A sub-temple gate beside the approach
The Horyuji Temple Saionin Karamon Gate (法隆寺西園院唐門, Hōryū-ji Saion-in Karamon) in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is an early Edo-period gate, built between about 1615 and 1660, on the east side of the Saionin sub-temple, designated an Important Cultural Property on June 9, 1943. It opens in the east wall of the Southwest Sub-Temple Walls, on the west side of the approach from the Great South Gate to the Middle Gate.
It is a one-bay hira-karamon with a cypress-bark roof. The national database records just 6.7 meters of wall between this gate and Saionin's other gate, the Agetsuchimon, so the two stand almost side by side.
How a hira-karamon works
A karamon is a gate whose roof uses the bow-shaped cusped gable called karahafu. In the hira type, the eave runs straight across the front and the curve appears on the gable ends at the sides; a muko-karamon turns the curve to face you. The two look completely different.
Where most of Horyuji's halls and gates are tiled, the Horyuji Saionin Karamon wears soft layers of cypress bark, a gate that is both formal and approachable.
Seen with the Agetsuchimon
Saionin also has an Agetsuchimon, an earth-roofed gate type, likewise an Important Cultural Property. With only 6.7 meters between them, two very different gates make one of the most eye-catching sights along the approach.
Step to the side of the Karamon to see the curve of the gable and the thickness of the bark roof. Walking toward the Middle Gate, glance back over your right shoulder.
Visiting
The gate can be seen freely from the approach. Saionin is a residential sub-temple, and the grounds behind the gate are not open to the public.
Hours, tickets and directions are on the Horyuji page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Horyuji Temple Saionin Karamon Gate
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Q&A
- Where is the Horyuji Temple Saionin Karamon Gate?
- On the west side of the approach from the Great South Gate to the Middle Gate, on the east side of the Saionin sub-temple.
- What is a hira-karamon?
- A gate whose eave runs straight across the front, with the curved cusped gable showing on the sides.
- What is the roof of the Horyuji Saionin Karamon made of?
- Layers of cypress bark.
- Can you go through the Horyuji Saionin Karamon?
- No. Saionin is a residential sub-temple and closed to the public, but the gate is visible from the approach.
- Is the Horyuji Saionin Karamon an Important Cultural Property?
- Yes. It was designated on June 9, 1943.
Basic Information
| Name | Horyuji Temple Saionin Karamon Gate (Hōryū-ji Saion-in Karamon) |
|---|---|
| Location | Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1943/6/9 (Showa 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | One-bay hira-karamon, cypress-bark roof |
| Owner | Horyuji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior only (visible from the approach) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Saionin Karamon
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2731
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Southwest Sub-Temple Walls (East)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2725
- Cultural Heritage Online — Horyuji Saionin Karamon
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/db/heritages/detail/146428
Last verified: 2026.10.01
