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Usitour
Church & Religious Site

Kikoji Temple

📍 508 Sugaharacho, Nara, Nara, Japan
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4.1/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Japan, Nara
Category
Church & Religious Site
Duration
About 30-60 minutes
Address
508 Sugaharacho, Nara, Nara, Japan
Coordinates
34.6847, 135.7776

Introduction

Kiko-ji is a Hosso temple in Sugahara-cho, Nara, with the mountain name Seiryo-zan and the principal image Amida Nyorai. It is said to have been founded by the monk Gyoki in 721 as Sugawara-dera; when Emperor Shomu visited in 748 and saw the statue radiating light, he renamed it Kiko-ji, and Gyoki later passed away here. The main hall, rebuilt in the early Muromachi period, is known as the 'trial Great Buddha Hall' because it is said to have served as a prototype for the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji; it and the wooden seated Amida Nyorai are Important Cultural Properties. From mid-June to early August more than two hundred pots of lotus bloom in the grounds, a quiet old temple in eastern Nara.

✨ Highlights

1
Founded by Gyoki
Founded in 721 by the monk Gyoki as Sugawara-dera; his place of passing.
2
Named by Emperor Shomu
In 748 Emperor Shomu saw the statue radiating light and named it Kiko-ji.
3
Trial Great Buddha Hall
The main hall is said to have been the prototype for Todai-ji's Great Buddha Hall; rebuilt in the early Muromachi period.
4
Amida Nyorai
A late-Heian wooden seated statue about 233 cm tall, an Important Cultural Property.
5
Summer Lotus
More than two hundred pots of lotus bloom from mid-June to early August.
6
Sutra Copying
A large sutra-copying hall in the office building; the South Gate was rebuilt in 2010.

🛈 Practical Info

→Suggested Duration：About 30-60 minutes
→Good For：Temple and lotus lovers, quiet neighbourhood walks
→Best Season：Mid-June to early August for the lotus
→Note：Sutra lectures on the 2nd monthly; the Gyoki festival on March 2

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday9:00-16:30
Tuesday9:00-16:30
Wednesday9:00-16:30
Thursday9:00-16:30
Friday9:00-16:30
Saturday9:00-16:30
Sunday9:00-16:30

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultAdults JPY 500

Elementary and junior high students JPY 300; disability discount available

Transportation

Driving/Parking

Free parking for about 20 cars

Note

About 10 min on foot from Ama-ga-tsuji Stn. (Kintetsu Kashihara Line); about 20 min from Yamato-Saidaiji Stn.

💡 Tips

• The lotus season runs mid-June to early August, with hundreds of pots in bloom
• Doors open at 7:00 on Saturdays and Sundays in July
• The main hall and Amida Nyorai can be viewed up close
• Sutra lectures on the 2nd of each month; the Gyoki festival on March 2
• A quiet residential quarter that walks well with the Naramachi area
• The sutra-copying hall welcomes beginners

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Kikoji Temple?

Monday: 9:00-16:30; Tuesday: 9:00-16:30; Wednesday: 9:00-16:30; Thursday: 9:00-16:30; Friday: 9:00-16:30; Saturday: 9:00-16:30; Sunday: 9:00-16:30

How much is the admission for Kikoji Temple?

Adult: Adults JPY 500; Elementary and junior high students JPY 300; disability discount available

Any practical tips for visiting Kikoji Temple?

The lotus season runs mid-June to early August, with hundreds of pots in bloom Doors open at 7:00 on Saturdays and Sundays in July

How long should I spend at Kikoji Temple?

A typical visit takes About 30-60 minutes.

How do I get to Kikoji Temple?

Driving/Parking: Free parking for about 20 cars