Nara National Museum
Nara, Japan
Kofuku-ji, Nara
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Photo: Cun Cun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Grounds 24 hours; halls and museum 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:45
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Grounds
- Free, always open
- National Treasure Museum
- About ¥900
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Golden Halls
- About ¥500 each; all three ≈ ¥1,600
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hall hours
- 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:45
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Pagoda
- Under restoration scaffolding until 2034
- Getting there
- 5 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara
Key facts
710the year the temple moved to Nara with the capital
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japan-guide.com50 mheight of the five-storey pagoda — Japan's second tallest
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japan-guide.com1426the year the pagoda was last rebuilt
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japan-guide.com2018the rebuilt Central Golden Hall opened
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japan-guide.comAshuraa three-faced, six-armed statue — among Japan's most famous
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japan-guide.comFujiwarathe clan whose family temple Kofuku-ji was
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en.wikipedia2034until March — the pagoda's restoration under scaffolding
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japan-guide.comFreetemple grounds, around the clock
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japan-guide.comWhat is Kofuku-ji?
Kofuku-ji was the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan of the Nara and Heian periods. It moved to Nara in 710 along with the capital, and at its height had more than 150 buildings. Today it stands on the western edge of Nara Park, a few minutes from the station, and is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.
The symbol of the temple and of Nara itself is the five-storey pagoda, 50 metres tall — Japan's second-tallest wooden pagoda after the one at To-ji in Kyoto. The present structure dates from 1426. Next to it stand the Central Golden Hall, rebuilt at its original size and opened in 2018, and the Eastern Golden Hall with its statue of the Healing Buddha.
What's paid and what it costs
The temple grounds are free and open around the clock — you cross them on the way from the deer park. Three things charge entry: the National Treasure Museum (Kokuhokan) at about ¥900, and the Central and Eastern Golden Halls at about ¥500 each, or about ¥1,600 for all three. We took these prices from guides.
The museum's star is the Ashura statue with three faces and six arms, one of Japan's best-loved Buddhist sculptures. Beside it are other 8th-century dry-lacquer statues. The halls and museum open 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:45.
What to see
- The National Treasure Museum — the Ashura statue.
- The Central Golden Hall — vermilion, from 2018.
- The Eastern Golden Hall with its Yakushi statue.
- The five-storey pagoda — currently under scaffolding.
- The three-storey pagoda on the southern slope.
- Sarusawa Pond — just south of the temple.
How to get to Kofuku-ji
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Nara National Museum is about 10 min away on foot.
- Naramachi is about 13 min away on foot.
- Todai-ji is about 21 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Kintetsu-Nara — about 5 minutes on foot east.
- From JR Nara — about 20 minutes on foot, or the loop bus, 5–7 minutes.
- From Osaka — Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba, about 40 minutes.
- From Kyoto — Kintetsu, about 45 minutes.
- To Todai-ji — about 15 minutes on foot through the park.
Kofuku-ji or Todai-ji
| Kofuku-jiyou are here | The Ashura statue, the pagoda | Free, 24 hours | Museum ≈ ¥900 | 5 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todai-ji | The Great Buddha | Free | ¥800 | 20 minutes |
How long do you need?
Allow about an hour for Kofuku-ji: walk the grounds, visit the museum for Ashura and see the Central Golden Hall. If you're in a hurry, 20 minutes on the free grounds is enough.
The temple is the first stop on the way from the station to the deer park and Todai-ji. In the evening, when the halls are closed, you can still walk the grounds freely — they're open around the clock.
Walk down to Sarusawa Pond south of the temple for the classic view of the temple above the water. Beyond the pond begins the old Naramachi quarter, with wooden houses and cafés.
Is Kofuku-ji worth visiting?
Yes: it's on the way, the grounds are free, and the museum with Ashura holds one of Japan's finest collections of Buddhist sculpture.
The YesGo take: while the pagoda is under scaffolding, the temple's signature view is lost, which disappoints those who came for the postcard shot. But the museum makes up for it. If you love art, buy a museum ticket; if not, walk the grounds for free and head for the deer.
Before you go: checklist
Ready: 0 of 5Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Nara temples: compare and choose
Temples and shrines in Nara rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Todai-ji | 51 | 1 h 30 min | ¥800 | 18 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kofuku-jiyou are here | 44 | 1 h | grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 | — |
| Kasuga Taisha | 37 | 1 h | outer area free; corridors ¥700 | 27 min walk |
| Yakushi-ji | 32 | 1 h 15 min | ¥1,000 | 4.6 km |
| Horyu-ji | 30 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ ¥2,000 | 11.7 km |
Nara in a day
The deer and Kofuku-ji in the morning, Todai-ji's Great Buddha at midday, and the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha in the afternoon. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Kofuku-jiyou are here1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900
- 20 min walk from the previous stopNara Park1 h 30 min · free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopTodai-ji1 h 30 min · ¥800
- 20 min walk from the previous stopKasuga Taisha1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700
4 places · about 5 h 49 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- The grounds are free and always open.
- The highlight is the Ashura statue in the museum.
- The pagoda is under scaffolding until 2034.
- For the view over water: Sarusawa Pond.
- Next: Nara Park.
Questions
How much is entry to Kofuku-ji?
The grounds are free; the museum is about ¥900, the halls about ¥500.
What are the opening hours?
Grounds always; halls and museum 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:45.
Why is the pagoda under scaffolding?
It's being restored — according to guides, until March 2034.
What is the Ashura statue?
A three-faced, six-armed 8th-century statue in the temple museum.
How do I get there?
5 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara station.
Can I go inside the pagoda?
No, the pagodas are closed to visitors.
How long do you need?
About an hour.
What's nearby?
Nara Park and its deer, Sarusawa Pond and the Naramachi quarter.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- japan-guide.com — history, the pagoda and its restoration, Ashura, prices, hours, access (unofficial; kohfukuji.com didn't load on 09.11.2026)
- English Wikipedia: Kōfuku-ji — Fujiwara clan, UNESCO
- Wikidata Q1070863 — coordinates
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