Todai-ji Temple

Tōdai-ji

Place of worship • 406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, 630-8587, Japan

4.6(24020 reviews)

Kid-friendly

Here is a proposed article structure to maximize the charm of Todai-ji Temple.

The Overwhelming Presence of Nara's Giant Buddha

Wishing Upon the Great Buddha

Contained within the Great Buddha Hall at Todai-ji Temple is a massive seated Buddha statue. It is truly worth seeing. Paying respects to this statue has brought peace and happiness to people since ancient times. Let's entrust our wishes to the Great Buddha.

The Long-Standing Traditional Atmosphere of Nandaimon Gate

Nandaimon Gate stands as the main gate of Todai-ji Temple, a two-story gate with a history of over 600 years. Passing through this gate, one can sense the weight of time that transcends eras. Its dignified appearance is a must-see.

Beautiful Gardens and Ponds Adorning the Sacred Precincts

Within the precincts of Todai-ji Temple, ponds and strolling gardens are scattered. In the peaceful atmosphere, you can experience the beauty of nature. Enjoy the changing scenery depending on the season of your visit.

Just a Glimpse of the Wonders

The above are just a few of the highlights of Todai-ji Temple. You can't fully comprehend its grandeur and spirit until you actually visit. Why not be enchanted by this addictive atmosphere?

Tourist attraction Place of worship Point of interest Establishment

Reviews

5(a week ago)

Ignazio Kevin Anastasi

Stunning engineering of the temple. From far away it looks smaller that its actual size. The Buddha located inside the temple is around 15 meters tall and has guardians on the sides. The place is magical: incense smell and smoke create a unique atmosphere. You can ask for you 御朱印 (stamp) here! You can choose from two tickets: temple only or temple + museum. I chose the one with the museum and honestly I had higher expectations. It wasn't that bad but I've seen far better ones. Enjoy it!

5(a week ago)

James Ang

One of the temples in the Kyoto area that's a must visit. The history and the place is mindblowing and in top of the size of the place and scale that's impressive, there are also many things to explore such as the hole in the pillar that you can attempt to crawl through to test if you'll have good luck or write calligraphy on the roof tiles as a donation to the maintenance of the temple as well. Highly recommend that you get the combo ticket that allows you to visit the museum as well. At the gate of the temple, you may request for a free short guide to explain to you the significance and discreet "secrets" of the temple :)

5(a week ago)

Yorkshireman_Dan

This was one of my favourite temples on our recent visit to Japan. The sheer size of the wooden structure is very impressive as is the large Buddha housed inside. It was very busy with tourists and school trips but was worth the entrance fee to see inside.

5(a week ago)

Saurabh

Arguably the best attraction in Nara. The Buddha statue is huge and beautiful. It's towering presence has a calming effect and you would want to just sit in the main hall. There are a few benches where you can enjoy the views.

4(in the last week)

Kevin Cheng

A lot of people at the temple and the giant Buddha, but the flow was relatively smooth so there was not too much of a wait or crowd. Well worth the time. I would suggest being a bit careful as to where you park as some spots are quite far from the temple itself.

Provided by Google