Hase-dera in Sakurai is a mountainside ‘temple of flowers’ reached by a long covered stone stairway (noborro) lined with lanterns. Famous for 7,000 peonies in late April and blazing maples in autumn, it also enshrines a towering 10-metre wooden Kannon.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Hase, Sakurai, Nara |
| Hours | 8:30–17:00 (seasonal) |
| Admission | ¥500 |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | Peonies (late Apr–early May); autumn leaves |
What to See
- The covered stairway (noborro) of 399 steps, beautiful in any season.
- The main hall on stilts with a broad valley-view veranda, like a smaller Kiyomizu-dera.
- The giant 10 m Kannon, one of Japan’s largest wooden statues.
- 7,000 peonies in spring and maples in November.
Combine Your Visit
- Visit the sacred mountain shrine nearby — Omiwa Shrine guide .
- See autumn foliage at Tanzan Shrine .
- More blooms in our Nara nature guide .
Getting There
- From Kintetsu: Kintetsu Osaka Line to Hasedera Station, then ~15 min uphill walk.
- From Nara city: ~40–50 min via Yamato-Yagi or Sakurai.
Tips
Peony season (late April) is stunning but busy — arrive early, and don’t skip the covered stairway.
