Gango-ji

元興寺

Roof tiles carried over from Asuka still sit on top

Hours

9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Tickets

Adults ¥500

Address

Nakain-chō, Nara

A UNESCO-listed temple right inside the Naramachi lanes. The roofs of its main hall and Zen hall still carry some of Japan's oldest tiles, giving a patchwork of red and dark grey. Small stone Buddhas fill the grounds and it rarely feels crowded. It is an easy stop in the middle of a Naramachi walk.