Muromachi living quarters in the Yakushibo sub-temple
The Horyuji Temple Yakushibo Priests' Quarters (法隆寺薬師坊庫裡, Hōryū-ji Yakushibō Kuri) in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, are the kuri of the Yakushibo sub-temple, built in the late Muromachi period, between 1467 and 1572, and designated an Important Cultural Property on June 9, 1943.
The main block measures 18.0 meters by 7.9 meters. Single-storey, it holds four 8-mat rooms, one 6-mat room and two 4-mat rooms with verandas, an earth-floored area and a kitchen; the roof is gabled on the east and hipped on the west, in pan tiles.
A building for daily life
A kuri is where a temple's monks live and prepare meals. Unlike a hall for worship, it has living rooms and an earth-floored work area. The Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters preserve the living quarters of a sub-temple as they were in the late Muromachi period.
Seven matted rooms plus an earthen area and kitchen show how monks' rooms and kitchen were gathered under one roof. Horyuji keeps other sub-temple dwellings too, such as the Kitamuroin Taishiden and the Saionin Guest Hall.
What to look for
The roof changes shape from east to west: gabled at the east end, hipped at the west, two forms in one building.
Its pan-tile roof looks lighter and closer to a farmhouse than the heavy round-tile roofs of the halls, fitting a building for everyday life.
Visiting
Yakushibo is a sub-temple, and the interior of the Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters is not open to the public.
Hours, tickets and directions are on the Horyuji page.
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Q&A
- What are the Horyuji Temple Yakushibo Priests' Quarters?
- The late Muromachi living quarters and kitchen of the Yakushibo sub-temple.
- What is the layout of the Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters?
- Four 8-mat rooms, one 6-mat room and two 4-mat rooms with verandas, an earthen area and kitchen; the main block is 18.0 meters by 7.9 meters.
- What is special about the roof of the Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters?
- It is gabled on the east and hipped on the west, covered in pan tiles.
- Can you visit the Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters?
- No. The interior is not open to the public.
- Are the Horyuji Yakushibo Priests' Quarters an Important Cultural Property?
- Yes. They were designated on June 9, 1943.
Basic Information
| Name | Horyuji Temple Yakushibo Priests' Quarters (Hōryū-ji Yakushibō Kuri) |
|---|---|
| Location | Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1943/6/9 (Showa 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Main block 18.0 meters by 7.9 meters; four 8-mat rooms, one 6-mat room, two 4-mat rooms, verandas, earthen area, kitchen; single storey, gabled on the east and hipped on the west, pan-tile roof |
| Owner | Horyuji Temple |
| Public Access | Closed |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Yakushibo Kuri
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2730
- Cultural Heritage Online — Horyuji Yakushibo Kuri
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/db/heritages/detail/123737
Last verified: 2026.10.01
