Is this temple the inspiration behind Dragon Ball Z?
Visit Okadera Temple and the monks will likely say to you, “This is the Dragon Ball Z Temple. It is here where wishes can be granted.” Come back at them with a quip about the anime and the 7 dragon balls (they’re waiting for it) and laughs are bound to follow as is the story of Okadera.
The Temple and its Legends According to temple legend a Buddhist monk named Gaien confronted a dragon that was marauding what is now Asuka Village. Gaien defeated the dragon and imprisoned it under the floor of a small pond. He placed a large rock, a “ryugai” or dragon lid, in the pond to prevent the dragon from escaping. Thusly Ryugaiji Temple, Okadera’s formal name, was founded in 663. Supposedly, the dragon’s heart was “reformed” by its fight with Gaien and it became one of the temple’s deities. Japanese dragons have a ball near the end of their tail that contains magic. It is said that by the power of this dragon ball wishes can be granted.
Dragon balls, Okadera’s most powerful variety of amulet, can be purchased (￥600ea.) but they are not of the 1 through 7 star variety. Known as “ryutama” (dragon balls) or negaitama (wishball), Okadera’s dragon balls are made of wood, inscribed with Okadera’s kanji characters, and contain a small paper scroll. Write your wish on the scroll and hang your dragon ball on one of the designated trees in the temple’s garden.
Besides dragon ponds and dragon balls, Okadera is home to the Nyoirai Kannon Bosatsu wish granting seated Buddha statue, the oldest ceramic Buddha in Japan at 1200 years old, a 3-story pagoda overlooking the central Asuka Village area, several beautiful and historic buildings, and a garden of maple and deciduous trees that become riotously colorful in the fall.
Getting There Okadera Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line shares the temple’s name but it’s about 3.5km away from Okadera Temple. The quickest way there from the Nara Visitor Center and Inn is to take the Kintetsu Line from Kintetsu Nara Station, change to a Kashihara Jingumae bound train at Yamato Saidaiji Station, change trains again at Kashihara Jingumae Station and go to Asuka Station. Rent a bicycle from Asuka Rent-a-Cycle (look for a green sign with white kanji characters outside the station, the rent-a-cycle is about 50 meters to the right) and enjoy the ride through the rice paddies to Okadera.