Visit Nara

One of the most beautiful temples in the area, Hasedera, founded in AD 686, is often called the temple of flowers. The approach to the temple is lined with restaurants and shops, creating a lively atmosphere. The temple is perched near the top of a mountain, reached by a covered stairway, lined with stone lanterns and flowers. The steps are not steep and easily manageable. The elderly and disabled may drive to the top.

At the top, visitors are rewarded with stunning views from the temple’s wooden stage, which juts out over the valley. It’s reminiscent of Kyoto’s Kiyomizudera Temple, without the crowds. It is particularly beautiful in spring and autumn when the five-story pagoda below the main hall seems designed with photographers in mind. In late spring, hundreds of peonies burst into bloom and in autumn, the red leaves mimic the red lacquered wood.

The main Buddha here is an eleven-faced Kannon statue, carved from a local camphor tree. Nearby is a statue of Binzuru, a disciple who is supposed to heal if you rub the corresponding part of his body. Consequently, it has become as smooth as glass over hundreds of years. Be sure to walk around the back of the main hall, where a small window reveals another “secret” Kannon figure. Near the main steps is a smaller temple dedicated to Ojizo (protector of children) and a pleasant tea house with views across the mountain.

In a nod to progress, the whole temple area has free Wi-Fi and QR codes at various points will lead you to the Hasedera website, for more explanation in several languages. A visit to Hasedera and the surrounding town is a pleasant half-day trip, about 50 minutes by train from JR Nara Station. Two stops away at Sakurai Station, you can visit Abe-Monjuin Temple or take a bus up to Tanzan Jinja Shrine.