| Photo Diary | Horyuji

Japan is not short of beautiful mind staggering temples and though we have not visited enough to claim a clear favourite, there is one that stirs genuine emotion and inspires us more than any other we have visited and that is Horyuji.
Every temple in Japan is in its own way rich in intricate and unique detail. Horyuji sets itself apart as the worlds oldest surviving wooden structure.

Few nations are as enamoured with wood as the Japanese and the historical cultural relevance of this is so beautifully exposed in Horyuji's architectural bones. It is a place of poignant shadow and tactile warmth. Masterfully constructed edifices that stand as testament to a real knowledge and respect of wood as a fabric for building. Astonishingly much of the work was managed without the use of a single metal nail.

SEE MORE | See more of our adventures in Japan HERE |