Horyuji Temple

A small drive down the town, in the Kansai region, is this world heritage UNESCO site― Horyuji Temple, Nara. Situated in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture of Japan, the temple is sprawled across a wide complex of 187,000 sq m of land and is famous for housing some of the oldest wooden temple structures in the world, and a gallery of priceless art works, dating back centuries. The temple complex, consisting of the main hall and the 5 storeyed pagoda among other wooded buildings, was originally founded by Prince Shotoku in 607 AD only to be re-established later on in the early 8th century after being burnt down in a massive fire. From among all these structures, the 5 storeyed pagoda is today credited as being the absolute oldest surviving wooden structure in the world.
If you love history and spirituality, it is incredibly easy to get lost in this place and lose track of your time―the complex, sprinkled with historic anecdotes spanning across centuries, keeps your curious mind occupied while images of Buddhist significance are binding enough to envelop your craving soul in a state of bliss. But if these things are not your cup of tea, don‘t worry! The temple complex is still a sheer architectural marvel. With its impressively daunting intricately carved structures, the complex is well worth all your time.