Shinyakushiji Temple
Shinyakushiji Temple
4.4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.4
216 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
78
Average
25
Poor
3
Terrible
0
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Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,768 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
It is located in Takahata-cho, where Shiga Naoya's former home is located. The national treasures of Yakushi Nyorai and the twelve heavenly generals (11 of which are also national treasures) are simply amazing. It is worth visiting Nara just to see this temple. I never got bored of looking at it, and ended up walking around the Buddha statues twice.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
道中双六
Osaka Prefecture, Japan1,474 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
On a breezy autumn day after the rain, I went through the Whispering Path to Shin-Yakushiji Temple for the first time in a long time. The expected Hagi blossoms were nearing their best. Mandusha flowers were also blooming on the edge of the pond. October 9, 2024
Automatically translated
Written October 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sahaooon
Kasugai, Japan12,964 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This temple is filled with prayers for the cure of Emperor Shomu's illness. Not only is the Juni Shinsho wonderful, but it is also nice to find it casually in a residential area. The main hall, which is a national treasure, and the hall and gate, which were rebuilt in the Kamakura period, are also tasteless.
Automatically translated
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BTDTtattoo
5 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Shin Yakushiji is a small jewel. The Hon-dō, the principal image of Yakushi Nyorai and eleven statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals have been designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan as National Treasures. What is different here in this small quiet compound is at least two things -- the approachability of the statues and the ability to see the artfulness of their expressions close up. Especially if you are tired of very large temples and the inability to feel close up and personal with the statuary inside your usual shrine or temple, this is a fun place. One way to see this is to start your (half) day at Todaiji (the big Buddha), then turn up the hill to Nigatsu-do. Leave Nigatsu-do and walk south along the brow of the hill to Kasuga Shrine. Continue to walk along the brow of the hill until you reach a street on the south side of the Kasuga park. Turn right down the street and look for signs on the left to Shin Yakushiji, which will be up the hill to your left about a quarter mile. Closes at 17:00 so pace the hike so you are not late. I've been here on three different trips to the Kanto sightseeing, and will visit again on my next trip!
Written August 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
Vermont7,762 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
We enjoyed the walk here from Kasuga Taisha, first on a path through a foresty bit of Nara Park, and then through small, mostly residential, streets. We saw a few signs pointing the way, but we also stopped to ask directions from a group of local painters sketching sakura.
Finally when we arrived at the temple we found an exorbitant entry fee of 600¥ for this temple, of which only the main hall, the Hondo, survives. It was more than we paid for Todaiji in all its grandeur. Then we learned that photography was not allowed inside.
We were able to see the vaunted main hall, which dates from the 8th century, through the gate, so we took a few photos from outside and decided we've done enough. Yes we missed the highly praised statues, but we’ve seen enough statues on the day, to give these a pass.
Just beside the temple is another Shinto shrine, where we took a brief rest break.
Finally when we arrived at the temple we found an exorbitant entry fee of 600¥ for this temple, of which only the main hall, the Hondo, survives. It was more than we paid for Todaiji in all its grandeur. Then we learned that photography was not allowed inside.
We were able to see the vaunted main hall, which dates from the 8th century, through the gate, so we took a few photos from outside and decided we've done enough. Yes we missed the highly praised statues, but we’ve seen enough statues on the day, to give these a pass.
Just beside the temple is another Shinto shrine, where we took a brief rest break.
Written February 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jon1796
Beijing, China1,027 contributions
Dec 2012 • Solo
Once you finally arrive here, the site to see is the Big Buddha housed within surrounded by his 12 protector generals. Similar to what you'll see at other museums and temples, if you're in a hurry or don't have much time in Nara, this is one that you can skip.
Written December 23, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meiyih
Tokyo, Japan256 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
the only attraction is the 12 statues surrounding the 2m Buddha statue, if you have time & budget thn can drop in for a visit
Written November 15, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RICHARD O
87 contributions
Oct 2018
This temple is approximately 1,300 years old and the main hall dates back that far. The grounds are small in comparison to its days of glory, but there's still much to see here. This neighborhood is also the starting point for the trail to Tenri City, a jaunt that's the subject of a new guidebook called "The Trail to Tenri City; The Old Road South of Nara." Available on Amazon.
Written September 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaTinoco
California227 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
I went out of my way to go to this place because I HAD to see the 12 muscle-knotted Heavenly Generals inside.
Built in the 700's by an empress who wanted to heal her ailing husband, Shin-Yakushiji is remarkable in the same way that Sanjusangendo is, and unfortunately we can't take pictures inside here either. But I was so astounded at the detail and anatomical awesomeness of the statues inside. I can't even imagine how cool they must have looked when they were brightly painted in greens, reds and purples. The cool thing about a lot of these deities is that they almost always seem to be military generals of the Heavens.
They correspond with the year (or month) you were born and I got a post card of my general. It's worth the detour. You'll probably have it all to yourselves.
Built in the 700's by an empress who wanted to heal her ailing husband, Shin-Yakushiji is remarkable in the same way that Sanjusangendo is, and unfortunately we can't take pictures inside here either. But I was so astounded at the detail and anatomical awesomeness of the statues inside. I can't even imagine how cool they must have looked when they were brightly painted in greens, reds and purples. The cool thing about a lot of these deities is that they almost always seem to be military generals of the Heavens.
They correspond with the year (or month) you were born and I got a post card of my general. It's worth the detour. You'll probably have it all to yourselves.
Written October 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichardBoise
Boise, ID139 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
If you're interested in a trek through the countryside, get yourself a copy of "The Northern Extension of the Yamanobe no Michi" from Amazon and start at this temple or the nearby Fukuu-in ji temple.
Fukuu-in ji Temple is on the same narrow road as Shin Yakushi ji, a Buddhist temple of the Kegon sect, founded in 747 by Empress Kōmyō. The road is this area is lined with a very old wall, topped with tiles and constructed on a bamboo lattice with a mixture of adobe and potsherds.
The present main hall of Shin Yakushi ji survives from the 8th century and houses a Yakushi Nyorai, statues of Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu, and a group of Twelve Heavenly Generals. They are National Treasures. The main hall is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Japan. The construction features a large irimoya style roof and whitewashed walls. Inside thick pillars placed on the dirt floor carry the roof. The open ceiling (originally painted red), leaves the sheathing beams and rafters visible. The main hall is also a National Treasure.
Fukuu-in ji Temple is on the same narrow road as Shin Yakushi ji, a Buddhist temple of the Kegon sect, founded in 747 by Empress Kōmyō. The road is this area is lined with a very old wall, topped with tiles and constructed on a bamboo lattice with a mixture of adobe and potsherds.
The present main hall of Shin Yakushi ji survives from the 8th century and houses a Yakushi Nyorai, statues of Nikkō Bosatsu and Gakkō Bosatsu, and a group of Twelve Heavenly Generals. They are National Treasures. The main hall is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Japan. The construction features a large irimoya style roof and whitewashed walls. Inside thick pillars placed on the dirt floor carry the roof. The open ceiling (originally painted red), leaves the sheathing beams and rafters visible. The main hall is also a National Treasure.
Written July 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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