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Todai-ji, Nara

The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) of Todai-ji with its front lantern and visitors on the stone approach
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥800
Hours
Daibutsuden: April–October 7:30–17:30; November–March 8:00–17:00
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Daibutsuden
¥800; ages 6–12 ¥400
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
With Todai-ji Museum
¥1,200; children ¥600
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Winter hours
November–March 8:00–17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Summer hours
April–October 7:30–17:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Free
The grounds, Nandaimon, Nigatsu-do
Getting there
20 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara through the park
Coordinates
34.68917, 135.83972YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 15 mheight of the bronze Vairocana Buddha
Sourceen.wikipedia
48.7 mheight of the Daibutsuden hall
Sourcetodaiji.or.jp
Largestwooden building in the world
Sourcetodaiji.or.jp
8th centurywhen the temple was founded and the Buddha cast
Sourceen.wikipedia
Kegonthe Buddhist school of which Todai-ji is the head temple
Sourceen.wikipedia
1998UNESCO listing — Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
Sourceen.wikipedia
¥800entry to the Daibutsuden
Sourcetodaiji.or.jp
Edothe period of the present hall
Sourcetodaiji.or.jp

What is Todai-ji?

Todai-ji, the 'Great Eastern Temple', is the head temple of the Kegon school of Buddhism in Nara, founded in the 8th century when Nara was Japan's capital. It's part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (1998).

The main building is the Daibutsuden hall. According to the temple's official site, it's the largest wooden building in the world: 57 metres wide and almost 49 metres tall. The present hall dates from the Edo period and is smaller than the original — 7 bays instead of 11, though just as tall. Inside sits the Great Buddha, a bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha about 15 metres high and a National Treasure.

Tickets and hours

According to the official site, entry to the Daibutsuden is ¥800 from age 13 and ¥400 for children aged 6–12. A combined ticket with the Todai-ji Museum is ¥1,200. From April to October the hall opens 7:30 to 17:30, and from November to March 8:00 to 17:00.

The temple grounds, the Nandaimon gate and the Nigatsu-do hall on the hillside are free. The Daibutsuden, Hokke-do, Kaidan-do and the museum charge entry. Photos are allowed in the hall, but not tripods. A multilingual audio guide is available just past the ticket gate for ¥500.

What to see

  • The Great Buddha in the Daibutsuden.
  • The Nandaimon gate with its two Kongo Rikishi guardians.
  • The pillar with a hole behind the statue.
  • Nigatsu-do — a free veranda with a view over Nara.
  • Hokke-do — one of the temple's oldest halls.
  • The Todai-ji Museum — statues and treasures.

How to get to Todai-ji

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Kintetsu-Nara — about 20 minutes on foot east through Nara Park.
  2. From JR Nara — about 35 minutes on foot, or a city bus.
  3. Bus — to the Todaiji Daibutsuden stop, then a few minutes on foot.
  4. From Osaka — Kintetsu to Kintetsu-Nara, about 40 minutes.
  5. From Kyoto — Kintetsu or JR, about 45 minutes.

Todai-ji or Horyu-ji

Todai-jiyou are hereThe Great Buddha and a vast hallIn Nara Park¥800Many
Horyu-jiThe oldest wooden buildings12 km from the centreSeparate ticketFewer

How long do you need?

Allow 1–1.5 hours for Todai-ji: pass through the Nandaimon gate, go into the Daibutsuden, walk round the Buddha and climb to Nigatsu-do, whose veranda looks out over the temple roofs and the city.

The temple stands inside Nara Park, so deer will greet you on the way. It's easy to walk from the station via Kofuku-ji and the park, and on from Todai-ji to Kasuga Taisha shrine.

The busiest hours are 10 to 15, when school trips and tour groups arrive. At opening or an hour before closing the hall is more spacious, and the light through the windows above the Buddha is especially beautiful.

Is Todai-ji worth visiting?

Yes: it's the main reason people come to Nara. The scale of the hall and the statue impresses even those who have seen many temples.

The YesGo take: it's very crowded during the day, especially at the pillar and by the gate, where deer beg for crackers. Come at opening, and don't miss Nigatsu-do on the hillside — it's quiet, has the best view and is free.

Before you go: checklist

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Nara temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Nara rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Todai-jiyou are here511 h 30 min¥800—
Kofuku-ji441 hgrounds free; museum ≈ ¥90018 min walk
Kasuga Taisha371 houter area free; corridors ¥70020 min walk
Yakushi-ji321 h 15 min¥1,0005.6 km
Horyu-ji302 h 30 min≈ ¥2,00012.7 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.

  1. Kofuku-ji1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900
  2. 20 min walk from the previous stopNara Park1 h 30 min · free
  3. 9 min walk from the previous stopTodai-jiyou are here1 h 30 min · ¥800
  4. 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

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Nara Park

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · free · 9 min walk

Nara National Museum

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥700; under 18 free · 12 min walk

Kofuku-ji

Nara, Japan

1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 · 18 min walk

Kasuga Taisha

Nara, Japan

1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700 · 20 min walk

How to do it right

  • Come at opening.
  • Squeeze through the pillar behind the Buddha.
  • Nigatsu-do is free and has a view.
  • Photos are fine in the hall, tripods aren't.
  • Next: Kasuga Taisha.

Questions

How much is entry to Todai-ji?

The Daibutsuden is ¥800 from age 13, ¥400 for children aged 6–12.

What are the opening hours?

8:00–17:00 from November to March, 7:30–17:30 from April to October.

How tall is the Great Buddha?

About 15 metres.

What is free?

The grounds, the Nandaimon gate and Nigatsu-do hall.

Can I take photos?

Yes, inside the hall, but no tripods or group shoots.

How do I get there?

About 20 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara station through the park.

How long do you need?

1–1.5 hours.

What is the pillar with a hole?

The hole is the size of the Buddha's nostril; squeezing through brings luck.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Temple official site (todaiji.or.jp/en) — seasonal hours, prices, photo rules, hall dimensions (checked 09.11.2026)
  • English Wikipedia: Tōdai-ji — Kegon school, founding, the Buddha, Nandaimon, UNESCO
  • Travel guides — the pillar with a hole, access (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q460367 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, prices, photo rules and the hall's dimensions are from the temple's official site. The school, founding, the Buddha and UNESCO status are from Wikipedia; we don't cover the history of the hall's destruction. The pillar and access are from guides.

Top YesGo picks: Nara

Naramachi

Nara, Japan

1 h · free

Heijo Palace Site

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · free

Mount Wakakusa

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1 h 30 min · ¥150

Yakushi-ji

Nara, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥1,000

Horyu-ji

Nara, Japan

2 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,000

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