Horyuji Temple

Horyu-ji Temple is famous for Masaoka Shiki’s haiku: “Kaki kueba kane ga naru nari Horyu-ji” (“Eating persimmons, the bell tolls—Horyu-ji”). It is said to have been founded around 607 by Prince Shotoku and Empress Suiko. Horyu-ji was one of the first temples in Japan to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site. The grounds are broadly divided into two areas: the Western Precinct (Sai-in Garan) and the Eastern Precinct (To-in Garan). The Western Precinct contains the world’s oldest surviving group of wooden buildings, including the five-story pagoda and the Kondo (Golden Hall). The Eastern Precinct includes the Yumedono (Hall of Dreams), built around 739 by the famed Nara-period monk Gyoshin Sozu in honor of Prince Shotoku. Japan’s oldest five-story pagoda feels especially stable because the top story is about half the size of the bottom story. The Kondo is considered the world’s oldest wooden building and preserves Asuka-style features such as entasis columns that swell slightly in the middle. Inside, you can see works like the Shaka Triad, known for its “archaic smile.” The Yumedono, once used on banknotes, is notable for its octagonal shape. The Kuse Kannon statue inside—modeled on Prince Shotoku—remained unknown to the public until the Meiji era, so it is well preserved and still shows some of its original gilt; it can be viewed only during special spring and autumn openings. Other highlights include the Kudara Kannon and the Tamamushi Shrine in the Daihozoin Treasure House. If you go to Horyu-ji by bus, you arrive near the approach in front of the South Great Gate, so it may be nice to stop by shops selling kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf sushi) along the approach.