Header

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Nigatsudo Hall (二月堂): A Must-Visit Temple in Nara

Nigatsudo Hall (二月堂): A Must-Visit Temple in Nara (YouTube link)

Nigatsudo Hall ⭐⭐, or the Hall of the Second Month, is a beautiful and important Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. It is located on the hillside east of the Daibutsuden Hall (the Great Buddha Hall), and offers stunning views of the city from its balcony.

Nigatsudo Hall is best known for the Omizutori ceremonies, a spectacular fire and water ceremony that is held every year in March. The ceremony is a centuries-old tradition that is said to bring good luck and fortune.

Nigatsudo Hall is open to the public year-round and is free to visit. It is a short walk from the Daibutsuden Hall, and is definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in Japanese culture and history.

I will share my personal experience of visiting Nigatsudo Hall in Nara on December 5, 2016.

Picturesque Street


My Airbnb host, Hiroko, recommended that I walk to Nigatsudo Hall through the quiet and picturesque street that leads to it from the side. The street starts not far from the back of the Daibutsuden Hall, and stone walls flank its sides. At the end of the path, Nigatsudo Hall can be seen up close.



Nigatsudo Hall


Nigatsudo Hall is one of the important structures of Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, The building was designated as a national treasure in December 2005.


Below pictures show the grand views of Nara City from its balcony.




Side Views


On the day of my visit, I actually approached Nigatsudo Hall from another route.  Here are the views from that perspectives.



References

No comments:

Post a Comment