Shin-Yakushi-ji sits away from Nara's busiest temple circuit, which is part of its appeal. The temple was founded in the Nara period and is best known for the seated Yakushi Nyorai, the healing Buddha, surrounded by a ring of Twelve Heavenly Generals whose expressions and armour bring a charged human energy to the hall.
Compared with Todai-ji or Kasuga Taisha, the visit is intimate and calm. Come here when you want a temple that rewards slow looking rather than crowd management. The surrounding lanes on the east side of Nara are also pleasant for walking, especially if you are linking the temple with Naramachi or the foothills above Nara Park.