Hoki-ji

Temple

法起寺

Japan’s Oldest

Three-Story Pagoda

Home to Japan's oldest extant three-story pagoda, Hokki-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara, traditionally associated with Prince Shotoku and his son, Prince Yamashiro. Temple and tourism sources explain that the temple was established in the 7th century on a site connected with Okamoto Palace, and that construction of the temple was completed in the early 8th century. This history places Hokki-ji within the same early Buddhist landscape as nearby Horyu-ji Temple.

Completed in 706, the temple's elegant three-story pagoda is designated a National Treasure and is recognized as the oldest surviving structure of its kind in Japan. Hokki-ji also forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area, reflecting its outstanding architectural and historical significance.

For visitors, Hokki-ji offers a peaceful introduction to early Japanese temple architecture amid the quiet rural landscape of Ikaruga.

Traditional Japanese pagoda surrounded by trees, seen above a wall with a flowerbed.
Traditional Japanese pagoda with multiple tiers, dark wooden structure, white walls, set in a park with trees and clear blue sky.
Traditional Japanese pagoda with multiple tiers, surrounded by trees with yellow and green leaves, under a blue sky with clouds.
A traditional Japanese pagoda surrounded by lush trees and foliage, with a pond filled with lily pads in the foreground, under a blue sky.
Reflection of a pagoda-style roof and tower in a pond with lily pads and floating leaves.
Traditional Japanese building with wooden doors and tiled roof under a partly cloudy sky.
A tranquil Japanese garden with a pond filled with lily pads, surrounded by trees and traditional buildings, during autumn with colorful foliage.
A pond with floating lily pads reflecting sunlight and the sky, with trees bordering the water.
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