Visit Nara

On Japan’s oldest road, the Yamanobe-no-Michi, stands one of the nation’s oldest Shinto shrines, said to have been founded in AD4 (but probably built about 300 years later).

The main hall is lacquered red, hung with lanterns and surrounded by towering cedar trees. There are roosters wandering freely around the grounds, and popular with visitors.

The shrine is dedicated to Futsu-no-Mitama, a god said to dwell in a legendary sword given to Japan’s first Emperor, Jinmu. The Mononobe clan used the shrine as an armory and there are many ancient weapons here.