Tachibana-dera, Buddhist temple in Asuka, Japan
Tachibana-dera is a Buddhist temple in Asuka, Japan, with several wooden buildings and a tidy courtyard. The central grounds hold three ancient stone structures that recall a vanished pagoda.
Prince Shōtoku transformed an imperial retreat of his father into this temple in the late 6th century. The original wooden buildings burned down several times, yet the site remained inhabited across the centuries.
The name comes from mandarin orange trees that once grew in the prince's garden here. Monks hold ceremonies in the main hall, and visitors can join calligraphy sessions today.
The temple opens daily between 9 and 17, and sits in a quiet section of Asuka. A short walk from the bicycle path leads through an entrance gate into the courtyard.
A stone with two faces stands in the garden, each side showing a different expression. Visitors walk around the stone to see both perspectives.
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