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  • Naramachi literally "Nara Town is the old merchant district of Nara, where a handful of traditional buildings have been preserved most of which are open to the public as boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and a few museums.  These buildings can be found in the district's narrow lanes. Many of Naramachi's old buildings were machiya, long, narrow townhouses similar to those found in nearby Kyoto. Machiya served both as shops and as the living quarters for the local merchants and their families. The store fronts of machiya were often kept narrow in order to save on taxes, which were calculated on a property's access to the street rather than its total area. Today, a handful of these machiya have been preserved are open to the public as museums as well as shops.
    nara-machi-1.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-9.jpg
  • Migiwari-Zaru means literally substitution monkey. These Nara Monkey Charms can be found all around Naramachi Old Town. This red monkey charm is hung on the eves of the house to protect the inhabitants from disasters, usually as a kind of fire protection.  They also block evil forces from entering the home. One doll for each person of the home is hung on the eve of the house. They protect sinners from punishment by as the monkey is punished instead which is where the name comes from - substitution monkey.
    nara-symbol-3.jpg
  • Migiwari-Zaru means literally substitution monkey. These Nara Monkey Charms can be found all around Naramachi Old Town. This red monkey charm is hung on the eves of the house to protect the inhabitants from disasters, usually as a kind of fire protection.  They also block evil forces from entering the home. One doll for each person of the home is hung on the eve of the house. They protect sinners from punishment by as the monkey is punished instead which is where the name comes from - substitution monkey.
    nara-symbol-2.jpg
  • 7. Gangoji 元興寺 was one of the great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as grand as Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji,  Gangoji Temple is comparatively more modest making it free of crowds who will be busy visiting the more famous spots in Nara. Nevertheless, it contains no less than three of Japan’s National Treasures which include its main hall, modest as it may appear.  Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara. The temple’s design has architectural influences from mainland Asia and many of the priests who first served here were from Korea and China.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it the temple is famous.
    7.NARA-GANGOJI-01.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-8.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-3.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-2.jpg
  • Migiwari-Zaru means literally substitution monkey. These Nara Monkey Charms can be found all around Naramachi Old Town. This red monkey charm is hung on the eves of the house to protect the inhabitants from disasters, usually as a kind of fire protection.  They also block evil forces from entering the home. One doll for each person of the home is hung on the eve of the house. They protect sinners from punishment by as the monkey is punished instead which is where the name comes from - substitution monkey.
    nara-symbol-1.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-5.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-4.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-1.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-7.jpg
  • 7. Gangoji 元興寺 was one of the great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as grand as Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji,  Gangoji Temple is comparatively more modest making it free of crowds who will be busy visiting the more famous spots in Nara. Nevertheless, it contains no less than three of Japan’s National Treasures which include its main hall, modest as it may appear.  Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara as it was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan. The temple’s design has architectural influences from mainland Asia and many of the priests who first served here were from Korea & China.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is famous.
    7.NARA-GANGOJI-04.jpg
  • 7. Gangoji 元興寺 was one of the great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as grand as Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji,  Gangoji Temple is comparatively more modest making it free of crowds who will be busy visiting the more famous spots in Nara. Nevertheless, it contains no less than three of Japan’s National Treasures which include its main hall, modest as it may appear.  Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara. The temple’s design has architectural influences from mainland Asia and many of the priests who first served here were from Korea and China.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it the temple is famous.
    7.NARA-GANGOJI-02.jpg
  • Gangoji was one of the seven great temples of the Heian Period in Nara.  Though it is not as famous as the Big Three: Kofukuji, Todaiji and Horyuji, Gangoji Temple is definitely worthwhile in part because it is free of crowds and tour buses visiting the more famous spots in Nara.   Gangoji lies among narrow streets of the Naramachi district of old Nara and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the most ancient temples in Japan.  Gangoji Temple was originally founded in 588 when Buddhism was in its infancy in Japan and originally established as Hokoji Temple or Asukadera because of its original location near Asuka. The design of the temple has architectural influences from mainland Asia.  Many of the priests who first served as Hokoji were from Korea & China.  When the capital moved to Nara, Hokoji was moved and partly rebuilt then renamed Gangoji. Gangoji’s most noteworthy treasure is the Chiko Mandala named after an abbot of the temple.  The grounds of Gangoji contain many ancient stone lanterns and grave markers, for which it is also famous.
    gangyoji-6.jpg