Hōryūji Temple in Nara
By Tony Mariani
Hōryū-ji (法隆寺) is a Buddhist Temple located in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture. It is very famous for its pagoda, widely acknowledged to be one of the world's oldest wooden buildings. Completed in the year of 603, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
I'm not sure if it is because of its age, but during my visit I felt that the atmosphere inside the temple grounds was almost like that of a different world. I truly value my visits to Japanese temples and shrines because of the tranquility they can transmit to you. In a so busy country, and with enormous metropolis areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, it is just soul refreshing to visit a place like this.
The general entrance ticket costs ¥1,500 and you can spend a really nice afternoon here. Right outside, next to the entrance, there are a few stores where you can buy souvenirs and/or have a meal to replenish your energy after all the walk!
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