# Asuka-dera > A small hall in the fields of Asuka on the site of the temple Soga no Umako began in 588. Inside sits the bronze Asuka Daibutsu, about 2.75 m tall, which the temple dates to 609 and calls Japan's oldest Buddha statue. It was badly damaged in a fire in 1196 and is patched, but you can stand a few metres away and photograph it, which almost no other old temple allows. Entry is 500 yen. - Prefecture: Nara - Type: Temple - Address: Asuka, Nara, Japan - Admission: 500 yen - Official site: https://asukamura.com/sightseeing/asuka-dera/ The building is a disappointment from outside, a modest hall rebuilt in 1826 among rice fields, and that makes the inside more of a surprise. The Asuka Daibutsu fills it. He is a bronze Shaka about 2.75 metres tall, sitting with a long face, almond eyes and the faint smile of the Asuka period, and you stand on the tatami a few metres from him. You may photograph him as much as you like. In a country where almost every old statue sits behind a no-photos sign, that alone is worth the trip. The temple dates the statue to 609 and calls it Japan's oldest Buddha statue, made by the sculptor Kuratsukuri no Tori, the same name linked to the Shaka triad at Horyu-ji. Look closely and the surface tells a rough story. A fire in 1196 destroyed most of the temple and badly damaged the Buddha, and much of the body below the face is generally thought to be later repair, with seams and patches you can see from the mat. How much of the original metal survives is still argued. That is also why it is an Important Cultural Property rather than a National Treasure. Asuka village's tourist site notes that he still sits where he was first placed. The temple itself was far bigger. Soga no Umako began it in 588, with temple builders and roof-tile makers from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, and it is usually counted as Japan's first full-scale temple. When the capital moved to Nara, the temple moved too and became Gangoji in Naramachi, whose roof still carries some of the original Asuka tiles. What stayed behind is this hall, run today by the Buzan school of Shingon. Walk west from the temple across the field to a weathered five-ring stone pagoda. Local legend says Soga no Iruka's head flew here after he was killed at court in 645, a grisly little story for such a peaceful spot. Allow about half an hour. Asuka-dera fits easily into a day by bicycle around Asuka, alongside Ishibutai and the Kameishi stone. ## FAQ ### Can I take photos of the Asuka Daibutsu? Yes. The temple allows photography of the Buddha inside the hall, which is rare for a statue this old. Be considerate of people praying in front of it. ### How much does Asuka-dera cost, and when is it open? 500 yen for adults and university students, 300 yen for junior high and high school students and 250 yen for primary school children. It is open every day, 9:00 to 17:30 from April to September and 9:00 to 17:00 from October to March, with last entry 15 minutes before closing. Some older guides still list the previous 350-yen fee. ### How do I get to Asuka-dera? Take the Asuka loop bus (Kame Bus) from the east exit of Kintetsu Kashihara-Jingu-mae Station to the Asuka Daibutsu stop, about 15 minutes; the temple is next to the stop. A taxi takes about 10 minutes. By rented bicycle it fits easily into a loop with Ishibutai and the other Asuka sites. ### Is the temple accessible with a wheelchair? Not easily. According to the Nara prefectural tourism site there are no ramps and no wheelchairs to borrow, though there is a multi-purpose toilet on the grounds. Call the temple on 0744-54-2126 before you go. --- Source: Asuka-dera — Japan Voyage