Hinokuma-dera Temple Site

A Temple Ruin

Shaped by Early East Asian Exchange

Hinokuma-dera Temple Site is an important Buddhist temple ruin in Asuka Village, Nara, located southwest of the Asuka Palace area. Historical and archaeological studies indicate that the temple stood in a region associated with immigrant lineages and was connected to the wider cultural exchanges taking place between Japan and the Asian continent during the Asuka period. The site is especially notable for its unusual temple layout, in which the lecture hall, pagoda, and main hall were arranged in a distinctive north-south order. Excavations have also identified tiled podium foundations, a construction technique often linked with temple architecture on the Korean Peninsula. These features make Hinokuma-dera valuable for understanding how imported building practices and local religious institutions interacted in early Japan. For visitors, the site offers a clear introduction to the role of Buddhism, migrant communities, and architectural exchange in the historical development of Asuka.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Hinokuma-dera Temple Site to life.

A peaceful outdoor scene with trees, fallen leaves, and stepping stones on the ground, near traditional Japanese-style buildings.
A stone pagoda monument in a garden surrounded by greenery and trees.
A traditional Japanese Shinto shrine with a wooden structure, tiled roof, and two stone guardian statues outside, surrounded by trees.
A small wooden Shinto shrine with stone steps and guardian statues in front, surrounded by trees.
Old stone water well with circular opening surrounded by green grass and plants, fenced by iron bars in the background.
A small traditional Japanese wooden shrine surrounded by trees with green leaves, with stone lanterns in front of it.
A tranquil backyard garden scene with trees, green foliage, a stone lantern, and sunlight filtering through the branches.
A small stone shrine with a white rope tie, a wooden cross, and a small ceramic container is situated on a large moss-covered rock in a garden, surrounded by green foliage and trees.
A small shrine with a wooden lattice door, surrounded by Japanese stone lanterns and markers, set in a garden with fallen autumn leaves and trees with green and yellow foliage.
A park with a gravel path, green grass, and tall trees under a clear blue sky.