Bicchu Kokubunji Temple

A 10-minute drive from the Okayama-Soja Interchange on the Okayama Expressway. The remains of one of the Kokubun Niji nunnery temples built under the orders of Emperor Shomu to provide spiritual protection for the country. It's believed to have been built during the mid-8th century, the same period as Kokubun-ji Temple located nearly 700 meters to the west, but is assumed to have been abandoned shortly thereafter. The temple area covers a rectangular plot nearly 108-meters east to west and 216 meters north to south. The southern gate, middle gate, main temple, and lecture hall are arranged following a straight line. Presently foundation stones and pillar supports for buildings such as the main temple remain in the red-pine forest and traces of other building including the southern gate, middle gate, lecture hall, and tower have been discovered.