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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Autumn at Tsubosakadera Temple
Beautiful autumn foliage contrasting with the white stone of Indian-style statues
Takatori Town
Minamihokkeji Temple, commonly known as Tsubosakadera Temple, is located in rural Nara Prefecture on the mountain of Tsubosaka, which overlooks Mt. Yoshino to the south and the Nara Basin and the three mountains of Yamato to the north. Founded in 703, the temple is famous as the setting of a ningyo joruri, the traditional Japanese puppet theater, titled Tsubosaka Reigenki (The Miracle at Tsubosaka).
The temple’s honzon (principal image of Buddha), a wooden statue of Eleven-faced Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy), is believed to cure eye diseases. Besides the three-storied pagoda and other historic buildings, the temple also features several Buddha statues in white stone, including a magnificent 20m-high Kannon, a large bas-relief illustrating the life of the Buddha and a Taj Mahal-style sanctuary, all donated by India in thanks for the temple’s work to help leprosy sufferers. The mix of Japanese and Indian styles makes Tsubosakadera Temple unique.
In autumn, the maple trees around the temple grounds change color, creating a vivid autumn foliage scene. The contrast of the bright leaves with the white stone of the statues is especially beautiful. The temple is illuminated during this season, and the sight of the pagoda and the statues floating in the night sky surrounded by the autumn leaves is breathtaking. This autumn, how about exploring the rural beauty of Nara and enjoying the spectacular autumn colors of Tsubosakadera Temple?
How to get there
From Shin-Osaka Station: take the subway to Tennoji Station (about 20 minutes), then walk to Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station (just across the street from Tennoji) and take a limited express train to Tsubosakayama Station (about 40 minutes).
From Kintetsu Kyoto Station: take a limited express train to Kashiharajingu-mae Station, then change for Tsubosakayama Station (about 70 minutes).
Tsubosakadera Temple is 10 minutes by taxi from the Kintetsu Tsubosakayama Station.
3 Tsubosaka, Takatori-cho, Takaichi-gun, Nara-ken
