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  • 2025.06.11

Gero Onsen Day Trip from Takayama!

Did you know one of Japan’s top 3 onsen towns is only one hour from Takayama?


♨️Gero Onsen is a stylish sweets haven also more commonly known as one of the top 3 hot spring towns in all of Japan. Gero in Japanese directly translates to “ribbet”, and because of that, a lot of tourist attractions are frog themed. Conveniently located around an hour south of Takayama, it makes a perfect day trip for those wanting to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery of the Gifu Area for under 2200 yen!

1. Board the bus at Takayama Station for Gero
2. Buy a Yumeguri Pass (Onsen pass!)
3. Frogs, Nature, and Shopping!
4. Rental Bikes
5. Gero’s Ultimate Attraction: the Slide
6. Enjoy Gero Gourmet Foods
7. Board the bus back to Takayama

1. Board the bus at Takayama Station for Gero


There are two modes of transportation to Gero Onsen, train or bus. The bus runs to Gero hourly while the local train runs every other hour. Alternatively, there are express trains that come hourly, however these cost up to 2000 yen one way, making the trip cost double the amount while taking the same amount of time as the bus. If you plan on returning to Takayama, we recommend taking the earliest bus at 8AM and then the last bus back at 5:00PM. Most of the restaurants are closed in Gero by that time.

If you are based in Takayama, we recommend buying the “Gero Onsen 2-Day Ticket” by Nohi Bus. This pass allows unlimited bus usage from Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Gero for 2 days for only 2,040 yen. This is the regular price of the roundtrip bus–reservations are made online and you can board with an online voucher.

How to ride the bus to Gero:

① Board from Takayama Nohi Bus Center and simply wait at bus stop 1 and get on the bus. Get off at the Gero Station bus stop after paying 1,060 yen (cash/coins only).

②If you buy the “Gero Onsen 2-Day Ticket”, buy it online through this website. You will receive the voucher digitally. Go to bus stop 1 and board the bus normally and show the bus driver your voucher when you get off.

►Boarding times from Takayama Nohi Bus Center:
8:05, 9:05, 10:05, 11:05, 12:05, 1:05, 2:05, 3:05, 4:05, 5:05, 6:05, 7:05
Price: 1,060 yen (one way)

Get off at Gero Station


After getting off at Gero Station, there is a locker space along with some souvenir stores, a bathroom, and information center. Past the information center and the bathrooms is an underground stairway that leads to the main part of Gero.

2. Buy a Yumeguri Onsen Pass!


The Yumeguri Onsen Pass is highly recommended for onsen (hot spring) lovers. This pass allows you to enter any 3 participating hot springs in Gero for only 1,500 yen! Its a great deal as some onsen can cost up to 1,500 yen on its own. Plus, you can save the pass and use it any time within 6 months. Entrance time differs per hotel, which you can check here (Japanese only). Otherwise, please refer to this time chart.


For the sake of time , we recommend going to the following hot springs immediately after arriving in Gero. The onsen are open only during small time windows that are easy to miss. We recommend going to: Suimeikan, Ogawaya, Yamagataya, Bosenkan (12-2 PM on weekends only) before their service ends for the day at 2PM. Each of these hotels have usual entrance fees of 1500 yen each, so to get the most money out of your pass we recommend going to these more expensive and larger inns.

Where to buy the Yumeuri Pass?


You can buy the Yumeguri pass at several locations such as Daily Mart convenience stores or Japanese inns. On the path to the main town, the souvenir store Sakuraen sells it along with the Gero City Tourism & Cultural Center.

Full list of sellers (Japanese Only): here


When entering an onsen, the attendant will peel 1 out of 3 stickers on the back of your pass. Generally each bather needs their own pass, but if you are accompanied by children aged 4-12, you can use the same pass. Whether its one or two children, if accompanied by an adult, they will account for only 1 sticker. Also, if you have a child less than 3 years old, the child can bathe for free.

3. Frogs, Nature, and Shopping!


No matter where you go around Gero, you’re going to see everything from posters, statues, and manholes, all in frog form. If you have a phobia of frogs–beware. 🐸 Gero in Japanese directly translates to “ribbet” and this town really went with that theme and ran. Everything frog themed was so cute and personally I felt happy finding frog versions of everything everywhere I went. There’s even a frog shrine!


Aside from cool frogs, Geros natural scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Crossing the bridge to the town, you can get a glimpse of the mountains and the large park where the town holds frequent firework shows, especially in the summer. There are also a bunch of foot baths to rest your feet throughout the town. The shopping street has not only snacks but ceramics and games to enjoy, making it fun for anyone of any age.


Foot baths around Gero are almost all free. You can find them on regular streets or even inside hotels. Just make sure not to bathe in them as they are strictly just for your feet!

4. Rental Bikes in Gero


Next to the Tourist Information Center, Gero provides stylish E-bikes for rental. While most of the town is walkable, the deep nature really is beautiful and fun to bike around. The bikes can be rented by downloading an app or paying by cash. If you want to pay by cash, you have to speak to the receptionist at the information center (open until 5:30 PM).

Bike Rental Info:
Rental time: 24 hours
6 hours: 1,000 yen
12 hours: 1,500 yen

5. Ride Gero’s Infamous Slide


One of Gero’s most popular attractions is the slide that overlooks Gero City. This slide isnt just for kids–actually when I went only adults were riding it! The slide is high speed and lasted up to a minute going down. At the curves it could be quite scary at times, but the thrill was worth it. The slide is guarded by protection rails and has cushions for landing.


To get to the Gero Slide, you have to go through the Gero Onsen Gassho Village and pay the entrance fee of 800 yen. The Village is similar to Shirakawago with a lot of displays and even a very modern foot bath. There are cafes, funny and cute statues, and even a shrine dedicated to cooking. Once you reach the other side of the mountain, you have to pay 100 yen to use the slide.

6. Enjoy Gero’s Gourmet Foods

Gero has a lot of delicious food, but they excel in desserts (especially parfaits). Sakae-machi dori is a stylish street by the station with many cafes and souvenir stores. Here you can find many parfait or other sweets stores. Other popular foods are butter ramen (ramen cooked with a butter and milk broth), frog themed tiramissu, pudding, crepes, and more!


One of the more popular souvenirs to buy in the area is Gero butter sandwiches, a butter cookie made out of fresh milk from the area. Around the area is a lot of finger food and desserts, but for a bigger lunch the town offers a lot of international foods in additional to traditional Japanese like German and Italian.

7. Going from Gero back to Takayama


To get back you can take the train or the bus. Trains leave at the 30 minute mark each hour, where as buses leave 30 minutes prior to the train. The last bus back to Takayama from Gero is at 5PM. By this time, a lot of the restaurants and souvenir stores have closed up, so we recommend going back at this time. To ride back, simply hop on the bus or show your pass if you had purchased the Geron-Onsen 2 Day Pass. Payment is when you get off.

How to board the bus back to Takayama

① Board from Gero Station bus stop

Boarding times for Takayama Nohi Bus Center:
6:00, 7:00, 7:42, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00. 5:30
Price: 1,060 yen (one way)



OR

②Board from Shirasagaibashi Bridge bus stop (center of town in front of Lawson)

Boarding times for Takayama Nohi Bus Center:
7:01, 8:01, 9:01, 10:01, 11:01, 12:01, 2:01, 4:01
Weekends only: 6:01 AM, 3:01 PM, 5:01 PM
Price: 1,060 yen (one way)

➤To check the cheapest ways to get around Japan and the Takayama/Hida area, check out this page for detailed routes, pricing, and travel ideas!
➤For Nagoya access to Takayama and Shirakawago learn more: here
➤For information about transportation in Nara learn more: here



  • 2025.06.02

Hiking Mt.Anbou in Hida Furukawa!

Hida Furukawa Above the Clouds

Mt.Anbou (also spelled Mt.Ambo) is the most popular hiking route in the city of Hida Furukawa. Its easy accessibility and stunning views is widely loved amongst both locals and travelers. From the mountain summit, you can see all of Furukawa, stretching to parts of Takayama. Furukawa is a landlocked town with an elevation of 495 meters (1624 ft). If you do an early morning hike (often before 10 AM), clouds form above the town, creating a blanket that makes you appear as if you are standing above the clouds. After the morning fog clears, you can see the basin of the town appear.

Hiking Details

Level: Beginner/ Lower Intermediate

Total time: 1 hour ~ 1hr 15 mins (ascent),
50 minutes (descent)

Elevation: 1,058m (3,471 ft)

Toilet: Available (at summit and entrance)

Other: *Wifi/Data is usable on the summit peak (no free wifi available)
*If you reach the summit before 10AM there is a chance you can see a layer of clouds

Bathrooms

There is a bathroom at the summit of the mountain. On the left side of the trail, walk three minutes down the concrete road (meant for cars) to reach the bathroom. The bathroom is also located next to a trail that will bring you down the mountain you came up from.

Extra Info

Besides the deck overlooking the town of Hida Furukawa, if you walk down and to the right, there is another photo spot. Here you can hold a commemorative sign and take a picture, or write down your memory in the public journal!

Route Experience

12:30 PM

Before entering the hiking trail, lift the bar from the red gate and put it back in place once you’re inside.

12:40 PM

There is a steep incline but after 10 minutes you should reach the entrance of the hiking trail. From here the hike should take around 1 hour.

1:00 PM

The first 30 minutes of the hike are quite steep, but gets less intense the second half. At the half way point, you’ll find a bear bell and column post. If you’re counting, there are 3 total this entire hike!

1:40 PM

Before reaching the top, a path splits into two. The left route with the column leads directly to the public toilet, and to reach the terrace from there you need to walk an additional 3 minutes on a concrete road.


On the right there is a path with a bear bell which leads directly to the terrace (this route however is very steep).

1:48 PM

Reach the top of the mountain! If you turn backside to the view, on the right side is an additional photo spot and on the left is the public bathroom.

Access

Name: Mt. Anbou/ Mt.Ambo
Address: Hida-shi Furukawa-cho Kamikita / Google Maps Here
Public transportation: Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Hida Furukawa Station /25 minute walk from Hida Furukawa
Parking: There is a parking space located in front of the entrance (for hiking) / Summit parking (if you drive, the roads are narrow and enough for 1 car only so beware)
Facilities: Bathroom at parking lot/ Bathroom mountain peak (3 minute walk from summit)

From Takayama Station to Hida Furukawa Station

At Takayama Nohi Bus Center, board the local bus at Platform 2 for Hida Furukawa.
Times: 6:40, 7:00, 9:10, 11:10, 12:40, 1:40, 2:40, 3:40, 4:40, 5:10, 6:10, 6:40PM (380 yen)
Reservations are not necessary, however there are set deals that the local bus company offers.

*From Takayama to Hida Furukawa, you can take the “Hida Furukawa Food & Sake Set” which includes roundtrip fares between Takayama Station and Hida Furukawa Station, a 3,000 yen voucher for local eateries, and a voucher for Sake, which the town has won many national awards for.

View the bus routes and special deals: here

Map

Other Things to Do in Town

Hida Furukawa’s’ Onsen:
Nukumori no Yu Spaful

By bus: Hida Furukawa Station → Spa-ful Tougenkyou-Onsen Stop
Times: 8:29, 12:26, 3:30, 6:11 (200 yen)

Rent a bicycle at the town square:
Hida Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall (rentals close at 4PM, last rental 3PM)

By foot: From Hida Furukawa Station, 7 minutes

Local homemade Japanese food deli:
Yamamoto Delicatessen
*We recommend the fried chicken!

By foot: From Hida Furukawa Station, 10 minutes


➤To check the best ways to get around Japan and the Takayama/Hida area, check out this link for detailed routes, pricing, and travel ideas!
➤For Nagoya access to Takayama and Shirakawago learn more: here
➤For information about transportation in Nara learn more: here



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  • 2025.05.02

Nara Park Bus Terminal Info | Free Rooftop Panoramic Deck in Nara

Topic: Nara Park Bus Terminal, Nara tours, Nara Park FAQ


The Nara Park bus terminal is a stylish and modern wooden building located right across Nara Park. This terminal isn’t just for boarding city buses, but it also has kimono rentals, plenty of resting areas, bathrooms, restaurants, information about Nara, and a rooftop garden (3F) with benches where people can look over Nara Park from a vantage view. Several tours buses which lead to Mt.Wakakasa have drop offs around the area.

Table of contents:

  1. General Information
  2. 1F (Souvenir Store + Information Desk)
  3. 2F (Nara Story– interactive information about Nara)
  4. 2F (Indoor Rest Space & Cafes)
  5. 3F (Outdoor Panoramic View Resting Space)
  6. Nara Park FAQ

General Information

Currently two tours are running in Nara, the World Heritage Tour with Kamameshi and Matcha and the Perfect Nara Park course. To book a tour in Nara, check here for tours administered by the prefectures main bus company. Tours can be booked online or at the Nara Kotsu Sightseeing Bus Information Center, located a 8 minute walk from Nara Park Bus Terminal.

Facility hours: 7:30 AM ~ 8 PM

Access

🟢From Kintetsu Nara: take Exit 1 and walk 10 minutes
🟢From JR Nara Station: head towards bus stop #2 and board bus 2, 77, or 97 and get off at Kencho-mae (Kenchozen) bus stop

1F (Souvenir Store + Information Desk)


Pick up an assortment of Nara souvenirs such as famous Nara snacks, Nara letter prints, and even Nara leaf wrapped sushi from the famous souvenir branch Nara Meihinkan! Inside is also an information desk, a stylish brunch like cafe serving roasted meats and smoothies, a 7-11 convenience store, and an ATM where you can withdraw international currency.

Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Open year-round)
Location: 76 Noborioji-cho, Nara City (Inside Nara Park Bus Terminal)
Phone Number: 0742-81-3735

Information desk hours: 7:30 AM ~ 8 PM

2F (Nara Story– interactive information about Nara)

Resembling a small museum, “Nara Story” is a newly constructed area packed with information about Nara, its history, and even quizzes for guests of all ages to enjoy. Nara Story introduces the several power spots in Nara, the origin story about Nara deer, Japan’s oldest history scriptures (Kokiji and Manyoshu), and trivia about different Nara sake.

Nara Story hours: 7:00AM ~ 8PM

2F (Indoor Rest Space & Cafes)


On the second floor there is also a large indoor rest space with plenty of seating and a view of Nara Park. There are also two bathrooms on this floor. On this floor is Starbucks and also a Gyukaku restaurant, famous for its deep fried beef cutlets. The second floor is separated into two parts, one which holds lecture halls and exhibitions, and one with stores.

Starbucks hours: 7 AM ~ 8 PM
Gyukaku hours: 7:30 AM ~ 8 PM

3F Outdoor Panoramic View Resting Space/Playground


Up the stairs and outside is a spacious rooftop garden space with benches and a grass area where you can enjoy a view of Mt.Wakakusa, Nara Park, and Todai-ji Temple! The large grass area is a great spot for children to play and there are even deer sculptures you can take a photo op with while looking at the panoramic view of Nara. The rooftop closes at 8 PM each night.


Rooftop hours: 7:30 AM ~ 8 PM.

Nara Deer Park FAQ:

1. What is Nara Park’s opening time?
Nara Park is open all hours as it is a public area. That being said, some of the gardens don’t open until 8 AM and the deer appear usually from 9AM until before sunset.

2. Is there a Nara Park Playground nearby?
While there is not a playground around the main area of Nara Park, by Tenri Station is a massive outdoor trampoline dome playground attraction called Kokofun which is completely free to use! In front of Tenri Station Square is also a parking lot which is free for 90 minutes.

3. Are there events in Nara Park?
Nara Park occasionally holds concerts and events. To check updates of all events in the Nara Park area, check the Nara Tourism website (event page in Japanese only).

4. Are there Nara Park entrance fees?
Nara Park has no entrance fees. Areas such as Sarusawa Pond, Ukimido, Ukigumo Garden, Kasugano Garden, Noborioji Garden, are also free to enter.

5. How do you get Nara Park deer food?
You are only allowed to feed the deer in Nara with the crackers sold locally. Around the park are several carts selling 10 crackers for 200 yen. You can also buy them at souvenir stores or teahouses. Though the crackers are made of rice and wheat, it is not recommended for human consumption.

  • 2025.04.21

Takayama Festival | April 15th Information


Every year the Takayama Festival (Spring) is held on April 14th and 15th. April 14th is where most of the major festivities are held including the night festival. If you missed the festival on the 14th, don’t fret! You can still see the floats another day. On the 15th, the parade returns to the main shrine and several dances and puppet shows are held throughout the day. Depending on the weather, there are cases where the festival finishes early or is cancelled due to the fragile nature of the floats so please keep this in mind.

How to get to Takayama from Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka

Boarding AreaTime TakenBus FareReservation link
Tokyo (Shinjuku Station)~7 hoursAdult: 8,000 yen
Child: 4,000 yen		Direct bus
Nagoya Station~2 1/2 hoursAdult: 3,600 yen
Child: 3,600 yen		Direct bus
Kyoto Station~5 hoursAdult: 6,000 yen
Child: 2,750 yen		Direct bus
Osaka Station~6 hoursAdult: 7,000 yen
Child: 3,550 yen		Direct bus

Festival Schedule for April 15th (Tentative)


April 15th: On this day, a procession makes its way back to Hie Shrine where they departed the day before. There are also puppet shows put on through different times throughout the day. At the procession locals dress up in traditional wear and play music as they march back to Hie Shrine. There are also Shishimai (lion) dances that take place in front of the Takayama Historical Government House.

Takayama Spring Festival April 15th Schedule

Note: This is the basic schedule, however often schedules can be completely changed due to weather conditions so pay attention to live updates.

Marionette Performance #1　　　10:00 AM (around 15 mins)
Procession starts
(in front of Takayama Historical Government House )		　　　12:30 PM
Marionette Performance #2　　　2:00 PM (around 15 mins)
Procession ends at Hie Shrine　　　4:00 PM
The schedule is subject to change depending on weather (such as rain).

Takayama City decides and has live updates on which events are cancelled the day of found on their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Takayama Float Locations (for the marionette dances)


*Each float has a unique performance. For example, the Shakkyo marionette includes a lion dance and lion transformation while the Ryujin marionette includes a blast of confetti. Floats in red show which ones are putting on shows.

12:30 PM

Get off at Takayama Nohi Bus Center adjacent to Takayama Station. I missed the lion dance earlier, but the streets were lively with a lot of tourists.

1:20 PM

Around Honmachi street, there are festival food and game stalls selling classic festival foods like chocolate bananas, sugar coated fruits, fried foods and more! Many local children were out with their friends playing games.


Similar to the Ponshukan Sake Museum in Niigata Prefecture, Takayama also opened a sake sample bar located in the souvenir store Maryuhyaku where you can sample 100 different types of the areas award winning sake, which is proudly produced in the area.



1:50 PM

After walking through the main streets and even doing some shopping, people started to make their ways to several different float stalls. I arrived 10 minutes early and was already far behind in the crowd!

Not all Takayama floats have puppets on them–my best advice is to see where the Japanese crowds migrate to (lol). Those with puppets will have a protruding stage in front of it for the doll. Floats with dolls on them are: Ebisu, Ryujin, Sanbasou, Shakkyo, Koukondai.

2:00 PM

The puppet dances start at each respective stall at 2PM and lasts around 15 minutes. This particular float (Shakkyo) was located right in front of the Takayama Municipal Government Memorial Hall. It did some pretty nifty tricks that were totally unexpected.

Hotels/ Lodging

Most guests opt to stay the night in Takayama to enjoy the festival and area at a more leisurely pace. The area is abundant in nature activities, luxurious foods like Hida beef, and natural hot springs. To truly experience the hot springs and hiking, the Okuhida region of Takayama has hiking trails, hot springs, and access to the national park Kamikochi. Next door is also Hida Furukawa famous for inspiring the anime movie, “Your Name” where many people enjoy riding bicycles by the rice fields. Lastly, the Kamioka region is a retro town famous for its outdoor bicycle experience on an old abandoned railway track!

 

Check more detailed information about the bus routes/ prices in the area: here

  • 2025.03.28

Nara’s World Heritage Temple Tour: Horyuji, Toshodaiji, Yakushiji, with Matcha and Kamameshi by Bus!


Beyond famous World Heritage Sites such as Todaiji are ancient sites in the Ikaruga district and Nishinokyo area in central Nara Prefecture. Ancient temples in this area date back to the 6th and 7th century and are home to the first World Heritage Sites in all of Japan and the oldest wooden buildings in the world. If you want to have a more intimate, complete experience, rich in legacy away from the crowds, these areas are a great place to visit.

A majority of these World Heritage Sites are built in more rural parts of Nara, so transportation to them can be challenging. The most efficient and convenient way to reach the temples in this area is to get dropped off by bus via the Nara World Heritage Temple Tour with Kamameshi & Matcha. This tour bus takes you hassle-free through the temples and also includes a traditional Kamameshi lunch and a special matcha garden viewing experience.

Check the tour specifications and reservation information: here


List of temples covered on the day tour:
📍Horyuji Temple
📍Chuguji Temple (lunch after)
📍Jikoin zen Temple (w/ Matcha green tea)
📍Yakushiji Temple
📍Toshodaiji Temple
📍Heijo Palace Site・Suzaku Gate (view from inside bus)
📍Pick up/ Drop off at Kintetsu or JR Nara Station

Japan’s Oldest World Heritage Sites + Matcha & Kamameshi 🍵

While this tour is partially guided, they do leave you personal time to explore each heritage site on your own. For maximum efficiency, the tour also included a scheduled Kamameshi lunch and a matcha tea experience. While the tour is administered in Japanese, non Japanese speakers were given audio guides and pamphlets (for me, in English but there are also simplified and traditional Chinese available).

Several of these temples include Yakushi Nyorai, or the Medicine Buddha, so they are great places to pray for you or your loved one’s health while enjoying ancient architecture and history.

📍10AM~ Depart from Kintetsu Nara Bus Stop


This tour picks up participants daily from either JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station. After boarding, I was given a route tour map and an audio guide that had multiple language options. The pamphlet gave thorough explanations of the routes, instructions for the day, and maps. This tour is completely given in Japanese, but the guide is very sweet and accommodating to you. The audio guide uses GPS to give live explanations of passing landmarks.


The tour started with the guide on the bus collecting Goshuincho (temple signature books) from any passengers. Goshuin are a beautiful way to remember your visit to temples and shrines in Japan and is thought of as a way to donate and pay respect. They also make beautiful souvenirs as each temple or shrine has their own Japanese calligraphy and are thought as good luck for the afterlife.

Goshuin (Temple Signatures)

If you bring your Goshuincho (temple signature books), the guide will gather the temple signatures for you, saving you a lot of time to explore the grounds. On this particular tour, by paying an extra 2100 yen you can receive 5 in total.

Goshuincho (temple signature books) can be bought at any temple and shrine or even some souvenir stores. On the trip I was able to collect several beautiful goshuin, but one of the most beautiful goshuin I’ve ever received was from Yakushiji Temple, the 4th temple on the tour.

📍11AM~ 1PM Horyuji Temple & Chuguji Temple + Kamameshi lunch

Famous points: First National Heritage Site in Japan, world’s oldest surviving wooden structure, Medicine Buddha (for health prayers), private seated viewing of the 1,400 year old Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu statue


After viewing the impressive architecture, we made our way to the main hall. Inside was a Medicine Buddha surrounded by two guardians that are meant to protect you at day and night. Many people pray for speedy recovery here. On our way to the Great Treasure Gallery (Daihozoin), we also passed the pond that inspired one of the most well known haiku (japanese poems) in Japan.

After passing the pond, we were left to explore the Great Treasure Gallery (Daihozoin) which housed ancient artifacts used by Prince Shotoku himself. Before meeting up again, there is a restroom and a vending machine to buy drinks from. We headed to Chuguji Temple where we had a private and peaceful viewing of one of Japan’s national treasure, a 1,400 year old Bodhisattva statue. The explanation was in Japanese, but the guide made sure to hand me an English information guide. Next we made our way to a restaurant nearby to eat!

Kamameshi Lunch (30 minute lunch)

This tour includes a kamameshi seafood lunch. Kamameshi is cooked in an iron kiln with flavorful rice that is infused with the flavors of the seafood cooked on top of it. The dish also came with side dishes of fried chicken, pickles, and egg.

The kamameshi was flavorful and the side dishes added a nice variety to the dish. The pot was deeper than I thought, and was full of flavorful and crispy rice! The seafood included crab, scallops and shrimp.

📍1:50PM~ Jikoin Zen Temple (Matcha tea experience)

Famous points: Moss garden and flowers, matcha tea service, tea room


Next stop was Jikoin Zen Temple, a tranquil and beautifully designed temple on a hill. Leading up to the temple were moss gardens, beautiful plum blossom trees, and camelia flowers. Everyone shuffled to the tea room and soon was welcomed by the temple’s monk who gave an explanation of the temple’s history. Although it was only in Japanese, his style of speech was artistic and unique, almost like an old traditional play.

After the tea service, visitors are able to explore the grounds before heading back to the bus. You also have an opportunity to talk to the monk for further questions if you want.

Matcha Tea ＆ Sweets

You will be served matcha tea and a sweet sugar treat shaped like the family emblem of the temple. Looking out at the mountain view with the cool breeze was healing in itself.

📍2:45 PM~ Yakushiji Temple

Famous points: Healing Buddha (for health), Buddha to pray for a first love/special meeting


Making your way to Yakushiji Temple, you instantly realize how massive the area is. The color and architecture of the buildings gave an aura of ancient China. This particular temple was built for the speedy recovery of the emperor’s wife, which she did heal from, but ironically was followed by him getting sick after. Enshrined in the center is a Medicine Buddha dedicated to healing her. The guide leads you to Toindo Hall, which also has a Buddha where you can pray to meet your first love or a special person.

Inside the pagodas are magnificent and intricate murals of Buddha reaching Nirvana, however if you enjoy flowers and are there during the plum season, in March, behind the main lecture hall you can find a large plum tree garden. It was a fragrant and beautiful surprise.


The day I went, the monks were doing a sermon talking about the Great Japan Earthquake in 2011. After everyone prayed together, they handed out petals that were used in the ceremony for anyone to take. I received a few from the monk. Talk about lucky! After that, we had the opportunity to see national treasures within the hall and roam on our own.

📍3:50PM~ Toshodaiji Temple

Famous points: Chinese Buddhist monk Ganjin (鑑真), moss garden, ancient relics from the 6th century


Our last stop of the day was Toshodaiji Temple. This ancient temple is significant due to the Chinese monk named Ganjin (鑑真) who introduced Chinese culture to Japan, changing Japan’s history forever. Though pictures were not permitted, housed inside of Kondo Hall were stunning and gorgeous statues of a detailed 1000 handed Bodhisattva and Buddha. The grounds were tranquil and peaceful, but the best area was hidden in the back.


Leading to the grave of Ganjin (鑑真), there is a large moss garden shaded within the trees. The whole area was quiet and cool– it felt like a private experience and was great for pictures. As you approach the grave you can enjoy the natural wildlife and pay your respects if you please.

Suzakumon Gate

On the way back to JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station, the bus makes a stop briefly in front of Suzakumon Gate. There is time to take pictures and listen to the guide’s explanation.

~5:00 PM Arrive back at the station

At the end of the day the bus drops everyone off at the station on schedule. Today, a lot of ground was covered and in all honesty, without the bus taking us to each place it would have taken too much time to transfer from one place to the other. I personally preferred these World Heritage Sites over the ones closer to the stations because it felt completely different. You could truly still feel the history and sacredness of the past there.

Each area had different Buddhas to pray to and different styles of statues. While some were made from ancient Korea or India, it was very interesting to make comparisons. You could differentiate them from how thin the Buddha was, their faces, and in some cases even their poses.

If any of these world heritage sites tickle your fancy, this was an efficient way to spend the day considering most were in very rural areas with hard to find food places. I felt like I got what I paid for because everything, including entrance fees and the food were taken care of for me.




At the end of each tour, there is also a gift for participants. This time, I got a cute magnet of the deer mascot of the area, Shikamaru-kun which opens from a deer cracker.

This tour runs daily, but you can make an online reservation in advance: here