Nara

At the heart of Abe Monju-in is its National Treasure, the magnificent statue of Monju Bosatsu, created by the celebrated sculptor Kaikei. Its refined details, graceful expression, and extraordinary beauty can leave you quietly mesmerized.

JASTA can arrange a private after-hours experience here, including matcha tea and a personal conversation with the head priest. Guests are the invited to enter a normally restricted room where the National Treasure is enshrined and experience a private prayer by the priest followed by a digital-free meditation.
For those seeking a deeper experience, it is a rare opportunity to step away from the modern world and reset the mind.

Founded in 686, Hasedera has watched over this mountain for more than 1,300 years. Known as the “Temple of Flowers,” its gardens reveal a different beauty with every season.
Far from the crowds of central Nara, the temple’s famous stage opens onto a magnificent landscape of mountains, changing colors, birdsong, and silence.

For early risers, an especially profound experience awaits. Each morning, monks gather for a prayer ceremony that has continued for more than a thousand years. Their voices rise and fall almost like a song, filling the temple with an atmosphere that feels beyond time.
Afterwards, guests may have the rare opportunity to encounter the temple’s National Treasure Kannon statue, touch and receive its spiritual blessing.

Founded in 607, Horyu-ji is home to the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures and was the first site in Japan to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Passing beneath the great gate and along the pine-lined approach, the Five-Story Pagoda and the Main Hall gradually reveal themselves, surrounded by priceless Buddhist treasures.
Perhaps the greatest attraction is the atmosphere itself.

Despite its extraordinary importance, Horyu-ji remains relatively quiet due to its distance from the main tourist routes. Walking through its vast grounds, you may find yourself feeling less like a visitor and more like a traveler who has somehow stepped into ancient Japan.

Toshodaiji Temple: Founded by the Chinese monk Ganjin, who brought Buddhist precepts, herbal medicine knowledge, architecture, and advanced artistic techniques to Japan. The temple houses numerous National Treasures.

Heijo Palace Site: The vast remains of Japan’s ancient capital, modeled after Chang’an, the capital of Tang China. This was once the political heart of Japan before the capital moved to Kyoto.

Yoshino: Home to around 30,000 cherry trees, Yoshino is one of Japan’s most celebrated sakura destinations. It is also deeply connected to Shugendo, the ancient tradition of mountain asceticism.

Imai-cho: A remarkably preserved historic town where around 70% of the buildings retain their Edo-period appearance, offering a glimpse into everyday life from centuries ago.

The name Auberge de SENVIE combines French words, SEN-the senses, and VIE-life. It expresses a wish for guests to experience the richness of this land through all five senses: its water, soil, fresh local ingredients, and the history woven into them.

Inside, the warmth of Yoshino cedar ceilings and softly glowing Yoshino cypress lighting creates a refined yet understated atmosphere—quiet, elegant, and deeply connected to Nara’s natural heritage.
Every room opens onto a private terrace, where birdsong accompanies views of tranquil countryside and the changing seasons of the landscape.
Here, time seems to slow.
Away from the noise of everyday life, surrender yourself to the gentle rhythm of Sakurai and rediscover the simple richness of being alive.