Why visit Hōryūji
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Mt. Mimuro, Ninji Haiji, Tomimoto Kenkichi Memorial Museum and 小泉東和苑第1児童公園.
Weather in Hōryūji
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Hōryūji
Hōryū-ji (Japanese: 法隆寺; lit. 'Temple of the Flourishing Dharma') is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Built shortly after Buddhism was introduced to Japan, it is also one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the country. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺), or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, with the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery.
From the Wikipedia article Hōryū-ji (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Hōryūji on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks28
Ninji Haiji
Monument and historic site · 5.4 km
Archaeological site in Kashiba, Japan
Tomimoto Kenkichi Memorial Museum
Museum · 2.0 km
Former museum in Ando, Nara, Japan (1974–2014)
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16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes18
babyface planet's Oji
Cafe · 2.1 km
生駒郡斑鳩町龍田西4-1-33 国道25号 / 国道168号 (Route 25 & 168)
6 more on the map.
History
The temple was originally commissioned by Prince Shōtoku; at the time it was called Wakakusadera, a name that is still sometimes used. This first temple is believed to have been completed by 607. Hōryū-ji was dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing and in honor of the prince's father. Excavations done in 1939 confirmed that Prince Shotoku's palace, the Ikaruga-no-miya (斑鳩宮), occupied the eastern part of the current temple complex, where the Tō-in (東院) sits today. Also discovered were the ruins of a temple complex which was southwest of the prince's palace and not completely within the present temple complex. The original temple, named by modern historians and archaeologists Wakakusa-garan (若草伽藍), was lost, probably burned to the ground after being hit by lightning in 670. The temple was reconstructed but slightly reoriented in a northwest position, which is believed to have been completed by around 711. The temple was repaired and reassembled in the early twelfth century, in 1374, and 1603.
From the History section of Hōryū-ji on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship21
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare7
kusuri no aoki ikaruga
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.2 km
生駒郡斑鳩町龍田西5-7-2 国道25号 (Route 25)
Map of Hōryūji
114 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 33 km away.
- Ikoma 9 km northwest, about 9 min by car
- Tawaramoto 8 km southeast, about 8 min by car
- Tenri 9 km east, about 9 min by car
- Yamato-Takada 11 km south, about 11 min by car
- Kashihara-shi 13 km southeast, about 13 min by car
- Habikino 15 km southwest, about 15 min by car
- Matsubara 18 km west, about 18 min by car
- Kadoma 20 km northwest, about 20 min by car
- Moriguchi 21 km northwest, about 21 min by car
- Osaka 23 km northwest, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ninji Kita Haiji, garan-1, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Horyu-ji45s2s4500, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Kenkichi Tomimoto Memorial Hall03s3200, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Horinji Ikaruga Nara, OhMyDeer, CC BY-SA 2.1 jp
- Chuguji Hondo 2008, Wiiii, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hokiji02ds1920, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Fujinoki-kofun Ikaruga Nara Pref01bs5s3840, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Tatsuta River, Ikaruga, Nara02, Kansai explorer, CC BY 3.0
- Horyuji Kokusai highschool, Bakkai, CC BY 3.0
- Ikaruga-jinja Ikaruga Nara Pref02s5s4380, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Komazuka Kofun (Ikaruga), funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Koizumi Otsuka Kofun, funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Funazuka Kofun (Ikaruga), funkyu, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Horyu-ji28s3200, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Fujinoki Kofun, entrance, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Hokiji07n4592, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Ikaruga-jinja Ikaruga Nara Pref01n4592, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- 安堵町歴史民俗資料館, Popbeans, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ikaruga Town Ikaruga Elementary school, Suikotei, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Funazuka Kofun (Ikaruga), funkyu-2, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Kenkichi Tomimoto Memorial Hall02s3872, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- KAZARIGIKEN - panoramio, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Horyu-ji (5243256532), KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Nara.- Le temple Horyu-ji,, PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hōryū-ji, Nara, Japan - 法隆寺, 奈良, 日本 (10226688925), Romain Pontida, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Horyuji 20200404135012 (50266595158), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Houryuji-temple Pathway - panoramio, Hikomi Moneru, CC BY 3.0
- East Gate of Horyuji Temple 20131218, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gate of Sogenji Temple in Horyuji Temple, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Central Way of Horyuji 2, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stone Tower in Zenjuin Temple in Horyuji Temple, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 法隆寺・賢聖院 - panoramio, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Supporter of wall besides central way of Horyuji Temple, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Horyu-ji (5242657199), KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 法隆寺・蓮光院 - panoramio, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central Way of Horyuji Temple 3, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Horyu-ji temple , 法隆寺 - panoramio (10), z tanuki, CC BY 3.0
- 法隆寺東院大伽藍 - panoramio, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 法隆寺・福生院 - panoramio, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Horyu-ji temple , 法隆寺 - panoramio (12), z tanuki, CC BY 3.0
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Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.