photo by Kazuyoshi Miyoshi/Nara Visitors Bureau
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- Destinations
- Central Japan
- Nara
- Todai-ji Temple
Todai-ji Temple
A temple with numerous buildings designated as national treasures
- Closest station
JR Nara Station
- Access
From JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station, take the Nara Kotsu Bus (city loop) on the outer loop for about 8 minutes, get off at the Todai-ji Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha-mae bus stop, and then walk for about 5 minutes.
- Location
406-1 Zoushi-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
- Opening hours
Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den): 7:30 – 17:30 from April to October, and 8:00 – 17:00 from November to March. Other times vary by facility.
- Price
The entrance fee for each hall, including the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den), Hokke-do Hall (Sangatsu-do), and Kaidan-do Hall, is 800 yen for adults (junior high school students and older) and 400 yen for elementary school students
Great Stuff to See and Do!
Todai-ji Temple's principal image is the Vairocana Buddha, known as the Great Buddha of Nara
The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den)
photo by Kazuyoshi Miyoshi/Nara Visitors Bureau
Todai-ji Temple is a representative temple that was founded in the 8th century during the Nara period. It was built in Heijo-kyo, the capital at the time, as the center for the provincial temples throughout Japan.
The emperor at the time, Emperor Shomu, ordered the construction of the Vairocana Buddha in 743, hoping for the prosperity of all living things. Thus, the Great Buddha, famous as the “Great Buddha of Nara,” was cast in this way. The Great Buddha is about 15m tall, and the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den) where it is enshrined is also known as one of the largest wooden structures in the world.
Numerous other temple buildings were also constructed, and the temple complex was completed over a long period of time. Although the temple has been repeatedly damaged by natural disasters and fires during wars, it has been restored and rebuilt each time. The temple’s current appearance was completed by around the 18th century. In addition to the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den), there are many other structures within the temple grounds, including the restored Nandai-mon (Great South Gate) and the Bell Tower. These were registered as a World Heritage Site in 1998 as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.”
Temple treasures that have been protected and passed down through a long history
Nandai-mon
photo:(c)Tōdai-ji
The Todai-ji Museum, located near the Nandai-mon, is a facility where you can learn more about the history of Todai-ji Temple. The museum stores and displays a variety of the temple’s treasures, including Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and crafts, with a focus on the history and art of Todai-ji Temple. In addition to the permanent exhibits, which include the museum’s principal image of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva and the Gigaku masks used in the Great Buddha’s eye-opening ceremony, there are also special exhibitions and featured exhibits.
