Hōryū-ji

Hōryū-ji is a Buddhist sacred site founded by Prince Shōtoku, boasting fourteen hundred years of history as the world's oldest wooden architectural complex. The five-story pagoda and golden hall, which convey the appearance of the Asuka period to the present day, are treasures that embody the finest of Japanese architectural technique. As known from the verse "When the persimmon is eaten, the bell of Hōryū-ji rings," it is a special place imbued with the atmosphere of an ancient capital and profound spirituality. Within the temple grounds where the spirit of "harmony" (wa), the ideal of Prince Shōtoku, dwells, one can encounter noble teachings infused with wishes for peace that transcend time.