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Category: Nara

Himuro Shrine

Himuro Shrine 氷室神社 Nara (奈良) August 9, 2018 About Himuro Shrine Himuro Shrine was originally founded as an ice house for Emperor Nintoku in 710. The gods enshrined here are Tsugenoinagi Oyamanushi no Mikoto, Emperor Nintoku, and Nukata no Onakatsuhiko no Mikoto. It still has a strong association with ice today and has ice blocks on the temple grounds. My Visit Honestly, my friend and I here on a whim. We were mostly done with our Nara trip and noticed this quiet shrine and decided to check it out. It was very quiet and calm compared to popular locations like…

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Todai-ji Nigatsu-do (Nara)

Todai-ji Nigatsu-do 東大寺二月堂 Nara (奈良) August 9, 2018 About Nigatsu-do Most people go to Todai-ji in Nara for the Great Buddha (and the deer) and understandably so. It’s huge, very imposing, and absolutely worth the visit. However, there’s more to the temple than the main hall that you pay to enter. This goshuin is from one of the other buildings on the Todai-ji grounds, Nigatsu-do, or February Hall. Originally founded in 752, it was later dedicated to Kannon and Suni-e, a repentance service held on the second month of the lunar calendar, has been held here every year since 760.…

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Todai-ji Nigatsu-do “Namukan” (Nara)

Todai-ji Nigatsu-do 東大寺二月堂 Nara (奈良) August 9, 2018 About Nigatsu-do Most people go to Todai-ji in Nara for the Great Buddha (and the deer) and understandably so. It’s huge, very imposing, and absolutely worth the visit. However, there’s more to the temple than the main hall that you pay to enter. This goshuin is from one of the other buildings on the Todai-ji grounds, Nigatsu-do, or February Hall. Originally founded in 752, it was later dedicated to Kannon and Suni-e, a repentance service held on the second month of the lunar calendar, has been held here every year since 760.…

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Todai-ji (Nara)

– Todai-ji – 東大寺 – Nara (奈良) – August 9, 2018 One could say that no trip to Japan is complete without a trip to Todai-ji, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples. Home to arguably the most famous Great Buddha statue, or Daibutsu, in Japan, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Treasure. The giant statue is a stunning 15 meters tall, a number that’s pretty hard to fully comprehend until you’re standing next to it. I’ve had the opportunity to visit it 3 times and its size still puts me in awe. And if that…

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Kasuga Shrine (Nara)

– Kasuga Taisha – 春日大社 – Nara（奈良） – August 9, 2018 I think many people come to Nara for Todai-ji and stay for the deer. Because of this, the deer are often associated with the famous temple, but the actual reason they’re considered sacred is because the deer are believed to be the messengers of the gods enshrined at Kasuga Shrine and that inhabit the area. The shrine is on the east side of the park. A long, upward sloping path leads up to the shrine from the park. Once there, you can enjoy the striking, red architecture and the…

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