ABOUT
About this spot
Asuka-dera is a temple of the Shingon sect (Buzan school) in Asuka Village, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture. Construction began in 588, and it is regarded as the first temple in Japan with a full-scale temple complex. At its founding it was called Hoko-ji, and it later also came to be known as Gango-ji. Today it is called Angoin and continues to look after its principal image, the "Asuka Daibutsu". The temple site was designated a National Historic Site in 1966. The founder was Soga no Umako, a powerful clan leader. According to the Nihon Shoki, the building of the temple was vowed in 587, construction began in 588, and it was completed in 596. Excavations in 1956 and 1957 confirmed that the layout was "one pagoda, three main halls", with three halls standing around a central pagoda. When the capital moved to Heijo-kyo, the temple moved to Nara and became Gango-ji, while the original site remained as Moto-Gango-ji. In 1196 lightning destroyed the pagoda and main hall by fire, and the temple declined. In the Edo period a small hermitage, Angoin, was built and the principal image was protected there. The present main hall was rebuilt in the late Edo period. The highlight is the principal image, the seated Shaka Nyorai, popularly called the "Asuka Daibutsu". It is about 2.75 meters tall and is attributed to the sculptor Kuratsukuri no Tori (Tori Busshi), who is said to have begun it in 605 and completed it in 609 as a bronze statue of the sixteen-foot size. It is known as the oldest surviving Buddha statue in Japan and is an Important Cultural Property. It was damaged by fire and heavily repaired later, and the parts regarded as original include part of the face and some fingers of the right hand. West of the temple stands a five-ringed stone tower said to be the grave mound of Soga no Iruka, who was killed in the Isshi Incident of 645. Tradition says that his head flew to this spot, and visitors stop here to reflect on the history of Asuka. The grounds are small, so about 30 minutes is a guide for a visit. Opening hours and admission fees differ between sources, so please check before visiting. From Kashihara-jingumae Station, the Asuka Loop Bus "Akagame" takes about 19 minutes to the Asuka Daibutsu-mae stop, which is right in front of the temple. Asuka Village around the temple has many historic sites linked to the Soga clan era. Visiting Asuka-dera first, to learn about the founding of the temple, makes it easier to understand the other sites on a half-day tour of Asuka's history.
Last updated October 22, 2026