The Kannon of Salvation at Hōryū-ji's Yume-den

Hōryū-ji is registered as a World Heritage site as the world's oldest wooden architectural complex, established by Prince Shōtoku. The Five-Story Pagoda and Golden Hall of the Western Precinct convey the architectural beauty of the Asuka period to the present day, and in the Yume-den of the Eastern Precinct is enshrined the hidden Buddhist statue, the Kannon of Salvation, said to be a life-sized figure of Prince Shōtoku. The Kannon of Salvation is a precious Buddhist statue only open to the public twice a year, and its mystical smile captivates all who behold it.