Kofuku-ji
Once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of Nara, and still the national headquarters of the Hosso school of Buddhism. Its five-storey pagoda rises at the edge of Nara Park as a landmark of the old capital.
- Where
- Nara, Nara, Japan
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 34.6832, 135.8313
Get the Kofuku-ji stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Kofuku-ji. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Nara volume with your photos and a note.
Near Kofuku-ji
Todai-ji 1.0 km
A temple complex in Nara whose Great Buddha Hall shelters a bronze Buddha about 15 metres tall. Founded in 738 and opened in 752 on the model of Tang dynasty temples, it was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples.
Nara Park 1.1 km
A large public park at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, established in 1880 and one of the oldest parks in Japan. More than 1,200 wild sika deer, protected as a natural treasure, roam freely among the temples and bow to visitors holding deer crackers.
Kasuga Taisha 1.6 km
The shrine of the Fujiwara family, founded in 768 on the wooded eastern edge of Nara. Stone lanterns line the approach by the thousand, and bronze lanterns hang in rows from its vermilion corridors; all are lit at the lantern festivals held twice a year.
Toshodai-ji 4.3 km
A temple founded by the Chinese monk Jianzhen, known in Japan as Ganjin, who reached Nara after several failed voyages. Its single-storey Golden Hall, seven bays wide under a hipped tiled roof, is considered the archetype of the classical style.
Yakushi-ji 4.6 km
One of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, first built in the 7th century at the earlier capital of Fujiwara-kyo, and said to be a scrupulous copy of the original. It is the headquarters of the Hosso school, and its twin pagodas face each other across the main courtyard.
Horyu-ji 12 km
Built in Ikaruga shortly after Buddhism reached Japan, this temple has some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Its full name means Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, and it served as both seminary and monastery.
Byōdō-in 23 km
A temple in Uji built in the late Heian period, shared today by the Jōdo-shū and Tendai sects. Its Phoenix Hall, reflected in a pond, appears on the back of Japan's 10 yen coin.
Osaka Castle 28 km
A castle raised on high stone walls and moats in the centre of Osaka, first built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1580s as he unified Japan. The present keep is a 1931 reconstruction that holds a museum, set in a large park known for plum and cherry blossom.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Nara
Questions
Where is Kofuku-ji?
Kofuku-ji is in Nara, Nara, Japan. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Todai-ji (1.0 km), Nara Park (1.1 km), Kasuga Taisha (1.6 km).
How do I get the Kofuku-ji stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Kofuku-ji and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Nara volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Kofuku-ji before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Nara volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.