Shin-Yakushi-ji
新薬師寺
Built by Empress Komyo in prayer for the recovery of Emperor Shomu, the main hall houses twelve guardian generals surrounding the Medicine Buddha, all designated National Treasures.
Shin-Yakushi-ji was founded in 747. Its surviving main hall, built in the Nara period, is a National Treasure. Inside, a wooden seated statue of the Medicine Buddha sits at the center of a round altar, surrounded by twelve guardian generals from the Tenpyo era. Among them, the fierce Bacchara general with his glaring eyes and open mouth was once printed on a Japanese postage stamp, and his presence is striking. Admission is about 600 yen, open 9:00–17:00. It is about a 15-minute walk from the south side of Nara Park, or take the city loop bus and get off at Ishiwari-cho. It is quiet with few visitors, and it can be combined with walking routes through Naramachi and Takabatake-cho.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Kasuga Taisha
- Ukimido Pavilion
- Nara Park
- Himuro Shrine
- Tamukeyama Hachiman-gu
- Nara National Museum
- Yoshikien Garden
- Isui-en Garden