Muroji Temple

Deep in the mountains south of Nara, Muroji has welcomed women since the Kamakura period, earning it the name 'Women's Koya' as an alternative to the male-only temple complex at Mt. Koya. The site has been sacred since ancient times, when emperors sent messengers to pray to the Dragon God said to live in a cave on Mt. Muro. Among the National Treasures here are statues of the Eleven-Headed Kannon and the Shakyamuni Buddha, the Kondo Hall, and one of Japan's oldest five-story pagodas. The grounds are surrounded by lush forest that brightens with cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, and maple leaves depending on the season.