TravelTips24 : Japan : Honshu : Kansai : Nara : Horyuji

Horyuji

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Hōryūji (法隆寺, [1]) is a large Buddhist temple complex situated in Ikaruga Town (near Nara), Nara Prefecture in Kansai region of Japan.

Culture and History

The town of Horyuji has grown around the eponymous temple of Horyuji, the "Temple of the Flourishing Law". One of Japan's oldest and grandest Buddhist temples, the temple dates back to 607, when it was constructed on the order of Prince Shotoku to house an image of the Yakushi (Medicine) Buddha, and was designated among Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Travel to Horyuji & Visa Requirements

JR Horyuji station is on the Yamatoji line, 12 minutes from Nara, 2 mins from Oji and 23 minutes from Tennōji in Osaka. The temple is located 20 minutes on foot from the station, although if you don't like walking, you can take a bus to spare yourself the hike: buses also run frequently and direct from in front of Oji station.

Tours & Getting around Horyuji

The temple can only be covered on foot.

Horyuji attractions and sightseeing

The sprawling grounds of the temple (over a kilometer wide) pack in no less than 20 gates or buildings designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. The area can be divided into the Western Temple (西院 Sai-in) and the Eastern Temple (東院 Tō-in), the western area being the older of the two. The temple is open daily from 8 AM to 4:30 PM (or later) and admission is a whopping

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This page was last edited at 07:34, on 29 September 2008 by Wikitravel user Ashibaka. Based on work by Jani Patokallio, SHU and Ravikiran Rao and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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