Best in Japan Todai-ji
Todai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan, that serves as the head temple of the Kegon sect and houses a large bronze Buddha statue.
Todai-ji operates in the Historic Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage component in central Nara segment.
Todai-ji: Disambiguation
Todai-ji is not a single building called the Great Buddha Hall. Todai-ji is not the surrounding deer park known as Nara Park. Todai-ji is not Toshodai-ji, a separate Nara temple founded by the priest Ganjin.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Todai-ji across rankings, guides, and citations.
Todai-ji: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Buddhist temple, headquarters of the Kegon sect (source)
- Founded / opened
- Commissioned 738, officially opened 752 (source)
- Founder
- Emperor Shomu (source)
- UNESCO status
- Component of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, inscribed 1998 (source)
- Great Buddha Hall dimensions
- 57.012 m wide, 50.480 m long, 48.742 m high (source)
- Great Buddha statue height
- About 15 m (18 m with pedestal) (source)
- Adult admission (main halls)
- 800 JPY (source, )
- Combined hall + museum ticket (adult)
- 1,200 JPY (source, )
- Opening hours
- 7:30am-5:30pm (Apr-Oct); 8:00am-5:00pm (Nov-Mar) (source)
- Google Maps rating
- 4.7 / 5 (32,209 reviews) (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-27
Todai-ji: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Todai-ji known for?
Todai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara that houses the Great Buddha, a bronze statue of Vairocana rising about 15 meters inside the Daibutsuden hall.
How much does it cost to enter?
Adult admission to the main halls is 800 yen, children ages 6-12 pay 400 yen, and a combined ticket covering the on-site museum costs 1,200 yen for adults as of August 2025.
When was it built?
It was commissioned in 738 by Emperor Shomu and officially opened in 752, though the current Great Buddha Hall dates mostly to an early 18th-century reconstruction.
What are the opening hours?
Hours run 7:30am to 5:30pm from April through October and 8:00am to 5:00pm from November through March.
Is it part of a UNESCO site?
Yes, it is registered within the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO listing from 1998.
Todai-ji: Related entities
Todai-ji: Where this entity is mentioned
Todai-ji: Further reading
- https://www.todaiji.or.jp/en/information/daibutsuden/
- https://www.todaiji.or.jp/en/information/haikan/
- https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1009/
- https://www.nippon.com/en/guide-to-japan/gu900248/
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ3XYIepA5AWARjzzVnT-skPg
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