"Why didn't anyone tell me...?" The moment I stood at Okadera Temple, those words came out of my mouth without me thinking🇯🇵✈️🌏

Nara is famous for Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, but the place that really moves you is more quietly located. That place is Okadera, Japan's oldest sacred place for warding off evil spirits. It is not a flashy tourist spot, but it has a "special power" that gently embraces the hearts of those who visit. In this article, we will introduce five reasons why you should visit Okadera, as well as some interesting trivia that you will want to share with others. Read on and you will want to go and experience the quiet emotion. 1. Feel your heart lighten at Japan's oldest sacred place for warding off evil spirits. Okadera is known as "Japan's first sacred place for warding off evil spirits," and is a place where many people have offered prayers since ancient times. The restlessness and anxiety in your heart will mysteriously be eased. 💡 It is said to be the "temple where warding off evil spirits originated," and there is a constant stream of worshippers from all over the country who come to ward off evil spirits. 2. Be overwhelmed by the impressive "largest clay Buddha statue in Japan." The seated Nyoirin Kannon statue enshrined in the main hall is one of the largest clay statues in Japan. You will be left speechless by its beauty and presence. 💡It is 4.85 meters tall. There is no other clay Buddha statue as large as this. 3. The charm of the temple as a "flower temple" where flowers of every season decorate the grounds. Rhododendrons in spring, hydrangeas in early summer, and autumn leaves in autumn. Okadera is also known as the "flower temple," and you can feel the breath of nature whenever you visit. 💡The rhododendron season from April to May is particularly impressive. More than 3,000 rhododendrons bloom in the grounds. 4. A "silent journey" where your mind becomes quieter with each stone step. To reach Okadera, you will climb stone steps that resemble a mountain path. In the silence and the scent of nature, you will feel your mind becoming empty. 💡 Okadera, built on the slope of a mountain, features a special approach that makes you feel like you are walking a "path of training." 5. There are few people. So you can really face yourself. Unlike famous tourist spots, Okadera is always quiet. That's why you can take a deep breath in a noise-free space and hear your own voice clearly. 💡 Okadera, located in the Asuka area, is a sacred place that is "known only to those in the know" among history fans. ⸻ If you're a little tired from touring the tourist spots, Okadera is the place for you. Its silence and majesty will give you a "landscape of the heart" that you will want to remember again and again. #EnjoyJapan #Nara #DomesticTravel