Gardens in Nara Prefecture

is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admired Tang dynasty. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE. The temple has undergone several reconstructions, including one initiated by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1181 (entrusted to Chogen, a monk of the Jodo sect) which included the standardization of existing buildings and the strengthening of visible pillars. Since then, one of the

thumb|View of Isui-en Garden during early fall, towards the Nandaimon gate, and hills of Nara thumb|One of the tea houses thumb|A path through the garden moss

thumb|right|300px|Two-storey Mon (architecture)|gate of 1468, an Important Cultural Property thumb|right|300px|Kasugadō and Hakusandō Shinto shrine|shrines (1277/8), both National Treasures thumb|right|300px|Paradise gardens of the late-Heian period, a Place of Scenic Beauty thumb|right|300px|Dainichi Nyorai (Enjō-ji)|Dainichi Nyorai by [[Unkei (1176), a National Treasure]] thumb|right|300px|Honden of [[Ugajin, Kamakura period, an Important Cultural Property]]

botanical garden in Nara, Nara, Japan