Japanese · Travel & Places
お寺
otera
Buddhist temple
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A place of worship in the Buddhist religion. Japan has approximately 77,000 Buddhist temples, many of which are major tourist attractions.
Example
京都にはたくさんのお寺があります。
There are many temples in Kyoto.
Etymology
The term お寺 (otera) comes from the character 寺 (tera), which means 'temple' and refers specifically to Buddhist places of worship. It has deep roots in Japan's introduction to Buddhism in the 6th century.
How & Where It’s Used
お寺 is used in both informal and formal contexts, particularly in discussions about religion and culture. It is often mentioned in travel narratives or guides.