Kitayama Jūhakken-do, Historic leper colony in Nara, Japan.
Kitayama Jūhakken-do is a medieval care facility in Nara with multiple buildings that served patients with leprosy. The grounds contain structures that held isolation areas and spaces for medical treatment during that period.
Founded in 1243 by Buddhist monk Ninshō, this facility became one of Japan's leading care centers. Its establishment marked a turning point in medieval healthcare and how institutions approached patient care.
This place shows how religious communities took in and cared for people facing stigma and isolation during medieval times. Such sites shaped how people thought about responsibility toward those suffering from illness.
The site is best explored through guided tours that explain the medical and social aspects of the facility. It helps to prepare for a quiet walkthrough since you will be seeing various areas of the historic buildings.
The facility enforced strict separation rules where even people who tested negative for leprosy lived under the same conditions as infected patients. This system reveals how early medicine struggled with diagnosis and treatment challenges.
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