Toshodaiji Temple

Toshodai-ji Temple stands north of Yakushi-ji after you get off at Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station. It was founded in 759 by the Chinese monk Ganjin (Jianzhen), who came to Japan at the invitation of Emperor Shomu, as a place for Buddhist training and practice. The Kondo (Golden Hall) in the precincts was built in the late 8th century by Ganjin’s disciple Nyohō. At both ends of its tiled roof are shibi (ornamental ridge-end tiles) nicknamed “Tenpyō no Iraka,” a name associated with Yasushi Inoue’s novel “Tenpyō no Iraka (The Roof Tiles of Tempyō),” which depicts Ganjin’s journey to Japan. Inside the hall, you can view works such as the standing Thousand-Armed Kannon, which is said to have originally had 1,000 arms when created (953 remain today). Other highlights include the Kodo (Lecture Hall), adapted from the East Choshu-den of the Heijo Palace, and the Miedo (Founder’s Hall), which houses the seated statue of Ganjin and fusuma paintings by painter Kaii Higashiyama (the Miedo was under repair until March 2022; the seated statue of Ganjin was moved to the Shinpozo storehouse and is specially shown only June 5–7). On May 19, the temple holds “Uchiwa-maki,” in which heart-shaped uchiwa fans called Hōsen—said to ward off misfortune—are thrown to attendees. In summer, “Toshodai-ji Lotus,” believed to have been brought from Tang China by Ganjin, reaches its best viewing season.