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Ancient Nara

Ancient Nara
The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara comprise Buddhist and Shinto religious buildings that show the evolution of Japanese architecture.

The designated area consists of eight separate locations:
- Buddhist temples Todai-ji, Kfuku-ji, Gango-ji, Yakushi-ji and Tshdai-ji
- Nara Palace
- Shinto shrine Kasuga-Taisha
- Kasugayama Primeval Forest

Year Decision Comments
1998 Inscribed Reasons for inscription



Visit May 2000

The temples are to be found in an exceptionally touristy park, with spoilt deer that roam around the walking paths. When I visited the site, it was also very busy with schoolchildren and elderly people (although it was still early in the morning). Very special is the Nigatsudo-temple, which is decorated on the outside with hundreds of lanterns. The way to the temple is aligned by stone lanterns. line

Reviews

Clyde (Malta):
I visited this WHS in November 2009. The highlight of my visit was huge seated Buddha in the Imperial Palace. All the Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines can be explored amidst a Japanese garden setting with the occasional deer grazing freely.
Date posted: September 2012
Thibault Magnien (France):
Nara was the first capital city of Japan, in the early 8th century, after the title was moved to Kyoto. However, the city kept its important cultural status in traditional Japan. I have spent three days visiting the numerous marvels of the town.
The Todai ji, a huge temple 56 meters high that houses a huge bronze Buddha statue 16 meters high, is the main attraction. The place is amazing by its greatness and the beauty of the detailed decoration it welcomes. The building deserves the attention it is given.
Very close is Kofuku ji temple with its famous 5 story pagoda, the second tallest in Japan after the one of To ji in Kyoto. While walking in the street and within this temple, you can see and caress the numerous deers that have been living freely in the city for centuries. Their existence is due to the fact that centuries ago, it was decided by one of the leader of the place that deers would not be killed anymore and would be venerated.
Among the other places of interest, we have Gogu ji temple with its Hondo, main hall, and its roof where some part parts are covered with the oldest tiles and the Yakushi ji temple with its colorful buildings.
Date posted: May 2012
Frederik Dawson (Netherlands):
1,300 years old Nara or Heijo-kyo was the first permanent capital of Japan with many ancient beautiful temples and shrines in the one large park that full of hundreds of roaming deer, was maybe the most important tourist attraction after Tokyo and Kyoto. Unlike Kyoto where modern and ancient were combined, Nara was clearly divided into two area, the modern city of Nara in the west and Nara Park with Naramachi area, where most of the main tourist attractions located, in the east.

The must visit places were the grand Todai-ji Temple and the brightly Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the main temple and shrine during Nara was a capital. Todai-ji was well known for its Daibutsu Hall, regarded as the biggest wooden building in the world with gigantic bronze Buddha statue, while Kasuga Taisha was famous for hundred of stone lanterns decorating the routes to the shrine, and both places were, again, full of deer.

These two places were exceptional and should be seen if in Nara; however my favorite place in Nara and would like to recommend were Kofukuji Temple, its pagoda were the second highest in Japan. The views of Kofukuji at Sarusawa pond by night were one of the most memorable scenic spots on my every Japan trip. Also the view of Kofukuji from the outdoor onsen baht of Asukasou Hotel at dusk was totally breathtaking with its eternal serenity, dipping in onsen baht while watching the pagoda was a lifetime experience.

Nara was maybe overshadowed and compared by nearby Kyoto, but Nara had all the needs of tourists, great hotel, lovely people, good food, beauty cultural sights and hundreds of cute but annoying deer. Nara was the must to see at least one time while visiting Japan, but for me every time I came back, Nara was proved to be better and better to linger on.
Date posted: February 2011
A. O`Riordan (US):
Watch out for deer!
Todaiji, home of a gargantuan statues of Buddha and 2 Bosatsu, is a large and usually crowded place, but quite amazing.
Across the street, Kasuga Taisho is absolutely beautiful... walking down the path surrounded by deer and lanterns, it feels like you`re walking into a Miyazaki film or old folk tale. The priestesses seemed a bit unfriendly when I went and the ominous sky gave a slightly unsettling feeling, but the shrine itself is very lovely. It`s a bit difficult to take panoramic pictures though because there are so many trees.
Date posted: July 2005
Kei Nakumura (Japan):
My favorite is Gangouji temple. The Gangouji temple is a small, simple, archaic temple. This temple was a place of commoners' prayers from the Middle Ages. It is different from the big temples protected by emperors, aristocrats, and Samurai.

The Gangouji temple is located in an old urban area outside the park. Therefore, few tourists come there. You will be able to see the temple calmly.

(To Mr. Jaxon Nobori's comment. )
A present Daibutsu building was rebuilt in 1709. It is already historical monuments of the Edo shogunate age. There is no reason to destroy it and to rebuild it again.
@
 
jaxon nobori (U.S.A.):
For me, the Toshodai-ji was more interesting than the Todai-ji. In particular the museum with the temples treasures was the highlight for me.

Passed up the chance to gawk at the Daibutsu, but went to see the Shoso-in instead. The central figure is heavily restored and somewhat squat in its' proportions and cramped in its' surroundings. It may help to know that the present building, in only two-thirds the size of the original one. They couldn't find enough big trees to re-build it properly the last time. I'll wait until they re-build it right.
 
C H Ho (Hong Kong, China):
I visited Nara in 1994 and 2004. There is nearly no change during this ten years. The sites are not beautiful but the importance is higher than the sites in Kyoto. It is because Nara is the first ancient capital in Japan.
 
Rob Wilson (UK):
Despite the touristy nature of virtually all of Japan's ancient sites, Nara is one place where you can get some idea of what Japan used to be like before everything old was almost entirely replaced with concrete.
Todai-Ji is a magnificent building and the Daibutsen Buddha is a jaw-dropping spectacle. This is, without question, the star of Nara-Koen and possible the highlight of all of Japan's cultural relics.
The rest of the park is also fascinating, with the 5 storey pagoda of Kofuku-Ji another gem.
The Ancient forest (also on the World Heritage list) at the back of the parkland is well worth hiking around for a few hours. It's a great way to get away from the crowds.
 


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