Also known as Hoko-ji Temple or Gango-ji Temple, Asuka-dera Temple (Asuka-mura Village, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture), which was built by the Asuka clan in the period from 588 to 609, and Shitenno-ji Temple (Tennoji, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture), which is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku, are believed to be the oldest Japanese Buddhist temples (the original building not existing in either case).
588年から609年にかけて蘇我氏が築いた飛鳥寺（奈良県高市郡明日香村。法興寺、元興寺とも）や593年聖徳太子創建とされる摂津国の四天王寺(大阪府大阪市天王寺区。天王寺)が、日本最古の伽藍とされる（いずれも当初の建物は現存しない）。