Japan HeritageKawaradera Temple Site
This is the ancient site of a temple that Empress Saimei’s son Prince Nakano-oe had built in honor of his dead mother on the former site of Saimei’s Kawarano-miya Palace. A roofed passageway surrounded the west main hall and a pagoda. To the north was the central main hall, and further north the lecture hall. The unique layout of this temple exemplifies the Kawaradera-style garan (temple compound). Today, visitors can see the remains of the chumon gate and other structures. The foundation stones of the central main hall were made of white marble, and the roof tiles incorporated a lotus flower motif. In its time, Kawaradera was without doubt a majestic temple.
Information
- Address
- Kawahara, Asuka-mura
- Access
- Take the Akakame bus and get off at Kawahara