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Usitour
Sightseeing

Meisho Daijoin Garden

📍 1083-1 Takabatake-cho, Nara, Japan
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4.6/ 5.0
★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location
Japan, Nara
Category
Sightseeing
Duration
About 1 hour
Address
1083-1 Takabatake-cho, Nara, Japan
Coordinates
34.6778, 135.8348

Introduction

The scenic Daijoin Garden in Takabatake-cho, Nara, is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty just south of Nara Hotel. Daijoin was a monzeki temple founded in 1087, remodelled in the Muromachi era by the garden designer Zen'ami at the request of Jinson and praised by Ashikaga Yoshimasa and others as the finest garden in Nara. After the temple's abolition in the early Meiji years, the garden was restored through excavation and opened to the public in July 2017.

✨ Highlights

1
Nara's finest garden
Praised by Ashikaga Yoshimasa and court nobles as the capital's best garden.
2
Zen'ami's design
A pond-stroll garden laid out by the Muromachi designer Zen'ami.
3
National designation
Designated a national scenic site in 1958 after excavation and repair.
4
Opened in 2017
Opened to the public in July 2017 for the 1300th anniversary of Heijo-kyo.
5
Beside Nara Hotel
Just south of Nara Hotel, easy to pair with the hotel's grounds.
6
Greenery and red bridge
A vermilion bridge reflected in the pond amid deep green is the photo spot.

🛈 Practical Info

→Closed：Mondays (next day if a holiday), the day after a holiday (except Sat/Sun), and December 26 to January 5
→Note：The heritage centre is closed for review from April 2026, but the garden is still entered via its gate

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
MondayClosed
Tuesday9:00-17:00
Wednesday9:00-17:00
Thursday9:00-17:00
Friday9:00-17:00
Saturday9:00-17:00
Sunday9:00-17:00

Dec26-Jan5

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult200 yen
Child100 yen (ES/JHS)

Transportation

Bus

From JR or Kintetsu Nara Station, take the bus for Tenri or Shimoyama about 8 min; get off at Nara Hotel, walk 100 m south

💡 Tips

• 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior-high students.
• Open 9:00-17:00; closed on Mondays.
• No dedicated parking; use the Naramachi Centre car park.
• Pairs well with Nara Hotel and the Kasugano-cho area.
• Imai-cho lies about 2 km northwest and needs its own time slot.
• Enquiries: Nara City Cultural Promotion Division, 0742-34-4942.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Meisho Daijoin Garden?

Monday: Closed; 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; Dec26-Jan5

How much is the admission for Meisho Daijoin Garden?

Adult: 200 yen; Child: 100 yen (ES/JHS)

Any practical tips for visiting Meisho Daijoin Garden?

200 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior-high students. Open 9:00-17:00; closed on Mondays.

How long should I spend at Meisho Daijoin Garden?

A typical visit takes About 1 hour.

How do I get to Meisho Daijoin Garden?

Bus: From JR or Kintetsu Nara Station, take the bus for Tenri or Shimoyama about 8 min; get off at Nara Hotel, walk 100 m south