Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Saidai-ji, in Saidaiji-Shiba in the city of Nara, was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of the ancient capital Heijō-kyō. It became the head temple of the Shingon Risshū sect after the sect's founder, Eison, took charge of it in 1238, and its main image is a statue of Shaka Nyorai that Eison enshrined in 1249.
Yamato-Saidaiji Station is about 350 m away in a straight line, and Heijō Palace about 1.5 km. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Saidai-ji Nara Japan08bs3 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Saidaiji (Nara) komyoden — KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Saidai-ji Nara Japan16n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Saidai-ji Nara Japan09n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Saidai-ji Nara Japan03n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Saidai-ji5 — hiro · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kishi Monju pentad (Saidaiji Nara) — Kamakura-period sculptor(s) (1185-1333); photo by Ogawa Kazumasa · Public domain · source · resized
- Eison by Zenshun (Saidaiji Nara) — Zenshun · Public domain · source · resized
What this place is
Saidai-ji (西大寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Saidaiji-Shiba neighborhood of the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It became the head temple of the Shingon Risshu (真言律宗) sect after the sect's founder, Eison (叡尊), took over administration in 1238. The honzon of the temple is a statue of Shaka Nyorai, enshrined by Eison in 1249. The temple was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of the ancient capital of Heijō-kyō.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information · Official visitor information · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Yamato-Saidaiji (Kintetsu Kashihara Line), about 350 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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