[2024 Sakurai Attraction] Travel Guide for Nara Hase-dera (Updated Dec)
Temples
Address:
731-1 Hase, Sakurai, Nara 633-0112, Japan
Opening times:
Open today at 9:00-17:00Opening Soon
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
Phone:
+81 744-47-7001
Nara Hasedera: Hasedera Cafe
Hasedera is the head temple of the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism, located in Hatsuse, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture.
The building called 'Gachirin-in,' located halfway up the stairs from the Niomon Gate, has been turned into a cafe.
We took a break here during our visit.
It was a beautiful spot with a view of the mountains and the temple grounds adorned with red and yellow maple leaves.
While enjoying the beautiful scenery, we had a seasonal oden. It came with 'Kobo tea and persimmon leaf sushi (mackerel and salmon),' allowing us to savor Nara's specialties, which was very satisfying.
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Spot Information
📍 This is a seasonal cafe. Please check SNS for more details.
📍 Kimono rental and dressing experience are also available.
makaji
Memories of the 80s: A Day Trip to Kamakura
As a child, I was fascinated by Kamakura while watching 'Slam Dunk'. Growing up, I finally had the chance to relive those classic moments. Visiting Kamakura in the summer to find the youthful memories of my student days.
📆Itinerary: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu - Kamakura High School Front - Great Buddha of Kamakura - Hasedera Temple - Shichirigahama
🚗Transportation Guide: Take the JR from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station, or take the Odakyu Enoshima Line from Shinjuku Station to Fujisawa Station, then transfer to the Enoshima Electric Railway to each stop.
🌟Highlights:
✅Tsurugaoka Hachimangu: The business card of Kamakura, about a 15-minute walk from Kamakura Station. The appearance is similar to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Taisha, with a majestic main hall and a constant stream of visitors.
✅Great Buddha of Kamakura: A must-visit spot that you might regret not visiting, but also might regret visiting 😂 It's just a Buddha statue with nothing else around. In terms of grandeur, the Leshan Giant Buddha is far superior.
✅Hasedera Temple: Filming location for the drama 'Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi'. It's recommended to book in advance during the hydrangea season. The observation deck in the temple offers a panoramic view of Kamakura.
✅Kamakura High School Front: This station is incredibly photogenic, especially when the green train passes by, almost perfectly recreating the classic scene from the ending theme.
✅Shichirigahama: Filming location for the movie 'Our Little Sister'. The waves are gentle, and walking on the beach, the shimmering sea looks like twinkling stars, very healing.
💰Average Expenses:
Enoshima Electric Railway one-day pass 🎫 800 yen
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Treasure Hall 🎫 600 yen
Hasedera Temple 🎫 400 yen
Kimono rental 🎫 6000-10000 yen
📌Travel Tips:
⭕️You can experience wearing a kimono/yukata when traveling to Kamakura, but be prepared for the heat as summer in Japan is extremely hot, even a thin yukata can feel very stuffy.
⭕️Kamakura High School is about a ten-minute walk from the station. Due to the large number of visitors, the school is currently not open to the public, so you can only take pictures from a distance.
⭕️The best time to view hydrangeas is from late June to early July. If you come too early, you won't be able to see the sea of flowers. However, Hasedera Temple is still very photogenic after the rain, with lush greenery everywhere, very beautiful.
⭕️Kamakura's shopping street is quite lively, with plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment. I found a large Ghibli specialty store here, with lots of items inside, and the Totoro at the entrance is also great for photos.
⭕️Kamakura has many specialties, among which the most famous is the pigeon cookie. I bought two boxes to try. Personally, I found the taste to be average, so don't have too high expectations.