Asuka-dera Temple

The Birthplace

of Japanese Buddhism

Nestled in the quiet countryside of Asuka Village, Nara, Asuka-dera is more than just a temple—it’s the cradle of Japanese Buddhism. Founded in the late 6th century by the powerful Soga clan, it holds the distinction of being Japan’s first full-scale Buddhist temple. This sacred site marks the beginning of Japan’s transformation from ancient tribal beliefs to a centralized state influenced by continental philosophy and religion.

The temple once stood at the heart of Japan’s earliest capital and was a symbol of political and spiritual innovation. Its main statue, the Asuka Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Asuka), is Japan’s oldest known Buddhist statue, crafted by the legendary sculptor Tori Busshi.

For American travelers interested in history, culture, or spirituality, Asuka-dera offers a rare chance to stand where Japan’s national identity began to take shape. Surrounded by rice fields and ancient ruins, the temple invites you to step back 1,400 years into a time when Japan was just beginning to define itself.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Asuka-dera to life.

Traditional Japanese temple entrance with a stone pillar inscribed with Japanese characters and a wooden gate, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Front view of a traditional Japanese temple with wooden sliding doors, signs with Japanese characters, and a signboard to the right, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
Decorative wooden plaques with Japanese artwork and calligraphy hanging under a traditional Japanese tiled roof.
Wooden bell tower with traditional Japanese architectural style, surrounded by trees and clear sky.
A large seated Buddha statue inside a temple, surrounded by flowers, candles, and offerings, with a wooden ceiling and lanterns overhead.
Wooden Buddhist statue of a woman holding a small object, placed inside a room with traditional Asian design elements, including a decorative and painted wooden canopy overhead.
Buddhist statue of a seated figure with a halo of gold roses behind its head, inside a temple with calligraphy scrolls and decorative elements.
Traditional Japanese wooden building with tiled roof, sliding wooden doors, and decorative paintings on the eaves, surrounded by a small wooden fence and greenery, under a clear blue sky.
Traditional Japanese garden with rocks, trees, and a stone lantern, adjacent to a building with wooden framing and white walls.
Stone monument with flowers and small memorial objects on a paved base in front of a yellow rice field, with rolling hills and greenery in the background under a clear blue sky.