Takabatake in Nara (Shiga Naoya’s Former Residence)

We went to Takabatake-Cho in Nara-City. The place is near “Kasuga Taisha” Shrine. A Shiga Naoya’s former residence, and many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are there. In ancient times, many “Negi (senior priests of a Shinto shrine)” who worked for “Kasuga Taisha” Shrine lived there.

First, we went to “Nanto-Kagami” Shrine. This shrine was founded for protecting “Shin-Yakushiji” Temple.

Then, we went to “Shin-Yakushiji” Temple.

The precincts of “Shin-Yakushiji” Temple.

The building you can see in the background is the “Hondo (a main hall)” of the temple.

This is the exterior of the “Hondo.”

In the main hall, there is a wooden seated statue of “Yakushi Nyorai (薬師如来* or Bhaisajyaguru)” with the deities of the sun and the moon. The “Yakushi Nyorai” statue is 191 cm in height. It is the “Honzon (the principal image) of the “Shin-Yakushiji” Temple. The “Yakushi Nyorai” is surrounded by standing statues of “12 Shinsho (十二神将**) or Twelve Heavenly Generals” having a height of about 152 to 166 cm.

*Yakushi Nyorai (薬師如来)

**12 Shinsho (十二神将)

 

Leaving the “Shin-Yakushiji” Temple, we went to “Fukuin” Temple, which is a temple of “Shingon Risshu” of esoteric Buddhism.

When you put your foot on a stone on which a temple name is written, it’s been decided that you’ll get into visiting the temple written on the stone.

This is a road leading to Shiga Naoya’s house. There were deer, the place was apart from “Kasuga Taisha” Shrine, though.

A wooden art object made by a neighbor.

We reached the Shiga Naoya‘s former residence. While he lived in this house, many writers and artists visited the house, and the house was also called “Takabatake Salon” from the name of its neighborhood. The house has been preserved, and is open to the public as a memorial museum.

This is the entrance gate.

A road from the gate to the entrance.

The exterior of the house looking up from the road.

The entrance and the entrance hall.

Framed calligraphs at the entrance, representing “Naoya’s Residence.”

Scenery looking from the second floor.

Various Japanese or Western-style rooms in the house.

A study.

A dining room.

A Japanese-style room.

A nursery.

The house had many excellent rooms, but the garden was so wonderful!

The garden viewed from the rooms.

We went out into the garden.

A fence dividing the garden.

An alley in the garden.

The house is a splendid house with a somewhat familiar atmosphere!