Akishino-dera, Buddhist temple in Akishino, Nara, Japan.
Akishino-dera is a Buddhist temple in the Akishino district of Nara, Japan, listed as a national treasure. The central hall shows traditional Japanese building elements with a double-layered roof structure and wooden columns that carry elaborate beam connections.
The temple was founded in 776 by order of Emperor Konin and served as a place of religious devotion during the Nara period. After a fire in 1135, the main hall was rebuilt during the Kamakura era.
The name comes from the Akishino River that flows nearby and has shaped this area for centuries. The complex conveys the mood of a quiet monastic site with its wooden buildings and well-kept courtyard, where Buddhist rituals are still performed according to old traditions.
The temple is open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with adults paying 500 yen admission and students and children considerably less. The site is located somewhat away from the city center and can easily be reached on foot or by bicycle.
The statue of Gigeten, a deity of performing arts, draws many actors, musicians and other artists who ask for success in their work. In the courtyard, old maple trees grow that turn bright red in autumn and attract many photographers.
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