Visit Nara

In stark contrast to the area around Kintetsu Nara Station and the western approach to Nara Park, the neighborhood to the south of the park is much quieter and more residential. It is ideal for languid exploration and is dotted with small temples, shrines and local cafes and eateries.

Fukuin is one of several charmingly understated temples in the area. While the grounds and the main hall of worship may not have the same wow factor as those of blockbuster temples like Todaiji, the temple has interestingly made a name for itself as a temple of love. It attracts people looking for love, unhappy lovers looking for ways out of unfulfilling relationships, and lovelorn sorts seeking to mend their broken hearts.

The unusual connection to romance and lost love can be traced back to the 1930’s when a troubled former geisha with a colorful past sought refuge in the temple. She had fled back to her hometown of Nara from Osaka to escape the latest in a string of failed relationships. Having chopped off her little finger for her lover at the age of 16, followed her first husband to New York, and suffered two failed marriages by her early thirties, Teruha turned to religion and sought guidance from a monk at Fukuin. In 1935, at the age of 39 she entered the priesthood becoming a Buddhist nun at Gio-ji Temple in Kyoto.

If your love life needs a little divine intervention or if you simply want to express thanks for finding the love of your life, Fukuin is a tranquil place to do it.

The temple is a short walk from Kasugataisha Shrine and just minutes away from the uber-contemporary Nara City Museum of Photography.