Taimadera

Taimadera in Katsuragi, Nara, was founded in the 7th century and is home to the Taima Mandala, a tapestry said to have been woven in a single night by Princess Chujo with the help of a celestial being. The temple's twin pagodas date from the Nara period and are among the oldest surviving wooden structures in the country. Peonies bloom spectacularly in late April, and cherry blossoms line the hillside approach in early spring. The Princess Chujo legend adds a layer of romantic mythology to an already atmospheric site, and the combination of genuine ancient architecture, seasonal flowers, and folk story makes Taimadera one of the more rewarding temple visits in Nara Prefecture.