Nata-dera, Buddhist temple in Komatsu, Japan
Nata-dera is a Buddhist temple in Komatsu built into limestone caves and cliffs on a mountainside. The compound spreads across multiple levels with gardens, stone formations, and buildings embedded in the natural surroundings.
A monk founded the site in 717 and brought religious teachings to the region. Wars damaged the compound later, until a local ruling family rebuilt it in the early 17th century.
The name comes from a Sanskrit root linking the site to a deity figure in old Buddhist tradition. Visitors today see statues with multiple arms and faces standing in the halls and caves, carved from wood by local craftsmen.
You can reach the temple by car in about 30 minutes from the Komatsu highway exit. Access is available daily between morning and afternoon, with paths leading across multiple levels where sturdy footwear helps.
A statue with a thousand arms remains hidden behind closed doors almost always and is shown to the public only once every 33 years. The last opportunity was in 2017, when the site marked its 1300th year of existence.
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