A head temple (bekkaku honzan) of the Hosso sect, founded by the monk Gyoki in 721 in the Sugawara district. The main hall is known as the 'Trial Great Buddha Hall' from the tradition that Gyoki used it as a prototype when planning the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji. Gyoki is said to have passed away at this temple in 749. The present hall, rebuilt in the Muromachi period, is an Important Cultural P…

Kikoji Temple is traditionally said to have been founded in 721 CE by the Buddhist monk Gyoki, who used this site in the Sugawara area as a base for his missionary and social welfare activities. It is transmitted that Gyoki passed away at this temple in 749 CE, after which the site was venerated as …