments and still has its original cobbled road surface. It is also famous for the poetry written by Matsuo Basho while he walked there. The name Kuragari (darkness) comes from how dimly lit the path is even during the day due to the shade of thick tree coverage.

This is a temple located in Nara City. Yamashina-dera Temple has its origin as a temple that was established in Kyoto in 669 by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari. The temple was destroyed by fires many times and was rebuilt, after which it ended up similar to temple ruins during the anti-Buddhist movement in the Meiji period, although the Tokon-do Hall, the five-storied pagoda, the Hokuen-do Hall and the three-storied pagoda which survived have been designated as National Treasures. The five-storied pagoda which is illuminated at night-time has become a symbol of Nara. There are also many Buddhist images enshrined at the temple which have been designated as National Treasures and Cultural Assets such as the Ashura statue.

This multipurpose hall is located in front of Nara Station in Sanjomiyamae-cho, Nara City. Facilities include a large hall with 1,500 seats, a simultaneous interpretation booth capable of handling four languages at the same time, and moveable audience seats. The hall can be used for concerts, classical theater productions, and other performances, as well as conventions and all manner of purposes. There are adjoining medium- and small-sized halls designed for classical music concerts.

Since it was opened in 2004, Okame-no-yu Onsen has gained a reputation for giving bathers great skin, and its open-air baths have proved hugely popular with views overlooking the well known Soni mountains of Mt. Kabutodake and Mt. Yoroigatake from the wooden open-air bath, and panoramic views of the Soni Highlands from the stone bathroom. There is also a restaurant where you can get some local cuisine unique to Soni Village, and a massage place open all the time for those wanting a quick massage.

A temple of the Omoto school of Shingon Buddhism, unlike sacred Mt. Koya, this temple was open to women, thus resulting in its nickname, the Woman’s Mt. Koya. The temple was erected in the Nara period in prayer for the recovery from illness of Emperor Kammu. The rooves of buildings such as the main hall and nave are shingled and thatched with hinoki bark in place of clay tiles. The temple’s five-tier pagoda, a designated National Treasure, is Japan’s smallest outdoor five tier pagoda. The temple enshrines numerous Buddhist statues designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, such as the standing figure of Gautama Buddha that is the main object of worship as well as a standing image of Maitreya.

The symbol of Mt. Yoshino and the head temple of the Shugendo syncretic Shinto-Buddhist religion. It is believed that the temple was founded by the mystic En no Gyoja in the latter half of the seventh century. The Zaoudou hall standing proudly on the heights of the Kinpu Mountain Range was erected in 1592 and is the second largest ancient wooden building in Japan after the Hall of the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple. Three statues of Zao, a Shinto manifestation of the Buddha, are enshrined in the temple, representing the past, present, and future. Each is seven meters tall and a must-see during your visit.

This is a temple constructed by Prince Shotoku in the latter half of the fifth century, which stands at an elevation of 437 meters halfway up Mt. Shigi. There is a legend that Mt. Shigi originated when, on the hour of Tiger (around 4:00 a.m.) of the day of Tiger of the year of Tiger, the deity Bishamonten (guardian god of Buddhism) appeared and gave the prince the divine protection , thanks to the Bishamonten the Prince enshrined it. So the temple took the tiger as its guardian deity and is decorated here and there with papier tigers. In cherry blossom season over 2,000 stone lanterns light up the cherry trees at night, and in the autumn the whole mountain is colored with close to 1,000 trees changing their leaves.

This Shinto shrine’s origin dates back to when statesman Fujiwara no Kamatari’s son, Fujiwara no Joe, had his father’s ashes moved here and built a 13-tier pagoda in 678. Prior to the official separation of Buddhism and Shintoism in the country, the shrine was a Buddhist temple called the Tonomine Temple. The pagoda, rebuilt in 1532 and a designated Important Cultural Property, is the only extant 13-tier pagoda in the world. Beyond the shrine stands a mountain said to be the location where Emperor Tenjin and Fujiwara no Kamatari discussed the Taika Reform. The mountain thus came to be called “Tanzan,” or the Mountain of Discussion, hence the shrine’s name. In the spring, a 600-year old usuzumi cherry tree and designated Natural Monument comes in to bloom, and the shrine is thus known as a beautiful site for cherry blossom viewing. In addition, in autumn, visitors can enjoy the shrine’s fall foliage when it is colored by over 3,000 maple trees.

This temple is formally called Koyasan Shingon Sect Bekkaku-honzan Kannon-ji. The temple is said to have originated when a local girl known as Ofusa-san enshrined Kannon (Bodhisattva or Goddess of Mercy) during the Edo period, and is now informally known as Ofusa Kannon. Each spring and autumn 3,800 kinds of 4,000 roses bloom for the Rose Festival, and for two months of summer more than 2,500 wind chimes are suspended in the grounds for the Wind Chime Festival.

A Shinto shrine located in Furu Town, Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. The head patron shrine of the Mononobe clan, it is also one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan. The front shrine, said to have been donated by Emperor Shirakawa in 1081, and the Nanatsu-Saya-no-Tachi (Seven-Branched Sword), believed to be made in 369 and the same mentioned in the ancient Nihon shoki, are both National Treasures.

Menfudo Limestone cave is the largest limestone cave in the Kansai region. Inside the dome-shaped interior, visitors can see marvelous stalactites and stalagmites. The average temperature inside the cave is about 8°C year-round. A statue of the guardian deity Fudo has been set up in the deepest part of the cave, where no outside air penetrates.

One of the largest of its kind in Japan at 50 meters per side, this tomb was built by piling up 30 large boulders. Having lost the soil which once covered it and due to the flatness of the ceiling stone, the tomb is called the Stone Stage. It is not clear to whom the tomb belonged, but due to the fact that a garden which belonged to Soga no Iruka’s grandfather Soga no Umako is located nearby, one leading theory is that it is his tomb. The surrounding area blooms with cherries in the spring and red spider lilies in the fall. The tomb is a nationally designated a Special Historic Site.

This old Shingon sect Buddhist temple, known as the sixth temple on the Saigoku Thirty-three Kannon Temples Pilgrimage, is said to have been built in 703. The eleven-faced, thousand-armed Kannon (Bodhisattva or Goddess of Mercy) enshrined there as the honzon (principal object of worship) has a miraculous effect on eye disease, and attracts a great many worshippers from across the country. The three-storied pagoda and Reido have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

A hot spring bathhouse in Dorogawa, Tenkawa Vllage, Yoshino County. The baths are fed by a weak alkaline simple hot spring that's said to be effective in treating nerve pain, muscle pain, joint pain, mobility paralysis, chronic digestive diseases, and sensitivity to cold. They have indoor and open-air bath made with Yoshino cedar.

A park sitting astride Koryo-cho and Kawai-cho, Kitakatsuragi County. The park is dotted with ancient burial mounds and equipped with large fields, large play areas, a botanical garden, and a cafe. A variety of flowers bloom throughout the seasons including plum trees, roses, and azaleas, and in April they hold the Umami Tulip Fair.

With a height of 1695 meters, Mt. Odaigahara straddles the border between Nara and Mie Prefectures and has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 best mountains. In addition, it was designated a national park in 1936. The mountaintop is broadly divided into two plateaus, the East Plateau, which contains numerous beauty spots, including Hidegatake Peak, and the West Plateau, which contains an primeval forest that is home to rare plants and animals. Since the West Plateau is a restricted area, hikers need to obtain a permit in advance. The mountain receives heavy precipitation throughout the year, and it is covered with one of the world’s several temperate rainforests.