# Yakushi-ji, Nara > Yakushi-ji is a temple in western Nara, founded in 680, and a UNESCO site. Its East Pagoda is the only ancient building, while the vermilion Golden Hall with its bronze Healing Buddha triad was rebuilt in 1976. Entry is ¥1,000, cash only. It opens 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. Nishinokyo station is 1 minute away. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/yakushi-ji - City: [Nara](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara), Japan - YesGo score: 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 15 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: ¥1,000; ages 13–18 ¥600; younger ¥200 - Payment: Cash only - Hours: 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 - Highlight: The East Pagoda and the Yakushi triad - Nearby: Toshodai-ji — 10–15 minutes on foot - Getting there: Kintetsu to Nishinokyo, 1 minute - Coordinates: 34.66836, 135.78431 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **680** — the year Emperor Tenmu founded the temple (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **East Pagoda** — the only surviving ancient building (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **1976** — the year the Golden Hall was rebuilt (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **1 million** — copied sutras funded the hall's rebuilding (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **Hosso** — the Buddhist school of which Yakushi-ji is the head temple (source: en.wikipedia) - **Yakushi** — the Healing Buddha — the temple's main image (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **¥1,000** — entry, cash only (source: yakushiji.or.jp) - **UNESCO** — Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (source: en.wikipedia) ## What is Yakushi-ji? **Yakushi-ji** is the head temple of the **Hosso** school of Buddhism, in the Nishinokyo area of western Nara. According to the official site, Emperor **Tenmu** founded it in **680** to pray for the recovery of his consort, the future Empress Jito. The temple is dedicated to **Yakushi**, the Healing Buddha. Of the ancient buildings only the **East Pagoda**, a National Treasure, survives. The other halls were rebuilt from scratch: in 1968 the head priest began raising donations through **sutra copying**, and by 1976, when a million scrolls had been collected, a new **Golden Hall** was complete. The West Pagoda, cloister and lecture hall were then rebuilt to the old plans. > **Bring cash** Tickets at Yakushi-ji are sold for cash only — cards and PayPay aren't accepted. The monks don't give tours, but you can book a volunteer guide in advance through the Nara City Tourism Association. You can also copy a sutra yourself at the temple — the tradition that helped rebuild it. ## Tickets and hours According to the official site, the temple opens **9:00 to 17:00**, with last entry at 16:30. A regular ticket is **¥1,000** for adults, ¥600 for students aged 13–18 and ¥200 for younger children. It covers the **Golden Hall**, the Great Lecture Hall and the Toindo hall. At certain times of year other parts of the temple open, such as the Genjo Sanzoin complex dedicated to the travelling monk Xuanzang, and an extended ticket is sold. Seeing all the halls takes more than an hour. ## What to see - **The East Pagoda** — the temple's ancient building. - **The West Pagoda** — a vermilion reconstruction. - **The Golden Hall** with the bronze Yakushi triad. - **The Great Lecture Hall**, Daikodo. - **The Toindo hall** with its Kannon statue. - **The Genjo complex** — on opening days. ## How to get to Yakushi-ji 1. **Kintetsu** — from Kintetsu-Nara to Yamato-Saidaiji, change to the Kashihara line for Nishinokyo; about 15 minutes in all. 2. **From Nishinokyo station** — about 1 minute on foot to the north entrance. 3. **Bus** — from JR and Kintetsu Nara to the stop by the temple's south car park. 4. **From Kyoto** — Kintetsu to Yamato-Saidaiji, then one stop. 5. **To Toshodai-ji** — 10–15 minutes on foot north. ## Yakushi-ji or Todai-ji | | Yakushi-ji | Todai-ji | | --- | --- | --- | | Highlight | Pagodas and the Healing Buddha | The Great Buddha | | Where | Western Nara, 5 km | Nara Park | | Entry | ¥1,000, cash | ¥800 | | Crowds | Few | Many | ## How long do you need? Allow **1–1.5 hours** for Yakushi-ji. It's almost always paired with neighbouring **Toshodai-ji**, also a UNESCO site, 10–15 minutes' walk from the north entrance. Together they make half a day. The temple is away from Nara Park, so there are no deer and no crowds. It's easy to come in the morning, see Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji, and return to the centre for Todai-ji after lunch. ## Is Yakushi-ji worth visiting? Yes, if you're interested in architecture: its two pagodas — one ancient and dark, one rebuilt and vermilion — show how the temple looked 1,300 years ago and how it looks now. The YesGo take: the rebuilt halls are bright and new, which some find too 'fresh'. But the bronze Yakushi triad is among Japan's most beautiful statues, and it's far calmer here than in the centre. If you have one day in Nara, start with Todai-ji; with two, add Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji. Notice the contrast between the two pagodas: the East Pagoda has darkened with age, while the West Pagoda, rebuilt to the same plans, gleams vermilion and white. Standing between them, it's easy to picture the temple in the Nara period. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] ¥1,000 in cash - [ ] Last entry 16:30 - [ ] Toshodai-ji on the route - [ ] Change at Yamato-Saidaiji - [ ] Comfortable shoes ## Nara temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Nara rated by YesGo. - [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800 - [Kofuku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kofuku-ji) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 - [Kasuga Taisha](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kasuga-taisha) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700 - [Yakushi-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/yakushi-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥1,000 - [Horyu-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/horyu-ji) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,000 ## Western Nara in half a day The pagodas of Yakushi-ji in the morning, then the Heijo Palace site, and Todai-ji's Great Buddha after lunch. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Yakushi-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/yakushi-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥1,000 2. [Heijo Palace Site](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/heijo-palace) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free 3. [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800 ## Good to know Yakushi-ji in Nara is not the Shimotsuke Yakushi-ji ruins in Tochigi or other temples of the same name. It is also written Yakushiji. ## Tips - Cash only. - Last entry 16:30. - Compare the two pagodas. - Toshodai-ji is 10–15 minutes away. - Next: [Heijo Palace](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/heijo-palace). ## Questions ### How much is entry to Yakushi-ji? ¥1,000 for adults, ¥600 for ages 13–18, ¥200 for younger children. ### What are the opening hours? 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. ### Can I pay by card? No, cash only. ### What survives from ancient times? The East Pagoda; the other halls were rebuilt in the 20th century. ### How do I get there? Kintetsu to Nishinokyo station, then 1 minute on foot. ### What's nearby? Toshodai-ji temple, 10–15 minutes on foot. ### How long do you need? 1–1.5 hours; half a day with Toshodai-ji. ### Who is the temple dedicated to? Yakushi, the Healing Buddha. ## How we checked Hours, prices, payment and the history of founding and rebuilding are from the temple's official site; we don't describe how the ancient halls were lost. The school and UNESCO are from Wikipedia. The Kintetsu change is from guides. ## Sources - Temple official site (yakushiji.or.jp/en) — hours, prices, payment, founding, rebuilding, route to Toshodai-ji (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Yakushi-ji — Hosso school, UNESCO - Travel guides — the Kintetsu change (unofficial) - Wikidata Q945913 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.