Explore Kansai: Shotoku school of Buddhism in Nara Ikaruga town

Less known than Nara city's cosmic Buddha in Todai-ji and deers around Nara park, Ikaruga town is possibly of more historical value and yet far less crowded in Nara prefecture. Actually one of the two World Heritage sites there are close to devoid of tourists even in the cherry blossom season.

Horyu-ji, Horin-ji, and Hoki-ji belongs to Shotoku school of Buddhism, becoming independent of Hokke school quite recently in 1950. This soil is associated with Prince Shotoku, whose face used to be printed on 10,000 yen notes. Possibly Horyu-ji is the second oldest among major temples only to Asuka-dera also in Nara prefecture.

From JR Horyu-ji station, street to Horyu-ji has a lot of car traffic. From huge temple ground of Horyu-ji to Horin-ji, car traffic decreases dramatically and the idyllic landscape reins. There are strawberry farms, but no convenience stores. Signposts are not so many, and distance is comfortably decent on foot, so can be lost but can't die, as there are at least two drink vending machines from Horyu-ji to Horin-ji. And it seems that certain community bus services exists around the area that is too infrequent to be of help to touristy type.

Horin-ji is free of charge. It temple ground is small in comparison to Horyu-ji, but quite comfortable. The number of touristy type decreases dramatically from Horyu-ji. Foot seems to be the best transportation choice, but rental bicycle is another choice.

From Horin-ji to Hoki-ji, the idyllic landscape continues but the last stretch goes along the car traffic. Hoki-ji, one of the two World Heritage sites in this town, charges 300 yen. Now mostly devoid of touristy type, relaxing time can be had. This temple ground is said to have established in early 7th century of Prince Shotoku's time and flourished in 8th century, when this temple was independent of Horyu-ji. But after this temple came under Horyu-ji's control in 9th century, decline started. In the early Edo period of 17th century, only three story pagoda remained. Effort for resurgence was undertaken in mid Edo period onward and the current Galan spacial design and buildings were re-established. The temple ground and buildings continues to exist, but its school changes from Shingon Esoteric to Hokke to Shotoku. It is one of the puzzling historical facts that the same temple could be used for different Buddhist schools, as teaching can be quite different from school to school. 300 yen admission fee is worth it, passing Hoki-ji's turbulent 1400 year heritage to the future in this rural relaxing atmosphere.