Tsubosaka-dera Temple

The Temple of Eye Health

Glancing out the train window on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line at the right time (between Asuka and Tsubosakayama Stations to be exact) your attention will be captured by a giant white marble standing Buddha statue on the slope of a mountain. Make the trek to the temple for a closer look and you will be forgiven for losing yourself in its size and grandeur. This statue is in fact a gesture of gratitude from the Indian government for the temple's efforts in leprosy patient relief activities conducted in India since 1964. Made from ancient stone and known as "The Tenjiku Torai Great Kannon Statue," it was completed in March 1983, stands at approximately 20 meters tall and weighs a total of 1,200 tons.

Tsubosaka-dera Temple

"Tsubosaka-dera", literally “Jar on the Mountainside Temple,” was founded in 703 and like all temples of this age with strange and unique names, has an intriguing story surrounding its origin. A Buddhist ascetic, Benki Shami, established a hermitage on the temple’s site in 703. One night while he was reciting his evening prayers, Shami supposedly heard a beautiful voice chanting the Senju darani Buddhist scripture along with him. When he went to investigate, Shami saw an intense blue light emanating from the ground at the point where the voice seemed to be coming from. The next day Shami dug in the spot where he saw the light and uncovered a golden thousand-armed Senju Kannon Buddha Statue in a lapis lazuli jar (the jar on the mountainside). Shami enshrined the statue in his hermitage and began praying to it himself and with those who came seeking his services.

Many years later, after Benki Shami’s popularity had grown due to his reputation of deep wisdom and healing abilities, Shami was summoned to the Imperial Palace to provide care for the Empress who had gone blind from an eye disease. The story goes that Benki Shami placed his prayer beads over the Empress’s eyes and recited the same Senju darani scripture he had heard on the night he discovered the Senju Kannon. Miraculously, the Empress’s eyesight was cured and she rewarded Shami by commissioning the construction of Tsubosaka-dera Temple and enshrining the Senju Kannon in the Hakkaden Octagonal Hall in 717.

At least two more legends are associated with the Tsubosaka-dera Temple, but because of the power of the first one, Tsubosaka-dera became known as the Temple of Eye Health. More recently though, it’s been fighting leprosy in India. The 3 white marble Buddhas, the bas relief wall showing the life of the Buddha, and the Tenjikutorai Daiseki-do Hall were all carved in India as a gesture of gratitude for the support given by Tsubosaka-dera Temple.

The Tenjikutorai Daiseki-do Hall is a magnificent stone sanctuary modeled after India's Ajanta Caves, sculpted and assembled by a total of 120,000 people from Japan and India, with a total weight of 1,500 tons. The combination of the Indian-made art and architecture and the traditional and ancient Japanese architecture, (including the original Hakkaden Octagonal Hall - refurbished in the Edo period, a 3-story pagoda from 1497 - a National Treasure, and the Niomon Temple Gate (1212) and the Rei-Do Hall (14th century) the oldest structures on the grounds), gives Tsubosaka-dera Temple a mystical and unique feel unmatched by any other temple.

A giant pair of glasses frames (Buddha’s glasses according to the monks), at the base of the 3 story pagoda, adds a sense of humor to the temple. Walking 2 figure-8s through both sides of the glasses is supposed to keep one’s eyes healthy, at least for another year.

Cherry Blossom Season

Tsubosaka-dera Temple has found itself in the spotlight in recent years, thanks to the internet. Social media has turned this serene site into a viral sensation on account of the breathtaking scene of the sakura enveloping the temple’s iconic seated Buddha statue in a soft pink haze.

This massive Buddha statue, often referred to online as "The Sakura Buddha," was unveiled in November 2007. Standing 10 meters tall atop a 5-meter pedestal, it is an impressive sight at any time of year. However, it is during sakura season that its true magic is revealed. A specially designed viewing platform at the temple allows visitors to step out and take in an unobstructed view of the Buddha at eye level. From this vantage point, the statue appears to gaze serenely through the delicate blossoms, creating a scene that feels almost otherworldly.

For those eager to capture this picture-perfect moment, patience is key. During peak cherry blossom season, the viewing platform becomes one of the temple’s most popular attractions, with visitors often waiting up to an hour for their turn. To ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy the experience, the temple requests that each group limit their time on the platform to just a few minutes with no more than 6 people on the platform at a time.

If you’re planning to experience the views from the platform yourself, be prepared for the wait —but it’s well worth it for the chance to witness this unforgettable blend of nature and artistry.

Getting There Tsubosaka-dera Temple is about 4km from Tsubosakayama Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line just under an hour away from the Nara Visitor Center & Inn. Take the train from Kintetsu Nara Station, change to a Kashihara Jingumae bound train at Yamato Saidaiji Station, and then a Yoshino bound train at Kashihara Jingumae, get off at Tsubosakayama Station, the third stop.

Address: Tsubosaka 3, Takatori, Takaichi District, Nara, 〒635-0102

Hours: 8:30 - 17:00

Phone: 0744-522-016

Official website

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