Hasedera from Hasedera Station: A Quiet Day at Nara's Mountain Temple

This guide covers the way to Hasedera, the covered stairway, the main hall, the pagoda, the seasonal flowers, lunch and the practical details for a day out.

The main hall of Hasedera is a large hall facing south, built in the stage style partway up Mount Ohatsuse. Hasedera is the eighth temple of the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage. Hasedera is a temple of flowers in every season. The sections below follow the route, the buildings, the seasons, a meal and the practical details.

Getting to Hasedera

Hasedera can be reached on foot from Hasedera Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line. From Sakurai Station, served by the Kintetsu Osaka Line and the JR Manyo-Mahoroba Line, the way to Hasedera runs by Nara Kotsu bus and then on foot. From the Nara Kotsu bus stop at the entrance to the approach, the temple is reached on foot.

The table below gives the walk from the station, the walk from the bus stop and the route from Sakurai Station.

From	Route or operator	Time
Hasedera Station to Hasedera	On foot from the Kintetsu Osaka Line station	About 15 minutes
Sakurai Station to Hasedera	Nara Kotsu bus to the approach-entrance stop, then on foot	About 10 minutes on foot from the stop
Approach-entrance bus stop to Hasedera	On foot from the Nara Kotsu bus stop	About 10 minutes

The Covered Stairway and the Main Hall

The covered stairway leading to the main hall is made of stone steps, and oval lanterns hang from its ceiling. The main hall, a stage-style building, is a national treasure and was rebuilt by Tokugawa Iemitsu. Hasedera is the head temple of the Buzan school of Shingon Buddhism.

From the stage, reached by climbing the corridor of Hasedera, the townscape in front of the temple gate of Hatsuse and the layout of the monks' quarters harmonize with the surrounding mountains and trees. The worship hall stands somewhat lower than the main hall. The purification cloths used for wiping the stage are donated.

The Pagoda and the Seasons at Hasedera

The pagoda has a vermilion body, a golden finial and a brown cypress-bark roof. The precinct has weeping cherry trees, yamazakura and somei-yoshino among its cherry trees. Peonies at Hasedera spread leaves so large that the ground cannot be seen, and they bloom with a fragrant scent. The flowers of the precinct change with the season.

In June, when the rainy-season rain gives vitality to the green of the mountains, the hydrangea corridor begins. Pots of chrysanthemums of various kinds are set out on the stone steps of the precinct. Straw-covered winter peonies are in the precinct.

The precinct also has its services in winter. At the Kannon lamp service, lamp lights are offered to Kannon. At the Dadaoshi service, demons holding torches rampage around. The table at the end of this guide lists the dates of these events.

Lunch Near the Temple

Hatsuse Choja-tei serves a Choja lunch and coffee. Another dining room serves lunch. The table below lists the prices and times of the places for a meal.

Place and item	Price or times
Hatsuse Choja-tei, Choja lunch	1200 yen
Hatsuse Choja-tei, opening hours	9:00 to 16:00, closed on Tuesdays
Another dining room, lunch price	1000 yen to 1500 yen
Another dining room, lunch served	10:00 to 14:00
Kusa-mochi shop, pack of six	780 yen
Kusa-mochi shop, pack of ten	1300 yen
Kusa-mochi shop, opening hours	8:00 to 18:00

A shop sells kusa-mochi in packs of different sizes. The shop keeps its own times, given in the table above.

Hours and Fees, and Planning the Day

It helps to settle the order of the stops before the day begins, using the tables below. Check the times before you travel.

Part of the day	Stop or leg	Duration or hours
Arrive	Hasedera Station to Hasedera, on foot	About 15 minutes
Arrive	Approach-entrance bus stop to Hasedera, on foot	About 10 minutes
Visit	Hasedera entry hours, April to September	8:30 to 17:00
Visit	Hasedera entry hours, October to November and March	9:00 to 17:00
Visit	Morning service at the main hall	Every day except January 1
Lunch	Opening hours of Hatsuse Choja-tei	9:00 to 16:00, closed on Tuesdays
Lunch	Lunch served at the other dining room	10:00 to 14:00
Head back	Hasedera entry hours, December to February	9:00 to 16:30

Item	Price
Hasedera entry, adults	500 yen
Hasedera entry, junior and senior high school students	500 yen
Hasedera entry, elementary school students	250 yen
Hasedera entry, with a disability certificate	250 yen
Main hall viewing, national treasure	1000 yen, with the entrance fee charged separately
Parking at Hasedera, ordinary car	500 yen

Event	Dates and times
Kannon lamp service, dates	December 31 to January 1
Dadaoshi service, date	February 14
Dadaoshi service, start time	16:00
Main hall viewing, national treasure, autumn dates	October 10 to December 6

If you are planning an overnight stay, see places to stay in Kashihara.