Wakasa Kokubun-ji, Buddhist temple in Obama, Japan
Wakasa Kokubun-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in Obama with multiple buildings including the Shako-do and Yakushi-do structures, surrounded by an earthen wall enclosure. The layout reflects the typical arrangement of a medieval provincial temple with distinct functional areas.
The site was founded around 741 CE during the Nara period as part of a nationwide program to build provincial temples. It played an important role in spreading Buddhism throughout the region over many generations.
The temple houses Buddhist statues that visitors can see, showing how people have worshipped here across the centuries. These representations continue to shape how people experience and use the site today.
The site can be reached on foot from Higashi-Obama Station, with a walk of about twenty minutes required to get there. It helps to check the route beforehand since signage to the exact location may be limited.
Archaeological research shows that the site has unusually few original roof tiles compared to other provincial temples from the same time. This suggests the structure may have been built with less permanent materials or altered significantly later.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
