Horyu-ji is a unique piece of cultural heritage that takes you back to the time when Japan adopted Buddhism. This major change brought with it the architecture of Chinese temples, which blended with Japanese traditions. Founded at the beginning of the 7C, Horyu-ji holds the oldest wooden buildings in the world: a five-storey pagoda, Gojuno-to, and the Golden Pavilion, Kon-do. These two buildings, together with the Pavilion of Dreams, house an exceptional collection of Buddhist statues, among the most remarkable of which are the triad of Shaka Nyorai (a historic Buddha) and a gilded wood statue of Kuze Kannon.