Hōryū-ji

I visited Horyuji Temple in the middle of a long weekend. Although I expected it to be crowded, the grounds are spacious and peaceful, allowing me to explore comfortably. Seeing the world’s oldest wooden buildings up close was truly inspiring. There’s a depth and serenity that photos cannot convey—the architecture, the atmosphere, the sound of the wind through the corridors, and even the scent of the wood all create a very special experience. The exhibits were also impressive, with beautifully detailed statues and historical artifacts. The staff were kind and helpful, making it easy to navigate even for first-time visitors. Even during the holiday period, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly busy, making it a pleasant site for families as well. It’s absolutely a must-visit when in Nara. One important note: the entrance fee is cash-only, so be sure to bring cash with you.

Not sure if it's because I went during an off-season, but this beautiful temple seems to have less footfall than the other major Buddhist places of interest within Nara city proper. And that's why I highly recommend going. The world's oldest wooden buildings are a wonderous sight to behold, and I found that there was sufficient English information available to help me understand the entire temple's historical significance and keep me engaged for more than half a day. Couldn't enter the section with the Yumedono as I dropped my ticket somewhere, but that just gives me a convenient excuse to come back to this amazing temple one day.

It was my university field trip. It was not enjoyable but also packed with historical knowledge experience. The pagoda and temples were built more than 1400 years ago. This history of this place dates back to when before Nara was the capital of Japan in the 6th century. Once you step foot into this historical place, you'd feel as if you've been transported into a different era in time. I wholeheartedly advise everyone to take your time and slowly pace through this place so that you can immerse, feel, and absorb the atmosphere.

A beautiful and historic temple with incredible ancient architecture, it’s amazing to see structures this old still standing. The grounds are peaceful and well-preserved. That said, the entrance fee is quite expensive compared to other temples, which might be a drawback for some. Still, it’s a special place worth seeing if you’re interested in history.

Please take half day to this gorgeous temple! We been to Nara twice and visited this temple in our second trip to Nara, we were upset why we didn’t visit here earlier. Once stepping into the gate, we were speechless of how beautiful this temple is! Please don’t miss this place in your trip!

Horyu-ji Temple is one of the most important Buddhist sites in Japan and home to some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. The history, architecture, and peaceful atmosphere make it a must-visit in Nara.

GREAT anciant Buddhist temple in Japan!! Many Buddhist buildings, included oldest Buddhist building in Japan are very impressive. Gilt bronze Buddhist statue of "Sakyamuni Triad" and wooden statue of "Kudara Kannon" are very beautiful!

A must visit during cherry blossom season, even on Sunday, it’s not that crowded compared to other tourist sites, so it’s a very nice experience, the ancient temple has an impressive history & architectures! Very well maintained & there’s a museum inside including in the ticket. You can see 1000+ yrs old art pieces.

This is one of the oldest temple in Japan and has the oldest wooden building, over 1000 years old. It's not far from Nara city and convenient to visit by bus and train from Nara city center. So you can go here and famous temples in Nara city in one day. It was built by Umayado-no-Oji, most Japanese also call him Shotoku-Taishi. He was very famous person and Japanese knows his character well. Anyway if you are a first time visitor in Japan, you should go here and feel the history of Japan. 日本最古のお寺の一つにして、最古の木造建築が残されているお寺です。 奈良市内からもそれほど遠くなく、電車・バスで行くことができます。 奈良市内の観光と1日で回るのもいいでしょう。 有名な厩戸皇子（聖徳太子として知られていますが）が建立したことでも知られています。 日本、関西に初めて来た方なら、日本の歴史を知るためにも一度は訪れることをお勧めします。