Hokki-ji Temple
Quick Facts
- Location
- Japan, Nara
- Category
- Church & Religious Site
- Duration
- 20-30 min
- Opening Hours
- Daily 08:30-17:00 · Closes 16:30 from 4 Nov to 21 Feb; open daily, last admission 30 min before closing
- Ticket Price
- Adult: JPY 500 · Cash only; a combined Horyu-ji area ticket is also sold
- Address
- 1873 Okamoto, Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara 636-0102, Japan
- Coordinates
- 34.6180, 135.7290
Introduction
Hokki-ji stands among rice fields at the north-eastern edge of Ikaruga, one of the seven temples traditionally founded by Prince Shotoku. He is said to have expounded the Lotus Sutra at his Okamoto Palace here, and in 622 asked his son Yamashiro no Oe to turn it into a temple; the main hall rose in 638 and the three-storey pagoda was finished in 706. At about 24 metres, the pagoda is Japan's oldest surviving three-storey pagoda and a National Treasure, inscribed in 1993 as part of the Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area. Its top storey has two bays rather than three, as at Horyu-ji's five-storey pagoda. With the hall to the west and the pagoda to the east, the layout reverses the Horyu-ji west compound and is called the Hokki-ji style. The walled precinct takes fifteen minutes, but the better view lies outside: from mid-October to early November local farmers' cosmos fields surround the pagoda, with the Yata hills behind, while red spider lilies line the paths in late September.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 08:30-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Friday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Sunday | 08:30-17:00 |
Closes 16:30 from 4 Nov to 21 Feb; open daily, last admission 30 min before closing
Ticket Information
| Adult | JPY 500 |
|---|
Cash only; a combined Horyu-ji area ticket is also sold
Transportation
30-40 min on foot from JR Horyuji Station
Nara Kotsu bus to Hokkiji-mae, or a 25-min walk from Horyu-ji
Around 20 free spaces in front of the temple
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Hokki-ji Temple?
Monday: 08:30-17:00; Tuesday: 08:30-17:00; Wednesday: 08:30-17:00; Thursday: 08:30-17:00; Friday: 08:30-17:00; Saturday: 08:30-17:00; Sunday: 08:30-17:00; Closes 16:30 from 4 Nov to 21 Feb; open daily, last admission 30 min before closing
How much is the admission for Hokki-ji Temple?
Adult: JPY 500; Cash only; a combined Horyu-ji area ticket is also sold
How long should I spend at Hokki-ji Temple?
A typical visit takes 20-30 min.
How do I get to Hokki-ji Temple?
Subway: 30-40 min on foot from JR Horyuji Station; Bus: Nara Kotsu bus to Hokkiji-mae, or a 25-min walk from Horyu-ji; Driving/Parking: Around 20 free spaces in front of the temple
