Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
春日大社
; 160 Kasugano-chō; dawn-dusk)
About 15 minutes' walk roughly south of
Sangatsu-dō is Kasuga Taisha, Nara's most important shrine. It was founded in the 8th
century by the Fujiwara family and was completely rebuilt every 20 years, according to
Shintō tradition, until the end of the 19th century. It lies at the foot of the hill in a pleasant
wooded setting with herds of sacred deer awaiting hand-outs. As with similar shrines in
Japan, you will find several subshrines scattered around the main hall. The approaches to
the shrine are lined with hundreds of lanterns and there are many more hundreds within
the shrine itself.
ISUI-EN
(
依水園
; 25-0781; 74 Suimon-chō; admission museum & garden ¥650; 9.30am-4:30pm Wed-Mon (enter
by 4pm), closed New Year holidays)
Nara's most splendid garden Isui-en is a short walk southwest
of Tōdai-ji. The garden dates from the Meiji era and is beautifully laid out with abundant
greenery and a pond filled with ornamental carp. It's without a doubt the best garden in
the city and is well worth a visit.
| GARDEN
NARA NATIONAL MUSEUM
(
奈良国立博物館
; Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan; 050-5542-8600; 50 Noboriōji-chō; admission ¥500;
9.30am-5pm)
The Nara National Museum is devoted to Buddhist art and is divided into two
sections, housed in different buildings. Built in 1894, the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall &
Ritual Bronzes Gallery contains a fine collection of
butsu-zō
(statues of Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas). The Buddhist images here are divided into categories, each with an excel-
lent English explanation, making this a great introduction to Mahayana Buddhist icono-
graphy. The newer East and West wings, a short walk away, contain the permanent collec-
tions (sculptures, paintings and calligraphy) and are used for special exhibitions.
| MUSEUM
