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.

Tenkawa

The spiritual heaven where celestial water flows

Tenkawa is the name of the village aswell as the river, and literally translates as'river of heaven'. Tenkawa Daibenzaitensha Shrine, built in the 7th century,
is considered one of the major places
with spiritual energy in Japan. As thecentre of the ancient Japanese mountainworship known as Shugendo, Tenkawa
has also long been home to ascetic
religious practices.
Even at the height of summer, this mountain town is calm and cool, making it a popular local escape. Visitors can enjoy thenatural blessings of this religious and spiritual atmosphere, as far down as the Mitarai Valley, Ryusenji Temple, Goyomatsu
Limestone Caves and more!
Dorogawa Onsen (hot spring) is the main highlight nearby. It is a small hot spring town whose main street is lined withtraditional shops and ryokan inns, many managed by the same family for 400 years or more. The hot spring water comes fromsacred Mt. Omine where hundreds of Shugendo pilgrims in white robes start their journey up the mountain here every August.
The streets are strung with paper lanterns lighting the town, creating a romantic old-time atmosphere after dark when the stars
seem impossibly bright.

Goro-goro Mizu Water

Meisui Tofu

Ryusenji Temple

The name, 'Goro-goro Mizu', is derived

The taste of tofu made with the local

In the 8th century, En-no Gyoja, thefrom a story about En-no Gyoja, thespring water is the taste of the naturefounder of Shugendo, discovered a deep

founder of Shugendo (a form of nativearound Tenkawa Village. Tofu is made ofspring of an extremely blue colour in theJapanese religion). When he tried the watertwo main ingredients: soy beans and water

Dorogawa area and enshrined the Dragon

here after his ascetic training, he described– so simple. That means, the quality ofDeity near the spring. This is the origin of

the sound of the water flowing out fromthe pure water decides the flavour of tofu.

this temple, the Temple of Dragon Spring.

the depths of the cave as 'goro goro', as if

Don’t forget to try the Meisui Tofu which

Since its founding around 645, Shugendo

pebbles were rolling. Visitors are welcome

lets you taste nature’s power!

practitioners have been gathering at thisto taste Goro-goro Mizu and can take some

temple for prayers and meditation before

home.

entering Mt. Omine.

Prayers to Water Mythological water sites in Nara
As an island country, Japan has always been blessed with water. In addition tothe fact that the nation's land is surrounded by the sea all around, the country
has always been greatly influenced by abundant pure spring water in terms of its
history, culture, food, and people's beliefs.
More practically, in the wet field rice-based culture of Japan, water was central
for the production of food to survive. Traditionally, the yearly cycle of Japan
Chozu purifying basin at Kasugataisha Shrine (Nara City):*Usually, water pours out from the deer’s mouth. However, due to Covid restrictions,
it is not functioning at this time.

used to rotate around the planting and harvesting of the rice crop. Rice has been
an essential staple food of Japan and plays the central role in a number of typicalJapanese dishes.
Water is the element of life. Water keeps us alive. Clear water never stays still but
always flows. In Nara, the ancient capital of Japan with over 1300 years of history,
you will discover a number of connections and reasons why water is so revered
and important in Japanese faith and people’s lives.

Mitarai Valley (Tenkawa Village)

Chozu – purify yourself before you visit the sacred sites
When you visit a temple or a shrine, no matter how small or big it is, you will never missseeing a small water area on the approach to the central courtyard. This small pavilionlike place is called chozu-ya.
Chozu is the customary way to clean and purify yourself before offering prayers at shrines
or temples. Originally, people had to cleanse their entire bodies by soaking in river water

Okadera Temple (Asuka Village)
http://www.okadera3307.com

or pouring spring water over themselves. This traditional rite was later simplified for thegeneral public, and people can now cleanse their hands and mouths at the chozu-ya.
At some temples and shrines in Nara, the chozu-ya itself is worth visiting for its beautiful
arrangement. One example is at Okadera Temple in the Asuka area. You will be welcomedby the chozu-ya which is filled with a countless number of colourful flowers. Anotherrecommendation for splendid chozu-ya is Yoshino Jingu Shrine in the Yoshino mountainarea. In addition to seasonal flowers, origami cranes are also floated on the water
emanating a classically Japanese ambience.

Yoshino Jingu Shrine (Yoshino Town)https://www.instagram.com/yoshino_jingu/*For the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, chozu-ya at many temples and shrines may not have runningwater or allow visitors to only wash their hands.

Ryujin – the guardian of water
Many chozu-ya have a dignified dragon design at the water outlet. In Shinto,dragons are worshipped as the guardian of water, known as Ryujin and areconnected with agricultural rituals, prayers for rain, and the success of fisherman.
By incorporating dragon designs into the religious precincts, people consideredthat they could protect the place or themselves even more. This is why at manychozu-ya, water often runs from the dragon's mouth.
Abe-Monjuin Temple (Sakurai City)

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

KintetsuKashihara
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 Airport 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

NaraFukuoka Airport

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

From Tokyo
Approx. 3h 10min

Osaka Airport
Kansai Int'l Airport

Wakayama(JR Tokyo Sta. - Kintetsu-Nara Sta.)

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

Published by Nara Prefecture

Printed February 2022