Why this ride
A 130 km round trip from Kashihara-shi - roughly 2 h 31 in the saddle. It goes by way of Kôfuku-ji, Daigo-ji and back through Kôfuku-ji. It was put together for the scenery rather than the shortest line.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site and Daigo-ji
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 130 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 31
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
Hinokuma lies on the western edge of the Asuka district, where the land begins to rise toward the Katsuragi and Kongō mountains. The name appears in early records connected with the imperial family and the old clans, and a temple, Hinokuma-dera, once stood here, close to the tombs of rulers of the sixth and seventh centuries.
Read the complete Hinokuma-dera Temple Site write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site is where the day begins. Next is Kôfuku-ji.
2. Kôfuku-ji
In the early eighth century, when Nara became Japan's first permanent capital, the powerful Fujiwara clan moved their family temple here, and Kofuku-ji became one of the great temples of the city, wealthy enough to maintain its own warrior monks. Its five storey pagoda, rebuilt in the fifteenth century after one of several fires, is the second tallest wooden pagoda in Japan and a symbol of Nara, reflected in the Sarusawa pond below. The Central Golden Hall was rebuilt and reopened in 2018, and the National Treasure Museum holds the famous statue of Ashura, a three faced, six armed guardian with a strikingly human expression. Kofuku-ji is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara World Heritage Site. The pagoda is undergoing a long restoration and may be wrapped in scaffolding when you visit.
Read the complete Kôfuku-ji write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Kôfuku-ji comes up about 29 km into the recorded legs. Next is Daigo-ji.
3. Daigo-ji
The oldest building in Kyoto does not stand in the city centre but in the southeastern hills, at the temple of Daigo-ji: a five storey pagoda completed in 951, which has survived fires, earthquakes and wars that destroyed almost everything else of its age in the city. The temple was founded in the ninth century on Mount Daigo, and its grounds spread from the foot of the mountain to the summit, linked by a steep path, with halls, gardens and sub temples along the way. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.
Read the complete Daigo-ji write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 64 km into the recorded legs you reach Daigo-ji. Next is back through Kôfuku-ji.
4. back through Kôfuku-ji
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Kôfuku-ji write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Kôfuku-ji, late in the day. Next is Hinokuma-dera Temple Site.
5. Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Hinokuma-dera Temple Site write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Hinokuma-dera Temple Site. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site to Kôfuku-ji
Hinokuma-dera Temple Site → Kôfuku-ji is 29 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Kôfuku-ji to Daigo-ji
Kôfuku-ji → Daigo-ji is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Daigo-ji to back through Kôfuku-ji
Daigo-ji → back through Kôfuku-ji is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Kôfuku-ji to Hinokuma-dera Temple Site
back through Kôfuku-ji → Hinokuma-dera Temple Site is 30 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.