Archaeological excavations have revealed a large-scale complex which included two Kondō, a pagoda, extensive priests' quarters, and roof tiles that are "among the most beautiful ever made in Japan".

[5] Kawara-dera was ranked as one of the four great temples of Asuka, along with Asuka-dera, Yakushi-ji, and Daikan-daiji, and is thought to have been built during the reign of Emperor Tenchi in the mid-7th century; however, there is no mention of its founding in the Nihon Shoki.

The first confirmed appearance of Kawara-dera in historical documents is the entry for March of the 2nd year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (673) in the Nihon Shoki.

Furthermore, according to the results of the excavation, the three-by-two bay West Golden Hall was an open-air building (without any walls) with open eaves on all four sides.

There has been no other case in Japan where such a large number of bricks with an embossed Buddha design have been excavated from a single location, and although their purpose is unclear, the prevailing theory is that they filled the walls of the Buddhist hall.

The current Gufuku-ji is home to wooden standing statues of Jikoku-ten and Tamon-ten (early Heian period), which are designated National Important Cultural Properties.