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- South Main Gate
South Main Gate (Nandaimon)
The main approach to the Horyuji Temple complex is a broad avenue of majestic pine trees leading up to this elegant eight-pillar gate. This gate was once situated near the Middle Gate but was moved when the temple was expanded. Fire destroyed the original structure in 1435, but it was rebuilt shortly afterwards in 1438. Unique architectural features of the gate include flower-shaped decorative bracket arms and the carved end-nosing of the head rail.
Earthen Wall (Tsuijibei)
These walls were built using a construction method called ''rammed earth,'' in which clay is tamped down layer by layer with sticks. At Horyuji Temple, the walls surrounding the sub-temple within the precincts separate each area, and the walls that extend to the left and right of the south main gate are called Ogaki in particular. Each layer of the wall is gradually eroded by wind and rain, creating stripes and forming part of the historic landscape.