Manyo Mahoroba Line for Tenri, Miwa, Sakurai, and Wakayama

The Manyo Mahoroba Line runs between JR Nara Station and Takada Station where it connects with the Wakayama Line. Many through train services on this line continue on the Wakayama Line as far as Wakayama Station. However, the main reason to use this line is to explore some of the historical areas of Nara Prefecture. At Nara Station all trains on the Manyo Mahoroba Line depart from Platform 1. This line is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The original name of this line was the “Sakurai Line,” however, since 2010 signage at JR Nara Station uses the alternative name “Manyo Mahoroba Line”. This new name is a rather romantic reference to the Manyo-shu collection of poetry which was compiled in the Nara period (AD 710 – 794) and is Japan’s oldest poetry collection. The Manyo Mahoroba Line acquired its name because there are many historical landmarks and archaeological remains along this railway line which date from the Nara period.

Manyo Mahoroba Line Stations

There are 14 stations along the Manyo Mahoroba Line.

Nara > Kyobate > Obitoke > Ichinomoto > Tenri > Nagara > Yanagimoto > Makimuku > Miwa > Sakurai > Kaguyama > Unebi > Kanahashi > Takada

The key destinations and transfer points are given below with travel times and fares given from JR Nara Station.

Obitoke Station

Exit here for Obitoke Temple which dates from 858. Legend has it that over 1000 years ago the Empress Fujiwara Meishi prayed here when she was pregnant for her child to be born safely. Because she gave birth to her child without any problems, the temple became a popular location for pregnant mothers. Today either pregnant mothers come here to pray for an easy birth, or their friends come to pray for them. The temple is a 5 minute walk north of the station.

Tenri Station

Tenri Station is a 10 minute taxi ride from Isonokami Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan, which is said to date back to the year 4 AD and which holds many sacred swords. This shrine stands at the northern end of the Yamanobe-no-michi hiking trail which links Tenri and Sakurai and is Japan’s oldest path. Change at Tenri Station for the Kintetsu Tenri Line which links Tenri and Hirahata stations and for through train services to Kyoto.

Nagara Station

Oyamoto Shrine is an eight minute walk from Nagara Station. This shrine is said to date back to the year 86 BC. Every April 1st the shrine holds the Chanchan Festival, the highlight of which is a procession with a portable shrine and many people in traditional costumes. The sound of prayer gongs which accompanies the procession gave the festival its name: “chan-chan”.

Yanagimoto Station

After a 12 minute walk from Yanagimoto Station you can also see the 4th century tumulus remains of the Emperor Sujin’s grave. Chogakuji Temple is a further 5 minutes on foot from the tumulus. This temple dates from 824 and is known for its beautiful garden and seasonal flower displays.

Makimuku Station

Makimuku Station is a 16 minute walk from Hashihaka Kofun, a large 3rd century burial mound which is 280 meters long and 30 meters high and one of the earliest keyhole shaped burial mounds in Japan.

Miwa Station

Exit here for the Omiwa Shrine which is a 10 minute walk from the station. The shrine sits in a forest at the base of Mount Miwa and is dedicated to the spirit of the mountain. This shrine is unusual because it has no main hall to enshrine a god, as the mountain itself in the home of a god. It also has an unusual torii gate with three parts called a mitsu-torii.

Sakurai Station

Transfer here to the Kintetsu Osaka Line. To visit Hasedera Temple take the Kintetsu Osaka Line to Hasedera Station. The journey takes 6 minutes and costs 210 yen. Hasedera Temple is a massive temple complex dating from 686 and is best known for its five-storied pagoda. To the south of Sakurai City is the Tanzan Shrine, an ancient shrine with a 13 story pagoda which is famous for its autumn colors. To get there from Sakurai Station take a bus from the station’s south exit bus stop to the Tanzan Jinja stop. The bus costs 490 yen and takes 30 minutes.

Unebi Station

Exit here for Ofusa Kannon Temple which is a 10 minute walk from the station. This temple is known for its rose garden and for its wind chime festival which is held in July and August every year. Unebi Station is also a 5 minute walk from Yagi-nishiguchi Station where you can transfer to the Kintetsu Kashihara Line which runs between Yamato-Saidaiji Station and Kashiharajingu-mae Station.

Takada Station

Takada Station is the southern terminus of the Manyo Mahoroba Line. Beyond this station through train services continue on the Wakayama Line. Some through services stop at Oji Station and others continue on to Wakayama Station on a journey that takes around 3 hours for a fare of 1,580 yen. There are also a limited number of through services that are diverted onto the Yamatoji Line at Oji Station and then continue on to JR Namba Station in Osaka. Although it is possible to use these through train services to travel from Nara to Wakayama or to Namba, because these services use local trains they are very slow. To find the quickest route between these stations it is best to use the JR West Timetable and Route finder.

You can also transfer to the Kintetsu Osaka Line from Takada Station by walking to Yamato-Takada Station which is just 7 minutes away.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.