The Kohfuku-ji Temple, situated next to the Todai-ji Temple, was prosperous as a forerunner of "Buddhism for aristocrats" in the Nara period. Among the seven biggest temples of Nara, the Kohfuku-ji Temple has developed through the closest relationship with the town of Nara. In the 3rd year of the Wado era (710), the Umayasaka Temple, the predecessor of the present Kohfuku-ji Temple, was transferred from Asuka to the Nara capital by Fujiwara-no-Fuhito. Then, as a tutelary temple of the Fujiwara family, it extended its influence with the prosperity of the family. The temple was attacked by the Taira family in the fourth year of Jisho (1180), and most of the temple buildings were burned down. In the Kamakura period (1192-1333), however, the Fujiwara family took a position of the Military Commissioner of Nara, and eventually became so influential that they occasionally appealed to the Imperial Palace with soldier monks.
In the vast precincts of the temple are the Chukon-do Hall, the Tokon-do Hall, the Hokuen-do Hall, the Nan'en-do Hall, the Five-storied Pagoda, the Three-storied Pagoda, the Ooyuya Bathhouse, the Oomi-do Hall and the Treasure Hall, some of which were constructed in and after the Kamakura period. As for Buddhist sculptures, there are a lot of famous articles and masterpieces of the Tempyo era.
(The Chukon-do Hall will be completed in 2018.)
Basic Information
| Address | 48 Noborioji-cho, Nara City 630-8213 |
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| Access | 5 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station From JR Nara Station, take the city loop bus for 5 minutes and get off at "Kencho-mae." The destination is right there. |
| Inquiries | Tel: +81-742-22-7755 Fax: 0742-23-1971 |
| Barrier Free Accessibility | One barrier-free access restroom |
| Website | Kohfuku-ji Temple Official Websitehttps://www.kohfukuji.com/english/ |
| Closed on | Open all year |
| Parking | Space for 46 cars available. Parking fee of 1000 yen |
Entrance Fee
| Price (Individual) | ■Treasure Hall Entrance Fees: Adults (General/University Students): 700 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 600 yen Children (Elementary School Students): 300 yen ■ Tokon-do Hall Entrance Fees: Adults (General/University Students): 300 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 200 yen Children (Elementary School Students): 100 yen ■Treasure Hall & Tokon-do Hall Set (For Both) Entrance Fees for groups & individuals: Adults (General/University Students): 900 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 700 yen Children (Elementary School): 350 yen |
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| Price (Group) | Entrance Fees for Groups of 30 or more ■Treasure Hall Entrance Fees: Adults (General/University Students): 600 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 500 yen Children (Elementary School Students): 200 yen ■Tokon-do Hall Entrance Fees: Adults (General/University Students): 250 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 150 yen Children (Elementary School Students): 90 yen |
| Discount for Disabled Visitors | Treasure Hall Entrance Fees: Adults (General/University Students): 350 yen Students (Junior High/High School): 300 yen Children (Elementary School Students): 150 yen |
| Other | Regarding the major preservation and repair work on the World Heritage Site, Kohfuku-ji Temple's Five-Story Pagoda, construction of the protective roof (temporary roofing) will commence in earnest from July 2023, prior to the main repair work. The project will begin with the development of a detour route, followed by the closure of the construction area and the construction of the temporary roofing. Once the temporary roofing is completed, the full-scale repair work will commence, during which time the Five-Story Pagoda will not be visible. During the construction of the temporary roofing, there will be movement of construction vehicles, and visitors will need to use the detour routes. Please visit the official Kohfuku-ji Temple website for more details (as of June 2023). |
| Hours of Operation | The Treasure Hall and the Tokon-do Hall are both open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Last entry is at 4:45 p.m.) |
Sightseeing
| Events | Tsuinae: February 3, 18:30–20:00 Nehane: February 15, 10:00–11:00 (Nehan-zu Display: 9:00–16:00) Busshoe: April 8, 9:00–16:00 (Ceremony: 10:00–11:00) Hojoe: April 17, 13:00– Monjue: April 25, 15:00– Takigi-o-noh: Third Friday and Saturday in May, 17:30– Benzaiten Festival (Three-Story Pagoda Open): July 7, 10:00 (Open: 9:00–16:00) Daihannyae (Nan'en-do Open): October 17, 13:00– (Open: 9:00–17:00) |
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| Flower-Viewing | Wisteria: Early May |
| National Treasures | The Five-Storied Pagoda, Hokuendo, the Three-storied Pagoda and others |
| Special Openings | July 7: Three-storied Pagoda October 17: Southern Round Hall |
Nearby Locations
Nara Okuyama Driveway – Toll road leading to the summit of Mt. Wakakusa
Zoushi-cho - Byakugoji-cho, Nara City
Ukimido Gazebo
Nearby Accommodation
Todai-ji Temple/Nara Park 
Nara-machi 
Heijo Palace/Saki/Saho-ji 
Kita-machi 
Tomio/Gakuen-mae 
Saidai-ji Temple/Nishi-no-kyo/Daian-ji Temple 
Kiyosumi-no-Sato 
Takisaka-no-Michi Path 
Yagyu 
Tsukigase 
Tawara 
Tsuge 
JR奈良駅周辺 
高畑 
