Set in the land of beginnings with a history spanning 1,300 years, Gangoji is a National Treasure and World Heritage Site of Nara.

Temple buildings and temple grounds map

Within the old Gangoji temple area, a part of the priests’ living quarters and auditorium still remains, and they were called Gangoji Gokuraku-bo in the Middle Ages, and Nanto Gokuraku-in in modern times.
Also, the remains of the Gangoji tower (the base of the Todaito-in five-storied pagoda and the Shoto-in small tower (part of Nishi Shoto-in) were recognized by the nation. However, much of the remains are under the streets and private homes. Furthermore, the one cornerstone of the belfry and three cornerstones of the auditorium were transported from the excavation sites to a separate place for preservation.
Futoden (tombstones and stone Buddhist images), which was refurbished in 1988, was deified in connection with the tomb by the Daijo-in Monzeki at Gangoji. From the Middle Ages through the Edo Era, there were 1,500 Buddhist stoneworks here. Every year on August 23 and 24, a Jizo-e memorial service is held with 10,000 votive candles on small plates dedicated to Jizo-son. It’s a festival that symbolizes the end of summer in Naramachi.

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