Daianji

One of the seven great temples of ancient Nara — a quiet site off the tourist trail with deep roots in the early history of Japanese Buddhism.

Daian-ji is a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara and one of the "Seven Great Temples of the Southern Capital" (Nanto Shichi Daiji). During the Nara period, when the city served as Japan's capital, Daian-ji was among the most important religious sites in the country and received direct imperial patronage. Today only a few original structures survive — but this very stillness and simplicity makes a visit particularly rewarding. The temple lies off Nara's main tourist routes and offers an undisturbed encounter with early Japanese Buddhism.