Haikuhō no Sato - Saiō Temple Ruins
This site is the remains of a temple from the early Nara period and the Haikuhō era, and it is the only nationally designated special historic site in the San'in region that follows the Hōryū-ji style of temple layout. The site covers an area of 160 meters east to west and 250 meters north to south, featuring the remains of pagodas, the main hall, lecture hall, middle gate, corridors, and moats, with the foundation and stone pillars hinting at its historical significance. Many fragments of clay figures have been excavated around the site of the main hall (stored in the Kotoura Town Historical and Folklore Museum), including a tall six-foot Buddha statue and smaller clay figures, believed to have been housed in the main hall. The head of the Buddha, measuring 14 cm in height, is a small figurine with an elegant expression and a gentle demeanor; the original piece is housed in the Kyoto National Museum.