Experience Nara Time in Japan

NARA Travelers Guide

Experience Nara Time in Japan

Visit Nagato Yamaguchi Japan

Todai-ji Temple とうだいじ

Todai-ji Temple とうだいじ

"Todai-ji Temple, known for its ""Daibutsu-san,"" or Great Buddha, is a representative temple in Nara, with an imposing appearance of the largest wooden structure in the world. This is a famous temple of the Kegon sect and was founded by Roben.

As the imperial ordinance was issued for the construction of Great Buddha, the temple was erected under national sponsorship so that the Great Buddha would be enshrined. The consecrating ceremony was held in the fourth year of the Tempyo-Shoho era (752). It took almost 40 years to complete the whole temple complex, because the temple site was gradually extended by adding more halls and pagodas.

Even after the transfer of the capital to Nagaoka in the third year of the Enryaku era (784), the temple enjoyed its prosperity under the protection of successive emperors, along with the Kofuku-ji Temple. However, the temple buildings were attacked with fire by Taira-no-Shigemori in the 4th yera of the Jisho era (1180), and by the army controlled by Matsunaga Hisahide in the 10th year of the Eiroku era (1567). Many of the buildings are reconstructions of the Edo period (1603-1868). There remain a large number of noted Buddhist statues sculptured in the Nara, Heian, Fujiwara and Kamakura periods (710-1333).

A typical sightseeing course is as follows:

the Nandai-mon Gate
the Daibutsu-den Hall
the Belfry
the Shunjo-do Hall
the Sammai-do Hall (Shigatsu-do)
the Hokke-do Hall (Sangatsu-do)
the Kaisan-do Hall
the Nigatsu-do Hall
the Tegai-mon Gate
the Kaiden-in

It takes 4 to 5 hours even if you quickly go through the whole course. If you don't have much time,it is better to focus on the Daibutsu-den Hall, the Sangatsu-do Hall (Hall for the March Rite), and the Kaidan-in (Ordination Hall).

(15 minutes' walk from Kintetsu Nara Station)"

Basic Information

Address 406-1 Zoshichou, Nara City 630-8587
Access 7 minutes on the city loop bus from JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara Stations. 5 minute walk from "Daibutsu-den Kasuga Taisha-mae" bus stop.
Inquiries Tel: +81-742-22-5511 Fax: 0742-22-0808
Barrier Free Accessibility Men's and women's handicapped-accessible restrooms are available to the west side of the entrance to the Temple Hall of the Great Buddha. Wheelchair-accessible slopes are set up within the Temple Hall.
Website Todai-ji Temple Official Websitehttps://www.todaiji.or.jp/en/
Closed on Open all year

Entrance Fee

Price (Individual) Adults:800 yen(older than Junior High School Student)
Elementary School Students: 400 yen
Price (Group) Groups (30 people or more): 700 yen
University Groups (30 people or more): 700 yen
High School Groups (30 people or more; admission for teachers leading such groups is free): 500 yen
Junior High School Groups(30 people or more; admission for teachers leading such groups is free): 400 yen
Elementary School Groups (30 people or more; admission for teachers leading such groups is free): 200 yen
Discount for Disabled Visitors Disabled visitors carrying their official handbooks: 400 yen for older than Junior High school students, 200 yen for elementary school students (Accompanying helpers may enter with the same admission fee).
Senior Discount Free admission upon presentation of Nara senior citizen's handbook ("roushun techou").
Other Separate admission fees are required for admission to the Temple Hall of the Great Buddha ("Daibutsu-den"), Hokke-do, Kaidan-doh, and Todaiji Museum .
Hours of Operation ■Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden)
April to October: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
November to March: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

■Hokkedo Hall (Sangatsudo) & Kaidando Hall
Open year-round: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

■Todai-ji Temple Musem
April to October: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
November to March: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)

Sightseeing

Events Setsubun Spring Bean-Throwing Ceremony: February, on the first day of spring
Shuni-e Second Month Ceremony: March 1st-15th
Dattan-bo Ceremony: March 15th
Celebration of the Birth of the Buddha: April 8th, starting at 8:00 a.m.
Buddhist Memorial Service for Emperor Shomu: May 2nd, starting 1:00 p.m.
Hatsumode First Prayer of the New Year: January 1st
Shusho-ue Cleansing Ceremony: January 7th, starting at 1:00 p.m.
Kejoe Ceremony: July 28th, starting at 8:00 a.m.
Cleansing of the Great Buddha: August 7th, 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. (Opening hour for tourists is 7:30)
Oyoku Prayer Amplification: August 9th
Great Buddha Mantokuyoe Lantern Festival: August 15th, 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Great Buddha Autumn Festival: October 15th, starting from 10:00 a.m.
Recitation of the Names of the Buddha: December 14th, 8:30 a.m.-12:00
Hogo-e Oral Exam of Buddhist Scholars: December 16th
Flower-Viewing Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica): February to April
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia): July to September
National Treasures Nandaimon, Nigatsudoh, Hokkedoh, Golden hall,
and others
Special Openings October 5th: Sokei hachimanshinzoh
December 16th: Roben shozoh zazoh
December 16th: Shukongoh shin ritsuzo
July 5th, December 16th: Chogen shonin zazoh

AROUND

Area Information

Nearby Locations

Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest

Kasugano-cho, Nara

Tengyokudoh Kintetsu Nara Ekiten

29,Higashimukinakamachi,Nara-shi,Nara

Isui-en Garden/Neiraku Museum

74 Suimon-cho, Nara 630-8208

UNAKIKU

1130 Takabatake-cho, Nara City

Nearby Accommodation

Noborioji Hotel Nara

40-1 Noborioji-cho, Nara-city, Nara

Hotel Obana

〒630-8301 奈良市高畑町1110

Daibutsukan

奈良市高畑町250

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