Places of Interest


View ACM MM 2012: Cultural sites close to the venue in a larger map

World Heritage Sites

Todaiji Temple (東大寺)
Todaiji Temple, known for its “Daibutsu-san,” or Great Buddha, is a representative temple in Nara, with an imposing appearance of the largest wooden structure in the world. (15 minutes’ walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or 5minuts’ walk from the bus stop Daibutsuden Kasuga Taisha Mae of Loop Line Bus of the city)

Kofukuji Temple (興福寺)
The Kofukuji Temple is one of the seven biggest temples of Nara, which has developed through the closest relationship with the town of Nara. You can see many national treasures including the standing dry lacquered figure of “Ashura.” (5 minutes’ walk from Kintetsu Nara Station)

Kasuga Taisha Shrine (春日大社)
The Shrine lies in a primeval forest of cedars and a kind of Chinese black pines. The brilliant vermillon edifices are beautifully contrasted with their surrounding greenery.
(10 minutes’ walk from the bus stop Kasuga Taisha Omote Sando of Loop Line Bus of the city)

Yakushiji Temple (薬師寺)
Two three-storied pagodas (the East Pagoda and the West Pagoda) are placed centering around the Golden Hall (Main Hall) and Lecture Hall. The arrangement of the temple buildings is so unique that the style of this temple is called “Yakushiji Style”. (1 minutes’ walk from Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station)

Horyuji Temple (法隆寺)
The temple is the world’s oldest wooden structures and it has over 2,300 national treasures and important properties. This was the first location in Japan to be designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (20 minutes’ walk from JR Horyuji Station)

Events

Shosoin Exhibition (正倉院展)
Shosoin is a repository for treasures, in which cultural artifacts that were brought to Japan over the Silk Road from Persia, India, and China in the 8th century are housed. Some of them are displayed at Shosoin Exhibition held every autumn at Nara National Museum. In this year, Shosoin Exhibition will be held from October 27th to November 12th. (Nara National Museum is 10 minutes’ walk from the main conference venue)

Further Information:

The followings are the sightseeing brochures for 17 countries and regions produced by Nara prefecture. The relationship between each country/region and Nara prefecture is also presented in each brochure.