Horyu-ji Temple, Ikaruga-cho
Horyu-ji Temple
Horyu-ji Temple
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
566 within 5 kms
Attractions
380 within 10 kms
Horyu-ji Gojunoto
4
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
Horyuji Temple Daikodo
4
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
Horyuji Yumedono
4
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
Horyu-ji Kondo
4
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
Horyu-ji Shoryo-in
4
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites
Nishisatono Machinami
17
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Saifuku-ji Temple
5
0.3 kmReligious Sites
Chuguji Temple
143
0.5 kmReligious Sites
Horyuji I Center
51
0.5 kmVisitor Centres
Fujinoki Tombs
35
0.5 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Contribute
4.5
614 reviews
Excellent
372
Very good
192
Average
42
Poor
7
Terrible
1
RaymondHua
Vancouver, Canada110 contributions
Feb 2020
Historically the Horyuji is a very important temple: it was founded in 607 CE by Prince Shotoku, who is credited with the early court promotion of Buddhism in Japan. This temple, therefore, can be considered as the official birthplace of Japanese Buddhism.
Horyuji is also one of the country's oldest temples and contains the world's oldest surviving wooden structures.
Notice the kondo (main hall) and the pagoda in the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan), they were built side by side, violating the traditional Chinese building fashion - everything must be symmetrical. This indicates that Japan had begun to develop its own style very early in its history.
Horyuji is also one of the country's oldest temples and contains the world's oldest surviving wooden structures.
Notice the kondo (main hall) and the pagoda in the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan), they were built side by side, violating the traditional Chinese building fashion - everything must be symmetrical. This indicates that Japan had begun to develop its own style very early in its history.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan11,958 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
Horyuji, the oldest still existing wooden construction of the world, is designated as a world cultural heritage. It is absolutely worth visiting. The premises of the temple, which are divided into three sections, are large enough. I recommend you to have a sufficient time. The easy way to go there is taking a JR train. There is a station called Horyuji, and then it takes about 20 minutes’ walk.
Written 16 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Travelingourworldwithck
Indialantic, FL1,357 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
It was nice to visit this temple considered Japan’s first world cultural heritage. Very well preserved
Written 5 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tracy P
Hong Kong, China683 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Not many tourists go there so that you can enjoy the peaceful time. The whole ticket is ¥1500 for 3 parts visit, strongly recommended. You can see the oldest building in the west of the temple, including the main hall for Buddha and the 5 storey tower. Better sit down and feel the peaceful. There is the other memorial hall in the east side of the temple.
Written 4 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia22,385 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
When you read the history of any building in Japan, you note that it was destroyed by earthquakes and floods, burned several times over the century. And this is only once since it was built in 607. And then almost immediately in 670, which led to the lack of style differences that we see, for example, in European cathedrals.. UNESCO couldn`t fail to note, Horyuji inclusion in the World heritage list as the oldest wooden building in the world. However, the temple is not the oldest completely. We understand that this is impossible. In addition to fires, there are still rotting, temperature extremes, hurricanes, insects, parasites, fungi-dendrology. 15-20 % of Condo buildings survived it all. The entrance fee is not small. At the level of European museums, but the amount of exposure is not comparable...Admission is 1500 yen. It is 12,5 EU. Ticket to D`Orsay in Paris. Horyuji consists of two precincts: Higashi-no-in (Eastern Temple) grouped around the Five-Story Pagoda and Nishi-no-in (Western Temple) centered around the Yumedono (Hall of Visions). The Main Hall (Kondo) is a National Treasure and one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. The Kondo contains the main sacred statues of the temple. The 32 m-tall 5-Story Pagoda (Goju-no-to) is the oldest five-storied pagoda in Japan dating from 607. How to get? We chose the train. It`s possible from Nara JR Station to Horyu-ji. It takes 20 min and 220 yen. But we got back not by train. Bus N97 got us from Horyuji-mae bus stop to Nara Station.
Written 1 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
rmk5515
Tezpur, India186 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
said to be world's oldest surviving wooden structure. place is kept very clean. garden is small in comparison to some other temples, but nicely maintained. the museum is an added interest.
Written 9 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
petertaylor57
Auckland Central, New Zealand305 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
Got there early expecting to see crowds waiting to get in, but not so. Maybe the 1,500 Yen price tag may have scared some off. Buses do go from Nara station, but pretty irregularly, so try the train to Horyuji station and walk about 1km. Anyway, so I wandered around this 8th Century temple almost by myself. It's one of the earliest in Japan and certainly retains some most impressive statues and other artwork. A great start to the day in Nara.
Written 7 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ChrisPinc
Oak Park, IL14 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
One of the amazing things about Kyoto and Nara is that you can find spectacular temples that are just a little off the tourist track, and have them mostly to yourself. This is one of them. Definitely worth the visit
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
fr4nc1sc4
Jakarta, Indonesia447 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Our coverage today is Nara, going as a day trip from Osaka.
I intentionally went to this place because of its title as one of the earliest World Heritage Sites of Japan.
A nice morning visit is recommended for a fewer visitor. Enter the wooden building, take some good pictures, and understand what's behind this place before, during, and after the visit really make a perfect package.
A must.
I intentionally went to this place because of its title as one of the earliest World Heritage Sites of Japan.
A nice morning visit is recommended for a fewer visitor. Enter the wooden building, take some good pictures, and understand what's behind this place before, during, and after the visit really make a perfect package.
A must.
Written 16 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
yyyzzz_utah
Murray, Utah521 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
this place is about history and about prince Shōtoku. It is also about the early Buddhism in Japan and how it was transferred.
Pricy: yes.
Worth it: yes.
Pricy: yes.
Worth it: yes.
Written 10 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brenda M
7 contributions
Sounds wonderful! How does one arrange a tour?
nomes1881
Melbourne, Australia162 contributions
Hi there you can catch the bus directly there about an hour ride, no need for tour you can self guide very easily. there is tourist info centre outside kinetsu nara station the staff are very helpful and can give you the bus details which you also catch from outside.
Hello, thank you for a great review of Horyuji Temple. I'm going to visit it next year. I hope you can answer my question. Actually - two questions. I am an avid photographer and also an amateur movie maker. Please, let me know if photography and video is allowed at this temple. Have you seen people taking photos? Second - I'd like to bring in a camera tripod. Have you seen anybody using those? Some places don't allow tripods. Thanks, Albert
TLeonardJapan
Munakata, Japan66 contributions
Some areas allow photography and filming...other areas do not. If I were you, I would contact them ahead of time and explain what it is you would like to do to see if they may make an exception for you. I did see people with tripods, but I also remember signs prohibiting them in places. I hope this helps. It is a wonderful and fascinating place to visit. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions about Horyu-ji Temple
- Horyu-ji Temple is open:
- Sun - Sat 08:00 - 17:00
- We recommend booking Horyu-ji Temple tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 17 Horyu-ji Temple tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Horyu-ji Temple:
- (0.29 km) Temple Town Hotel WAQOO Horyuji
- (0.56 km) Ryori Ryokan Ukawaya
- (11.06 km) Guesthouse Sakuraya
- (1.15 km) Horyuji Grtand Hotel
- (11.66 km) Noborioji Hotel Nara
- Restaurants near Horyu-ji Temple:
- (0.24 km) Tominosato
- (0.24 km) Nene Cafe
- (0.25 km) Cafe Komodo
- (0.25 km) Hoan
- (0.26 km) Matsumotoya
- Attractions near Horyu-ji Temple:
- (0.15 km) Horyu-ji Gojunoto
- (0.12 km) Horyuji Temple Daikodo
- (0.15 km) Horyuji Yumedono
- (0.15 km) Horyu-ji Kondo
- (0.15 km) Horyu-ji Shoryo-in