Kofuku-ji Temple

A Temple at the Crossroads of

Power, Faith, and Art

Founded in 669 by the powerful Fujiwara clan, Kofuku-ji stands as one of the most historically significant temples in Japan. Originally built in Yamashina (near Kyoto), the temple was moved to Nara in 710 CE, coinciding with the establishment of Heijo-kyo (Nara) as the nation’s first permanent capital. As the Fujiwara family’s tutelary temple, Kofuku-ji played a central role in both religious practice and political affairs throughout the Nara and Heian periods.

The temple complex once featured over 150 buildings, and while many were lost to fire and time, today you can still admire its iconic Five-Story Pagoda, the second tallest in Japan, and visit the National Treasure Museum, home to some of Japan’s finest ancient Buddhist sculptures. The Ashura statue, a 1,300-year-old masterpiece, is particularly beloved for its haunting beauty and grace.

Kofuku-ji’s location in Nara Park makes it easily accessible, yet it often surprises visitors with the depth of history and art it holds. For travelers interested in classical Japanese Buddhism, political history, or sacred architecture, Kofuku-ji offers an unmissable window into Japan’s early imperial era.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Kofuku-ji Temple to life.

Traditional Japanese temple with red wooden framework, large gray tiled roof, and white walls with green accents. Several visitors are seen walking and taking pictures, with a wooden fence in the foreground and trees in the background under a partly
A traditional Japanese wooden shrine with a gray tiled roof, situated on a stone platform, surrounded by green trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Traditional Japanese temple with a large, curved tiled roof, white walls with red wooden framing, and small windows, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.
A traditional Japanese shrine with a curved wooden roof and steps leading up to the entrance, two visitors are standing in front of it, and there are lanterns and trees around.
People standing in front of a traditional Japanese temple with large wooden doors and white paper curtains, some engaging with a ritual or display.
Five people standing in front of a traditional wooden Japanese building with large doors and hanging curtains, some looking at their phones or talking.