Kamakura

Todaiji's Founder's Hall for its first abbot Rōben: a pure Great Buddha-style core of 1200, enlarged in 1250, and the portrait statue shown only on 16 December.

Todaiji's Five-Ring Pagoda, an early Kamakura stone gorintō in Kawakamicho apart from the main precinct: how to read its form, what its date means and access notes.

Todaiji's Bell Tower, rebuilt by Eisai around 1207-1210: a Great Buddha-style frame with Zen touches carrying the 26.3-tonne founding-era bell, rung nightly at 8 pm.

Todaiji's Great South Gate, raised in 1199 by Chōgen in the Daibutsu-yō style: 18 full-height pillars, six-tier brackets, the Unkei-Kaikei guardians and free access.

The Akaiya below Todaiji's Nigatsudo, a late Kamakura building over the Wakasai well tapped at the 12 March Omizutori, and its tie to Obama's water-sending.

Todaiji's Nigatsudo Sanrosho, a ten-bay lodging of 1277-1282 tied to the monks of the Shunie retreat: its size, why it is listed and where to see it from.

Todaiji's Nigatsudo Busshoya, an early Kamakura building where offerings for the Nigatsudo are prepared, four centuries older than the hall it serves.

Todaiji's Nenbutsu Hall, a three-bay hall of 1237 enshrining a Jizō carved the same year: its stepped Genroku-era roof, its place on the bell hill and hours.

Todaiji's Hokkedo North Gate, a four-legged gate of 1240 beside the temple's oldest hall: how the form works, its place in the Kamakura rebuilding and how to see it.

Nanmyōji's main hall, near Nara, is a plain late-Kamakura building (1275-1332) sheltering three older Heian-period Buddhas. Designated in 1906; viewing now limited.

A small gabled hall behind the stone pagoda at Hannya-ji in Nara. Repair work revealed an earth floor and an unknown original purpose. Few medieval examples survive.

Granite, about 14.2 metres, raised in Nara in 1253 by a mason from Song China. Four Buddhas cut into the lowest tier, reliquaries sealed inside, cosmos at its foot.

Discover Hannya-ji Romon, a Kamakura-period National Treasure in Nara. This rare 13th-century two-storied gate blends wayō and daibutsuyō styles beside the famed Cosmos Temple.

Discover the Important Cultural Property pagoda of Futai-ji in northern Nara — a Kamakura-era tahōtō surviving at the historic temple founded by the legendary Heian poet Ariwara no Narihira.

The South Gate of Futai-ji Temple in Hōren-chō, Nara City, is a four-legged gate (shikyaku-mon) built in 1317 during the late Kamakura period, as confirmed by its preserved ridge tag. With a gabled tile roof and flanking earthen walls, its bold frog-leg struts and ornate carvings are regarded as forerunners of Momoyama-period gate architecture. Designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1904, the gate stands at the entrance to the temple founded by the Heian poet Ariwara no Narihira. This guide covers the gate’s history, architectural highlights, visitor information, and nearby attractions in northern Nara.

The Horyuji Temple Kaminomido Hall, rebuilt in 1318, houses a Heian Shaka Triad carved from cherry wood and opens only from November 1 to 3 each year.

The Horyuji Temple Saiendo Hall, an octagonal National Treasure rebuilt in 1250, keeps original foundation stones and a dry-lacquer Yakushi. Its February rite.

The Horyuji Temple Sankyoin and West Dormitory, a National Treasure rebuilt in 1231, joins a house-like lecture hall and a monks' dormitory in one 19-bay building.

The Horyuji Temple Shoryoin Hall, a National Treasure of 1284, grew out of the East Dormitory to enshrine Prince Shotoku. Its shrine cabinet and house-like plan.

The Horyuji Temple Shindo Hall, built in 1284, is a three-bay square hall with a rare wood-shingle roof, the oldest of its type at the temple. What to see outside.