Yūga Shrine

Yūga Shrine is a temple whose main hall houses a central statue of Yakushi Nyorai standing about 191 centimeters tall. It is surrounded by twelve figures of divine generals arranged in varied poses throughout the space.

The shrine was founded in 747 when Empress Komyo ordered its construction to pray for Emperor Shomu's recovery from illness. The statues inside date from the 730s and 740s and are now designated as national treasures.

The shrine displays twelve divine generals positioned around the main statue, each showing distinct expressions and stances that visitors can observe today. Together they create a varied group that represents different protective forces.

The temple can be reached by bus from either JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station, with the journey taking about 13 minutes. The Takabatakecho bus stop is very close to the shrine entrance.

The temple's name contains the character 'Shin', indicating it is newer than the famous Great Yakushiji temple. Despite being built within a similar time period in the 8th century, the two sites differ greatly in how widely known they are today.

Location: Takabatakechō

Address: 奈良県奈良市高畑町1059

GPS coordinates: 34.67892,135.83569

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05