# Chūgū-ji, Japan: what it is and when to go > Chūgū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan (中宮寺). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 18 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chugu-temple/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · Temples - **Local name:** 中宮寺 - **Where:** Japan · 2, 636-0111, 斑鳩町, 奈良県 - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 50 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Jan 10-Mar 20 Mo-Su 09:00-16:00; Mar 21-Sep 30 Mo-Su 09:00-16:00 - **Website:** [chuguji.jp](http://www.chuguji.jp/) - **Coordinates:** 34.61493, 135.73986 ## What it is and where Chūgū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan (中宮寺). It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Nara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nara/), where this site lists 51 more places to see, 12 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 34.61493, 135.73986; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 50 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.614929%2C135.739858) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.614929%2C135.739858) It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Chūgū-ji is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 55 | | February | Best time | 10 h 45 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 53 | | May | Best time | 13 h 49 | | June | Possible | 14 h 18 | | July | Possible | 14 h 06 | | August | Possible | 13 h 18 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 06 | | November | Best time | 10 h 09 | | December | Possible | 9 h 41 | In June there are 14 h 18 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Hōryū-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horyu-ji/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 370 m - [Hōrin-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horinji-temple/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 831 m - [Hokki-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hokiji-temple-hokki-ji-temple/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 1.0 km - [Mount Matsuo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-matsuo/): Mountain in Yamatokōriyama and Ikaruga, Nara prefecture, Japan · 2.7 km - [Hirose Taisha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hirose-taisha-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 2.9 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: Temples - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan - [Ise Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ise-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan - [Kōtoku-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kotoku-in/): Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan - [Byōdō-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/byodo-in/): Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan - [Ginkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ginkaku-ji/): temple in Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan Every Japan place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Chūgū-ji? It is a Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan (中宮寺 in the local language). It has articles in 7 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Chūgū-ji? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 18 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. ### How do you get to Chūgū-ji? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 50 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.614929%2C135.739858) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Hōryū-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horyu-ji/), [Hōrin-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horinji-temple/), [Hokki-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hokiji-temple-hokki-ji-temple/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/43549785), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1091232), CC0. More about Chūgū-ji on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABg%C5%AB-ji). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).