Futai-ji Temple

Futaiji Temple in Nara was founded in 847 by Ariwara no Narihira, one of the Heian period's most celebrated figures, remembered for his waka poetry and romantic reputation. The wooden Kannon statue enshrined in the main hall is said to have been carved by Narihira himself. Three main structures remain from the Kamakura period: the pagoda, the southern gate, and the main hall. The temple's grounds contain around 500 species of plants and flowers, making it a green and quietly active place across all seasons. The land has ties to Emperor Heizei, who withdrew here after a failed attempt to reclaim the throne in 810.