Church & Religious Site

Hannya-ji Temple

📍 221 Hannyaji-cho, Nara, Nara Prefecture

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3.9/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: Japan, Nara
Category: Church & Religious Site
Duration: About 1 hour
Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-17:00
Ticket Price: Adult: JPY 500 · Student: JPY 200 · JPY 700 for adults in the flowering season
Address: 221 Hannyaji-cho, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Coordinates: 34.7002, 135.8362

Introduction

Hannya-ji is a Shingon-Ritsu temple in Nara's Hannyaji-cho, traditionally founded by the Goguryeo monk Hye-gwan in the Asuka period; in 735 Emperor Shomu buried the Great Prajnaparamita Sutra here to guard Heijo-kyo's demon gate, giving the temple its name. Its National Treasure gate and Japan's largest thirteen-storey stone pagoda anchor a garden that floods with some 150,000 cosmos each autumn.

✨ Highlights

Cosmos temple

Some 150,000 cosmos in 25 varieties each autumn.

Thirteen-tier pagoda

About 14 m tall, by the Song mason Igyomatsu.

National Treasure gate

A Kamakura-period tower gate of fine proportion.

Hakuho Amida

A hidden Buddha found in the pagoda, shown at special viewings.

Monju image

The eight-character Monju on a lion, for wisdom and study.

Year-round flowers

Kerria in spring, hydrangea in summer, narcissus in winter.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：221 Hannyaji-cho, Nara

→Time needed：about 1 hour

→Highlights：Cosmos, stone pagoda, National Treasure gate

→Pilgrimage：Saigoku Yakushi No.3, Kansai flowers No.17

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	9:00-17:00
Tuesday	9:00-17:00
Wednesday	9:00-17:00
Thursday	9:00-17:00
Friday	9:00-17:00
Saturday	9:00-17:00
Sunday	9:00-17:00

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	JPY 500
Student	JPY 200
Child	JPY 100

JPY 700 for adults in the flowering season

Transportation

Bus

Nara Kotsu bus to Hannya-ji, then about 3 min on foot

Driving/Parking

About 25 min from Horai IC; parking on site

💡 Tips

• Nara Kotsu bus from JR or Kintetsu Nara to Hannya-ji, then about 3 min on foot.

• Cosmos bloom from late September to early November; mornings are quietest.

• Admission is JPY 500 normally, JPY 700 in the flowering season.

• From January to April, July, August and December closing is 16:00.

• Parking on site holds about 40 cars for JPY 500.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Hannya-ji Temple?

Monday: 9:00-17:00; Tuesday: 9:00-17:00; Wednesday: 9:00-17:00; Thursday: 9:00-17:00; Friday: 9:00-17:00; Saturday: 9:00-17:00; Sunday: 9:00-17:00

How much is the admission for Hannya-ji Temple?

Adult: JPY 500; Student: JPY 200; Child: JPY 100; JPY 700 for adults in the flowering season

Any practical tips for visiting Hannya-ji Temple?

Nara Kotsu bus from JR or Kintetsu Nara to Hannya-ji, then about 3 min on foot. Cosmos bloom from late September to early November; mornings are quietest.