Asuka-dera Temple

Asuka-dera Temple

The official name of Asuka-dera Temple is Anjo-in, also known as Hōkō-ji or Gankō-ji. Located in Asuka Village, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture, it is Japan’s oldest officially established temple. Its mountain name is Torishima-yama, and its principal object of worship, the “Asuka Daibutsu,” is a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. Legend has it that it was founded by Soga no Umako in the first year of the Emperor Suiko’s reign (588), and it currently belongs to the Japanese Shingon sect Buzan-ha branch.

Originally, Asuka-dera Temple was a large-scale complex featuring three Kondō (main halls) surrounding a pagoda. However, over half of its structures were destroyed by fire during the Kamakura period. What visitors see today was rebuilt during the Edo period. The temple is shaded by ancient trees, and various flowers bloom quietly in the height of summer, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and elegance. The most beloved attraction in the temple is the Asuka Daibutsu, a bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and also the oldest Buddhist statue in Japan. Between the Buddha’s fingers is a webbing resembling that of a waterfowl, which is said to symbolize the teaching of salvation for all people. It is believed that the statue was carved by Kuratsukuri no Tori, a foreign-born sculptor living in Japan. Despite enduring the passage of time, numerous disasters, and multiple instances of damage and restoration, the Asuka Daibutsu remains deeply revered and beloved by the Japanese people.

Asuka-dera

Must-visit reason: Japan’s oldest officially established temple

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Nara Prefecture [Nara Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Asuka [Asuka Village]