[Horyu-ji Travel Guide] Experience Timeless History at Japan’s First World Heritage Site

Horyu-ji was founded in 607 by Empress Suiko and Prince Shotoku, who carried on the wishes of Emperor Yomei, Prince Shotoku’s father.
Because it was built just west of Ikaruga, where Prince Shotoku originally lived, it was known at the time as Ikaruga-dera.
The Nihon Shoki records that it burned down once in 670 and was rebuilt, so the Horyu-ji seen today is believed to be the reconstructed temple.

The Kondo is the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world.
It has a two-tiered irimoya-zukuri hipped-and-gabled roof, but there is no room on the upper level, making it effectively a one-story building.
Its mokoshi pent roof on the lower level, which protects the building from rain and wind, gives the exterior an elegant appearance, while the beautiful wooden framework and carvings create a striking Asuka-style design rarely seen elsewhere.
One of the main highlights of the Kondo is the Shaka Triad, said to have been created to pray for the repose of Prince Shotoku’s soul.
Completed in 623, the Shaka Triad is the oldest Buddhist statue in Japan and also serves as the principal object of worship at Horyu-ji.
It is shown only on special occasions, so if your timing is right, be sure to see it.

The Five-Story Pagoda at Horyu-ji is the world’s oldest wooden building and also the oldest pagoda in Japan.
It stands Approx. 32 meters tall, and one of its key features is that each roof becomes smaller toward the top, with the fifth roof about half the size of the first.
Its layered construction, in which each story is built independently, is combined with a seismic structure that suspends the central pillar.
A highlight is the reliquary set in the foundation stone beneath this central pillar.
According to one theory, it contains relics of Shakyamuni that Prince Shotoku had brought from India.

Yumedono Hall is the representative structure of the Eastern Precinct, built for the memorial and devotion of Prince Shotoku.
Its octagonal exterior is especially distinctive, with a jewel-shaped finial shining at the top of the roof.
Be sure to pay attention to the Kuse Kannon statue, which has long been kept strictly enshrined as a hidden Buddha.
It is said to be a life-size image of Prince Shotoku, and its golden appearance, finished with lacquer and foil, is truly overwhelming.
Yumedono Hall was commissioned by the eminent monk Gyoshin, who lamented the destruction of this site, once the location of Prince Shotoku’s palace, and its origins go back to the Shoryoe memorial service for Prince Shotoku held in 748.
Even after a large-scale renovation in 1230, it still retains the atmosphere of its earlier days.

Daikodo was built as a place where monks could study and deepen their understanding of Buddhism.
It is the largest building at Horyu-ji in terms of floor area, with a broad, horizontally extended structure.
Its roof features densely arranged rafters, and its exterior is characterized by hanging bamboo blinds at the upper part, marking off the sacred space.
A major highlight is the Yakushi Triad, consisting of the seated Yakushi Nyorai with a mysteriously captivating smile, flanked by the seated Nikko Bosatsu and Gakko Bosatsu.
Daikodo burned down in 925, but since it was rebuilt in 990 to nearly the same scale as the original, the Yakushi Triad dates from the time of reconstruction.
The temple layout seen from Daikodo is also recommended as a photo spot that conveys the appearance of Horyu-ji when it was first founded.

Chumon Gate is the two-story gate that serves as the entrance to the Western Precinct, notable for its deeply overhanging eaves.
It has an unusual five-bay structure with a pillar standing in the center of the gate, and the front features two entrances in a distinctive four-bay, two-door configuration.
These pillars are known as entasis columns, gradually tapering from bottom to top, and they still convey the magnificent architectural style of the Asuka period today.
What you should not miss at Chumon Gate is the Kongo Rikishi statues, the oldest Nio guardian statues in Japan, enshrined on either side.
Because they have been repaired many times due to wind and rain, signs of wear are visible, but their presence after standing here for over 1,300 years is beyond words.
Keep in mind that the current Chumon Gate is not used as an entrance or exit.

Daihozoin was built to safely enshrine and manage the many temple treasures handed down at Horyu-ji.
Completed in 1998, it is a newer building equipped with climate control and storage facilities, giving it a different design from the other structures.
Many precious cultural properties are displayed here, but the National Treasures Kudara Kannon and Tamamushi Shrine are must-sees.
There are many other remarkable treasures as well, making it a great place to experience the history and culture of Horyu-ji firsthand.

One mysterious legend says that spiders do not spin webs inside Horyu-ji.
It later grew into the claim that even birds do not leave droppings here.
There are various uncertain theories behind this, such as the idea that the wood used in the buildings repels spiders, or that it reflects the monks’ reverence for Horyu-ji.
In reality, spider webs and bird droppings have both been found, so this legend is known not to be true.
Still, it may be the temple’s mysterious atmosphere that gave rise to such stories in the first place.

In front of the South Great Gate stands a stone called Taiishi, named for its fish-like shape, which looks different from the others around it.
It has long been said that when the Yamato River near Horyu-ji overflowed in the past, the floodwaters mysteriously did not rise beyond this stone.
Because of this, there is a legend that stepping on the Taiishi stone protects against water-related disasters.
Since many visitors enter the grounds through the South Great Gate when visiting Horyu-ji, be sure not to miss it.

At the very top of the Five-Story Pagoda, four sickles hang casually from the ornament called the kurin.
Among the many refined structures at Horyu-ji, these sickles create a strangely strong impression.
Because the reason they are there remains unknown, here are two leading theories.
The first is that they were placed there to prevent lightning strikes as a fire-prevention measure.
The second is a faith-based theory that they were meant to contain the vengeful spirit of Prince Shotoku.
The truth remains a mystery, but this sickle-hung kurin is found only at Horyu-ji, and strangely enough, the Five-Story Pagoda has never suffered damage from lightning or fire.
When you visit the pagoda, it can be fun to imagine why the sickles were placed there.

Within the grounds of Horyu-ji, there are three hidden storehouses known as fukuzo.
The fukuzo in the central courtyard of the Western Precinct, surrounded by a simple fence, is buried underground and has long been said to contain various treasures.
This is because a statement believed to have been left by Prince Shotoku says that what was stored inside should be used when Buddhism declines.
However, it is said that no one has ever seen the inside of the storehouse, and what is kept there remains unknown.
There is also a legend that it is protected by Prince Shotoku’s spiritual power and that disaster will strike anyone who tries to dig it up. It is one of Horyu-ji’s mysterious features tied to its history and faith.

There is a legend that the frogs living in Yoruka Pond between Horyu-ji’s Western and Eastern Precincts have only one eye.
Prince Shotoku, devoted to his studies, was said to be disturbed by the croaking frogs in the pond and unable to concentrate.
According to the legend, the brush he threw toward the pond to silence them struck one frog in the eye, and ever since, the frogs in Yoruka Pond have had only one eye.
It is only a legend, of course, and frogs in Yoruka Pond today have been confirmed to have both eyes.
It can be seen as an episode that reflects Prince Shotoku’s diligence and greatness.

A raiban is the platform monks sit on when chanting sutras, and there is a strange legend that the underside of the Approx. 20-meter-high raiban in Yumedono Hall sweats.
The truth is that condensation forms due to humidity inside the hall, and the droplets wet the raiban, which came to be described as “sweating.”
It is also said that the structure beneath the raiban, such as a well or openings below it, makes moisture collect there more easily.
Today, a ritual called “Yumedono no Mizutori” is held, in which sunlight is shone on the raiban and the year’s harvest is foretold by the way it becomes damp.

At Horyu-ji, large stones are stacked into the foundation so that marks from dripping rainwater do not remain.
The roofs are also designed to control the flow of rainwater.
These features help preserve the beauty of the buildings’ appearance and prevent collapse in the event of natural disasters.
By extension, the saying that “the stones of Horyu-ji never get holes from raindrops” is thought to emphasize the temple’s solid ground and good drainage, expressing that there is no danger of collapse.

This park lets you enjoy both precious historic and cultural heritage sites, including Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple, the Nara National Museum, and the Shosoin, as well as the grand and abundant natural beauty of the greenery surrounding them.
Located in the center of the city, it is also appealing for its easy access to various sightseeing spots.
Many places and features here have been designated as Natural Monuments, including the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, the Nara deer, the sacred nagi grove within Kasuga Shrine grounds, the Narano-yaezakura cherry tree at Chisokuin, and the habitat of the Loomis’s copper butterfly.

Kofuku-ji began as Yamashinadera, a temple built at the private residence of Fujiwara no Kamatari in Suehara, Yamashina, Yamashiro Province. In 710, following the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo, it was moved to its current location under the plan of Fujiwara no Fuhito and renamed Kofuku-ji.
Within the temple grounds stand many important buildings, including National Treasure structures such as the Northern Round Hall rebuilt in the Kamakura period, the Five-Story Pagoda and Eastern Golden Hall rebuilt in the Muromachi period, and Important Cultural Properties such as the Southern Round Hall rebuilt in the Edo period.

As one of the eight component assets of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,” its former monks’ quarters, Gokurakudo Hall (Gokurakubo Main Hall) and Zenshitsu Hall (Gokurakubo Zenshitsu), are registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Some of the roof tiles relocated from Asuka-dera still remain on part of the roof, preserving the atmosphere of earlier times. In addition, the temple houses many treasures, including the National Treasure Five-Story Miniature Pagoda, the nationally designated Important Cultural Property East Gate, the Chiko Mandala created in the Muromachi period, a seated wooden Amida Nyorai statue from the Heian period, and a standing wooden statue of Prince Shotoku.

This cafe restaurant is located just near the World Heritage Site Horyu-ji.
Inside its space within the complex facility Mahoroba Station ikarucoki, the playful interior is decorated with many charming robot toys on display.
Among its wide variety of lunch options, the specialty is the three-kind tatsuta-age lunch, featuring domestic chicken, wheat gluten, and soy meat marinated in a secret sauce and fried until fragrant.

Look for the red noren curtain that catches your eye as you enter an alley off Sanjo Street. This cozy spot is set in a 120-year-old traditional townhouse that has been renovated, where you can relax in a tatami room.
The philosophy behind the cafe is to serve wholesome, nourishing dishes that a mother would want her child to eat.
The signature menu item is the “Cojica Special Simmered Hamburger Steak with Yamato Beef and Yamato Pork.”

A roasting workshop and coffee stand tucked away in a quiet shopping street in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture.
Set in a unique building renovated from a former gas station, it serves freshly hand-dripped coffee and also sells beans. Drawing on the owner’s own past experience of not being able to drink coffee, the shop proposes an unpretentious coffee lifestyle based on the concept of “easy to drink, easy to brew.”

A Japanese cuisine auberge on the slopes of Mt. Wakakusa, this property was renovated from a long-loved inn of more than half a century and grand-opened in July 2020.
Its concept is “comfort” born from harmony with nature and connection with the local community.
Its greatest attraction is the view of the ancient capital of Nara from the mountainside. From various places throughout the property, including the rooftop open-air bath, penthouse suite, lobby, and most guest rooms, you can look out over Todai-ji Daibutsuden, Kofuku-ji’s Five-Story Pagoda, and the cityscape of Nara.

A traditional Japanese ryokan on the slopes of Mt. Wakakusa, next to the World Heritage Site Kasugayama Primeval Forest and known as a place where wild deer live.
It also earned a three-red-pavilion rating in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka Kobe Nara 2012.
With an excellent location at the highest elevation among accommodations in the Nara city area, the lobby and some guest rooms offer sweeping views over the old capital of Nara.

With easy access to Kintetsu Nara Station and Nara Park, this hotel is a great base for sightseeing.
Its fluffy thick-cut fresh bread breakfast from a long-established bakery and its homemade cookies are especially popular.
Guest rooms come in a variety of types, including single, twin, double, and family rooms, with both Western-style and Japanese-Western rooms available.
All are reasonably priced, making it a good choice for travelers planning a longer stay as well.