Motoyakushiji

Temple Site

A Monument of Imperial　

Faith and Healing

Moto-Yakushiji Temple Site preserves the remains of the original Yakushiji founded in the late 7th century in the area of the Fujiwara Capital, now part of Kashihara, Nara. Historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that the temple was established after Emperor Tenmu vowed to build it for the recovery of his consort, later Empress Jito. By the time Fujiwara-kyo was functioning as the capital, the temple had become an important religious institution within the planned urban landscape. The site is especially valuable because traces of the main hall and the bases of the east and west pagodas still remain, allowing visitors to understand the original layout of the temple. This twin-pagoda arrangement was later carried into the Yakushiji of Heijo-kyo. For visitors today, Moto-Yakushiji offers a clear introduction to the relationship between Buddhism, healing, and capital planning in the transition from Asuka to Fujiwara.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Motoyakushiji Temple Site to life.

A pathway through a garden with trees showing fall foliage, including red and orange leaves, and lush green bushes on the sides, with large rocks lining the path, under a clear blue sky.
A peaceful garden scene at sunset featuring a large red and orange maple tree with fallen leaves on the ground, rocks lining a dirt pathway, and a wooden building with a window on the left side.
A small traditional Japanese sacred site with stone markers and inscriptions, surrounded by trees and fallen autumn leaves.
A small stone shrine with weathered rocks, decorated with red fabric coverings and a flower arrangement at the center, surrounded by fallen leaves and greenery.
A quiet Japanese garden with leafless trees, large rocks, and a traditional wooden building. The scene is illuminated by warm evening light.
A traditional Japanese stone lantern surrounded by trees and bushes, with a background of houses and mountains under a clear sky during sunset.
A small Japanese-style garden shrine area with stone lanterns, statues, and a rock centerpiece, surrounded by greenery and fallen leaves.
A line of six small stone Japanese-style stone lanterns and stupas in a garden, surrounded by trees and shrubbery with fallen leaves.
A serene Japanese garden during autumn with a red-orange Japanese maple tree, traditional stone lanterns, and shrubs, illuminated by warm sunlight.
A stone lantern shrine in a garden, surrounded by autumn trees with bare branches, rocks, and grass, with farm fields and buildings in the background near sunset.
A garden with leafless trees, large rocks, and a stone pagoda monument, with a background of buildings and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Traditional Japanese wooden shrine with a raised platform, a bell hanging in the center, and a small offering area with a vase of flowers and plaques. The shrine is outdoors on a stone foundation with a metal roof, surrounded by trees and under a cle
A tall, leafless tree stands in a field with farm buildings and mountains in the background on a clear, sunny day.
A natural outdoor setting with rocks, bushes, and trees during sunset or sunrise.
Small wooden shrine or altar with flowers and figurines in front, located outdoors under a tree, with a field and houses in the background.
Open outdoor area with large stones on the ground, shrubs, leafless trees, residential houses, and a clear sky at sunset.
Large ancient stone circle with carved reliefs, surrounded by grass and bushes.
A leafless tree on a small mound surrounded by farm fields, with a clear blue sky and distant mountains in the background.
A house on a hill surrounded by leafless trees with a clear blue sky overhead.
Open fields with a large flat rock in the foreground, trees, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.