Hannya-ji Temple is the Shingo Risshu sect’s temple located at Nara-zaka (also called Nara Kitamachi) in the northern part of Nara City.
The background of the foundation of Hannya-ji Temple and the year of the establishment are not stated on any historiography, and the founder is also unknown as there are various opinions about it.
However, this temple certainly existed in the Nara period, because old roof-tiles of the Nara period were excavated from the precincts of Hannya-ji Temple, and the name of Hannya-ji Temple appears in the Shosoin monjo (documents of Shosoin) of 742. This temple has a very long history.
This temple is famous as “cosmos temple”.
The precincts of the temple are filled with countless beautiful cosmoses every autumn.
The cosmos is in full bloom from the end of September to the beginning of November every year.
Contents
- About Hannya-ji Temple
- Cosmoses of Hannya-ji Temple
- The highlights of Hannya-ji Temple
- Goshuin(The stamp of shrine or temple) of Hannya-ji Temple
- How to get to Hannya-ji Temple
1.About Hannya-ji Temple
Open：9:00~17:00
Admission Fee：500 yen(Adults)
Address：221, Hannyajicho, Nara-shi, Nara, 630-8102, Japan
Phone Number：+81-742-22-6287
As for the name called Hannya-ji Temple, Hannya-kyo (Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra) is the origin.
Therefore, principal idol of the temple is Monjubosatsu (Manjusri [bodhisattva]) who is related to Hannya-kyo (Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra).
This temple is also the 17th temple of the Kansai Hana no Tera (the temples famous for flowers in Kansai Region).
Admission fee is 500 yen (adults).
2.Cosmoses of Hannya-ji Temple
The best highlight of this temple is a cosmoses garden.
The cosmos is in full bloom from the end of September to the beginning of November every year.
The precincts of the temple was covered with cosmos as far as the eye can see.
Cosmos of various colors is planted in the precincts of this temple.
3.The highlights of Hannya-ji Temple
This temple has many highlights other than a cosmos.
The highlights of this temple are as follows.
- Romon Gate(National Treasure)
- Hondo (Main temple)(Cultural Property designated by Nara Prefecture)
- 13-storey Stone Pagoda(Important Cultural Property)
- Kyozo (sutra repository)(Important Cultural Property)
- Kasatoba (stone tablet with a stone hat)(Important Cultural Property)
- Shoro (bell tower)
- Hakuho-Hibutsu “a standing statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata)”(Important Cultural Property)
- Thirty-three Kannon temple’s stone statue
- Kamman stone
- Stone of the test of your strength
- Memorial pagoda of Imperial Prince Otonomiya Moriyoshi
- Memorial pagoda of Yorinaga Fujiwara
- Sankaibanreihi
- Makabara stone
●Romon Gate(National Treasure)
This gate is built in the Kamakura era and is designated as a national treasure.
It is unusual for Romon gate to be appointed to a national treasure.
●Hondo (Main temple)(Cultural Property designated by Nara Prefecture)
It was built in 1667.
Monjubosatsu (Manjusri [bodhisattva]) who is the principal idol of this temple is enshrined in this building.
●13-storey Stone Pagoda(Important Cultural Property)
●Kyozo (sutra repository)(Important Cultural Property)
This building was built in the Kamakura era.
Issai-kyo (Complete Collection of Scriptures) is kept in this building.
●Kasatoba (stone tablet with a stone hat)(Important Cultural Property)
The Kasatoba is a kind of stupa which is built to hold a memorial service for the soul of the dead person.
●Shoro (bell tower)
This building was built in 1694.
●Hakuho-Hibutsu “a standing statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata)”(Important Cultural Property)
A standing statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata) is enshrined in the treasure hall of this temple.
With the exception of special openings, it is not ordinarily open to the public.
Photography and video recording are prohibited in this building.
●Thirty-three Kannon temple’s stone statue
The Hondo (Main temple) is surrounded with many Buddha statues.
●Kamman stone
The origin of the name of this stone is Sanskrit of the Fudo Myoo.
This stone has divine favor of the health.
Fudo Myoo (Acala) is enshrined on this stone. d(*ﾟーﾟ*)
●Stone of the test of your strength
If you can lift each stone, you are liked by the opposite sex.
●Memorial pagoda of Imperial Prince Otonomiya Moriyoshi
Imperial Prince Otonomiya Moriyoshi is the person who played an active part in Taiheiki (Record of the Great Peace) which is one of the Japanese famous classical literature works.
●Memorial pagoda of Yorinaga Fujiwara
Yorinaga Fujiwara is a person of the Heian era who was feared as a Minister of the Left of the fear.
He was told as the ringleader of Hogen War.
●Sankaibanreihi
This is the monument which was made to hold a memorial service for all souls of the world.
●Makabara stone
The origin of the name of this stone is one paragraph of the Hannya Shingyo (Pajna-para-mita sutra).
This stone has divine favor of good-luck.
4.Goshuin of Hannya-ji Temple
This Temple’s Sumigaki(The words which was written with a sumi(black ink)) is “妙吉祥”.
“妙吉祥” is Alias of Monjubosatsu (Manjusri [bodhisattva]) which is the principal idol of this temple.
5.How to get to Hannya-ji Temple
The nearest station of Hannya-ji Temple is “JR Nara station” or “Kintetsu Nara station”.
Let’s take a bus from the nearest station to the destination.
■Route Example (From Namba)
■Route Example (From Osaka)
■Kintetsu Nara station→Hannya-ji bus stop
It’s about 15 minutes from Kintetsu Nara station to Hannya-ji bus stop by bus.
Bus fare is 210 yen.
[Bus timetable]
Let’s take a bus (bound for “Aoyama jutaku”) at Kintetsu Nara station bus stop No.2 and get off at Hannya-ji bus stop.
■JR Nara station→Hannya-ji bus stop
It’s about 20 minutes from Kintetsu Nara station to Hannya-ji bus stop by bus.
The bus fare is 210 yen.
[Bus timetable]
Let’s take a bus (bound for “Aoyama jutaku” or “Kunimidai hatchome”) at JR Nara station bus stop No.11 and get off at Hannya-ji bus stop.
■Hannya-ji bus stop→Hannya-ji Temple
About 10 minutes walk.
How did you like it?
Please try to go.
Have a nice trip! XD
