Naraʼs Temples and Shrines––

Inner Journeys

NARA
The wishes and heartsof the ancients reach us across time.
Visit temples and shrines in Nara,
where we wish for a healthy life, happiness,and peace for all living beings in the world.

Fumon Sagawa
Chief Abbot Todaiji Temple
Born in Nara, in 1951. Completed
Buddhist Studies at Ryukoku University
Graduate School (Master’s program) in1975. Assumed the role of the 223rd Chief
Abbot of Todaiji Temple on May 1st, 2019.

Open the Door for the Future Together
through Learning and Realisation
Emperor Shomu commissioned the establishment of Todaiji Temple in 743, wishing for the prosperity of all living creatures in this world. “I havepower and fortune, but this is not the reason for wishing to establish Todaiji Temple. I want to complete this temple with all people’s effort”, theemperor strongly hoped. So, we can say that this magni cent temple is “a temple for everyone”.
The high priest Ganjin came to Japan in 753 from the Tang Dynasty of China accepting an invitation from Emperor Shomu. Ganjin broughtsigni cant change to Japan, for example, establishing a Kaidan and beginning to give Buddhist commandments to monks in Japan. Without him,
Japan would have been a totally different country from what it is today. The Nara Period (710-794) was the time during which Japan learned all
kinds of concepts from overseas, including philosophy, politics, educational systems, architecture, medical knowledge, music, dance and more,and developed them into uniquely Japanese forms.
Today, the whole world has been facing the unexpected circumstances brought about by COVID-19. Sadly, fake news confuses us and somepeople have become aggressive to others. This is probably because we are surrounded by too much information which makes it dif cult for
us to nd the truth. What I believe to be important is that we should always try to look for the truth, to learn patiently, and to acquire genuine
intelligence. We need to understand the roots of our knowledge because how we perceive things might change as we learn more.
At Todaiji Temple, we are doing what we can do now every day. For example, we started the Noon Prayer (*1) and a live streaming of ourceremony during which we prayed for the elimination of the pandemic. We hoped that our new challenges would reach people who had neverpreviously paid attention to the teachings of Buddhism. We also thought it would be a good opportunity for those who can’t go out as they canpray together with us virtually via their media screen. It is so gratifying that many people join us, regardless of which sect they belong to, andshare the same hopes as one.
Due to the earthquake resistant renovation of the Kaidan-do Hall, the Four Divine Kings (NationalTreasures) were moved to our Todaiji Museum temporarily. At the museum, you can worship the Four
Divine Kings as well as Shomen Kongo which is believed to ward off epidemics and to be the oldest
example of this kind of Buddhist statue (*2).
For the moment, our priority is to keep the temple as a place for safely welcoming people. We are learningfrom the specialists how we can prevent infection. We take whatever necessary preventative actions that
we can as the centre where people pray and hope. Temples must make efforts to nd new solutions forthe future as that is the very reason why Todaiji Temple was established in the Nara period. In thosedays, people suffered from natural disasters such as famine, drought, epidemics, and many other kinds ofsocial unrest. Now the world is suffering from this novel virus and this is the time for us to take on ourresponsibility as a Buddhist temple which was born from people’s prayers and hopes.
*1) Special prayers for the elimination of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people and temples, regardless of the sect and religion, have joined the prayer

406-1 Zoshi-cho, Nara
0742-22-5511
Take a city circular bus from JR orKintetsu Nara Station and get off at“Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasugataishamae”, and a 5-min. walk.

across the country.
*2) The special exhibition is being held and the closing date is not decided yet. The Four Divine Kings are exhibited until around 2023.

http://www.todaiji.or.jp/

A Path to the Prayer

Discover Temples and Shrines through Social Media
Travelling has become something very special in 2020 due to COVID-19. Many of us had no choice but to stay home and remain separated
from our favourite places and people. In such unprecedented times, social media became one of the ways to help us connect to the world andnd inner peace. Some temples and shrines in Nara have posted on social media about their traditional ceremonies and rituals, and shown
beautiful seasonal owers and gardens that comfort us. Their messages and pictures are their powerful prayers for a safe recovery from thepandemic, wishing to reach out every one of “us”.
We sincerely hope that the whole world will get through this dif cult time soon and we can travel around freely once again. A warm welcome
awaits you in Nara, Japan’s spiritual heartland.

Kasugataisha Shrine@KASUGASHRINE@Kasugataishashrine

Taimadera Temple Nakanobo
160 Kasugano-cho, Nara City
0742-22-7788
https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/

Yoshino Jingu Shrine
yoshino_jingu@yoshinojingu@kosumosudera@taima_dera

Nakanobo, 1263 Taima,
Katsuragi City, Nara
0745-48-2001
http://www.taimadera.org/

Hasedera Temple
3226 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho,
Yoshino-gun, Nara
0746-32-3088

hase_dera@narahasedera

731-1 Hase, Sakurai City, Nara
0744-47-7001
https://www.hasedera.or.jp/

Official Nara Travel Guide

Kansai Nara Treasure Travel

221 Hannyaji-cho, Naravisitnarajp@Kansai Nara Treasure Travel0742-22-6287@visitnarajp

https://nara-sightseeing.com/

http://www.hannyaji.com/

https://www.visitnara.jp/

Hannyaji Temple
hannyaji_temple

taimadera_nakanobo

The wishes and heartsof the ancients reach us across time.

Access from Japan's Major Cities

NKyotoFrom Kyoto

From Osaka

Osaka

Approx. 35min

Approx. 35min(Kintetsu Kyoto Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)(Kintetsu Osaka-Namba Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)

Kintetsu-Nara Sta.

JR Nara Sta.

From Chubu Centrair lnt'I Airport
From Kansai Int'l Airport

Kintetsu
Kashihara
Jingu-mae Sta.

Approx. 2h 25min(Meitetsu Chubu lnt'l Airport Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)

Approx. 1h 30min(JR Kansai Airport Sta. - JR Nara Sta.)

Approx. 2h 31min

Approx. 1h 35min(Meitetsu Chubu lnt'l Aiport Sta. - JR Nara Sta.)

KintetsuYamato-Yagi Sta.

Nara

(Nankai Kansai-Airport Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)

Mie

From Nagoya

From Hiroshima

Approx. 1h 37min

Approx. 2h 40min(JR Nagoya Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)(JR Hiroshima Sta. - JR Nara Sta.)

Narita Airport

From Fukuoka

Nara

From Tokyo

Fukuoka Airport

Approx. 3h 50min(JR Hakata Sta. - JR Nara Sta.)

Wakayama

Approx. 3h 10min(JR Tokyo Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)

Osaka Airport
Kansai Int'l Airport

Haneda Airport

The NARA Visitor Center & Inn
Address:3 Ikeno-cho, Nara
Phone:0742-81-7461(8:00-21:00)
https://www.sarusawa.nara.jp/
Cover Photo : Kazuto Sato

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Published by Nara PrefecturePRAYERROOM
Printed February 2021