Hannya-ji

Buddhist temple in Nara founded in the Asuka Period (629) – noted for Kamakura-era architecture and a stunning cosmos flower display each autumn.

Hannya-ji is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nara, Japan, founded in 629 during the Asuka Period by the priest Ekan and dedicated to Monju Bosatsu, the bodhisattva of wisdom. After being destroyed by fire, the temple was rebuilt during the Kamakura period (12th–14th centuries), giving it the restrained timber architecture typical of that era, including a distinctive stone pagoda. Today Hannya-ji is especially celebrated for its spectacular cosmos flower field that blooms each autumn, transforming the temple grounds into a sea of pink blossoms and drawing visitors from across Japan.