Best sightseeing place in Nara! Feel the Japanese history in "Todai-ji" famous for the Great Buddha!

"The Great Buddha" is very famous and every Japanese has heard about it. "The Great Buddha" is the largest bronze figures in Japan and it is situated in "Todai-ji which is registered as a World Heritage Site. It was built by Emperor Shomu in Nara era and now it's famous and one of the most important sightseeing place for not only Japanese but also foreigners.

In the huge premises, there are many historical buildings listed on the national heritage. Also you can have contact with semi-wild deer which live there and feed them with Shika Senbei (deer crackers).

Registered as a World Heritage Site in 1998, we recommend to start your visit from Nandai-mon (Great Southern Gate) and go on to the Daibutsu-den (the Great Buddha Hall) , Hokke-do(Sangatsu-do) and Nigatsu-do to feel the history of Ancient Capital city Nara.

When you come to Nara, must visit "Todai-ji"!

Table of contents for this article

１，Basic information
２，Useful information
３，Map
４，What's the best point?
５，Photo of "Todai-ji"
６，Access information to Todai-ji

１，Basic information

Name： Todai-ji
Name in English： TODAI-JI
Prefecture： Nara
Area： Nara city (around Nara koen）
Address： 406-1 zoshi-cho, Nara-city, Nara
Tel： 0742-22-5511
Open ： ※Depends on the season

Nov～Feb／8：00～16：30
Mar／8：00～17：00
Apr～Sep／7：30～17：30
Oct／7：30～17：00

Admission fee：

Adult／¥500
High school student／¥500
Jr high school student／¥500
Elementary student／¥300

※This fee is for only one building. Each building require each admission fee.

Parking：〇 (toll parking lot)

※Nara city Daibutsu parking (toll parking lot), meter parking near by

Official web site：http://www.todaiji.or.jp/index.html

２，Useful information

Less than 10 min walk from a station：☓
Credit card： ☓
Accompanied by： friend／date／family／alone
Staff who can speak foreign language： Unknown
Free Wi-Fi： Unknown
Duration： 1 hour～

３，Map

Todai-ji has the huge premises. Many historical buildings are located.
Please look at the map.


Download the map from here：Official we site

Principal Buildings

●Daibutsu-den／Kin-do ※National heritage
●Hokke-do／Sangatsu-do ※National heritage
●Nandai-mon ※National heritage
●Nigatsu-do ※National heritage
●Kaidan-do
●Tengai-mon※National heritage
●Syunjo-do
●Kaisan-do
●Kanjin-sho

４，What's the Best Point?

Among the many historical buildings, We selected the Best Point of Todai-ji.

"Daibutsu-den" famous for "The Great Buddha"

One reason of famousness of Todai-ji is from "The Great Buddha".
"Daibutsu-den" the synonymous with Todai-ji is 15 m tall and its hugeness makes us amazed. It is said that it was built in Nara era to protect country but it had burned down 2 times and reconstructed 2 times.
The sculptures are registered in the national heritage.

Todai-ji Night Illumination

In the summer, Night illumination called "Light Up Promenade・Nara" is held in Todai-ji including Nara Park. This event is performed at "Daibutsu-den" and "Nandai-mon". Todai-ji with the moon light on the summer night sky looks very beautiful and you can find the different elegance and charm from daytime. Depends on the season, "Toekai" special night illumination with many candles is also held in the whole area of Nara park. These events are very romantic and perfect for going out with your lover.

●Season： mid of July ～ end of September
●Time：
Jul～Aug／7pm～10pm
Sep／6pm～10pm

５，Photo of "Todai-ji"

We show you some photos of the historical buildings.

Daibutsu-den (The Great Buddha Hall)／Kin-do※National heritage

Rushana butsuzo (buddhist style statue)


Kokuzo bosatsu (buddhist saint)

Nigatsu-do ※National heritage

Nigatsu do

Hokke-do／Sangatsu-do ※National heritage

Hokke do
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance5.html

Nandai-mon (Great Southern Gate) ※National heritage

Nandai mon
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance8.html

Kaidan-do

Kaidan-do
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance7.html

Tengai-mon ※National heritage

Tengai-mon
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance9.html

Shunjo-do

Shunjo-do
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance10.html

Kaisan-do

Kaisan do
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance11.html

Kaijin-sho

Kaijin sho
Source by：Official web site／http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance12.html

６，Access information to Todai-ji

Address： 406-1 zoshi-cho, Nara-city, Nara
Tel： 0742-22-5511

Transportation：

(by Train)
●20 min walk from Kintetsu Nara line "Nara" station

(by Bus)
●5 min walk from Nara city loop bus "Daibutsu den Kasuga taisha mae" station.
At JR Yamato line "Nara" station you can take the Nara city loop bus.
Or at Kintetsu line "Nara" station you can take the Nara city loop bus.