Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-14 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
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Our guide
Tōdai-ji, the “Eastern Great Temple”, was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, built in imitation of the admired temples of Tang China. It was founded in 738 and opened in 752, and has been rebuilt more than once: after 1181, under Minamoto no Yoritomo, and in 1709, when the Great Buddha Hall was rebuilt. In the late nineteenth century that hall nearly collapsed under the weight of its huge roof.
Two practical points. The Great Buddha Hall, the Hokke-dō, the Kaidan-dō and the museum each charge separately (a set ticket covers the hall and the museum), and payment is cash only. The Great Buddha Hall opens early in the morning. Kintetsu Nara Station is about 1.2 km away in a straight line.
Tōdai-ji sits among Nara's other sights: Nigatsu-dō Hall and Isuien Garden are about 0.4 km away, Nara Park 0.5 km, Kofuku-ji 1 km and Kasuga Taisha 1.1 km. Also in Nara Prefecture is Horyu-ji.
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
- 東大寺 大仏殿（2024年） — Mont Blank rich · CC0 · source · resized
- Honbokyoko Todaiji — Iwai Taketoshi · Public domain · source · resized
- Todaiji,東大寺 - panoramio — z tanuki · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 東大寺 - panoramio — くろふね · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 東大寺鏡池 - panoramio — Tamachatora · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 東大寺 - panoramio (1) — alonfloc · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 東大寺大仏殿 - panoramio — Roman SUZUKI · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admired Tang dynasty. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE.The temple has undergone several reconstructions, including one initiated by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1181 (entrusted to Chogen, a monk of the Jodo sect) which included the standardization of existing buildings and the strengthening of visible pillars. Since then, one of the most significant reconstruction (that of the Great Buddha Hall) took place in 1709.However, it was on the verge of collapse in the late 19th century due to the weight of its huge roof.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-14 · Tōdai-ji: opening hours and admission fees
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Nara (Kintetsu Nara Line), about 1.2 km 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.
Where to stay nearby
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