Sakurai, Nara

Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture is home to historic temples and shrines including Omiwa Shrine, one of Japan's oldest shrines, Hasedera Temple famous for its peonies, Tanzan Shrine known for autumn colors, and Abe Monjuin Temple dedicated to the god of learning. This ancient city appears in Japan's oldest historical chronicles, the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.