Buddhist temple
Oka-dera
岡寺（おかでら）
Asuka, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture
A temple of the Buzan school of Shingon on the slope of Okayama in Asuka village, whose formal name is Ryūgai-ji. Its principal image is a large seated Nyoirin Kannon made of clay, and it is known as temple No. 7 of the Saigoku Thirty-Three pilgrimage.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu (seated clay statue)
History and things to know
According to temple tradition, it is said to have been built by the priest Gien at the wish of Emperor Tenji, and it bears the name Tōkōzan Shinju-in Ryūgai-ji. Because its founder was the patriarch of the Hossō school, it was a branch temple of Kōfuku-ji until the Edo period, but after a priest of Hase-dera came and revived it, it became a branch temple of Hase-dera. There is also a tradition that Kōbō Daishi made the principal image from the soil of three countries.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
Kintetsu's Okadera Station is far from the temple and has no buses or taxis, so the official guide recommends using Kashiharajingū-mae Station (or Asuka Station).
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 岡寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
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