Todai-ji, the temple to the great Buddha of Nara 東大寺

Todai-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage Temple

The Todai-ji is an important Buddhist temple located in the heart of the city of Nara, in Kansai. This famous temple located not far from Nara Park houses a monumental bronze Buddha statue in the Daibutsu-den building. A must when visiting the city!

Todai-ji

View of Todai-ji

Flickr Ludger Heide, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Within the Daibutsu-den itself, an opening at the foot of a pillar (behind the left shoulder of the Buddha) lets through any persevering person who wishes to try to obtain the promise of enlightenment in the next life.

Also not to be overlooked are the frightening wooden sculptures of the Buddha's guardians who lurk behind him in the shadows, as well as the two gleaming gold-covered wooden Bodhisattvas seated beside him.

Todai-ji

Nandaimon South Gate

Aymeric Geoffre-Rouland

Todai-ji

Detail of a golden bodhisattva

Juliette River


Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Phone

    +81 (0)74 222 5511
  • Timetable

    Daibutsuden Kasuga Taisha mae stop of the bus lines provided by JR West or Kintetsu Railways from their respective stations. 20 min on foot from Nara station.
  • Price

    Admission: 600 yen ($5.25/4:75€) for the Daibutsuden and 600 yen for the museum alone. Ticket combining the museum and the Daibutsuden for 1000 yen ($8.50/7.75€).
  • Access

    Open daily. November to February: 8 am - 4.30 pm. March: 8 am - 5 pm. April to September: 7.30 am - 5.30 pm. October: 7.30 .m - 5 pm. The museum opens at 9.30 am.

Our activities in Nara

  • Duration : 8 hour
  • Location : Nara
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Our tours in Nara

  • Duration : 13 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : Visits & meals, English-speaking tour leader, Hotel temple, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan
  • Duration : 14 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko), Osaka, Himeji, Kyoto, Nara
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kawaguchiko, Tokyo
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 21 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka, Kobe, Takachiho, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
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