Todai-ji
Nara, Osaka
1 Nov to 31 Mar
- Daily
- 8:00 to 17:00
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 7:30 to 17:30
Great Buddha Hall hours. The address is the temple office's.
Source: todaiji.or.jp, checked 13 Oct 2026.
A Buddhist temple in Nara whose main building is the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den), home to the temple's colossal Buddha statue.
Insider tip
Entry to the Great Buddha Hall is ¥800 for adults. The temple lists a joint ticket with the Todai-ji Museum at ¥1,200, but the museum has its own hours. Walk through Nara Park from Kintetsu-Nara Station.
What the guides say about Todai-ji
The park is free and open all year, and it's an 8-minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara. Todai-ji houses the Great Buddha, with entry to the hall at ¥800 for adults. Kasuga Taisha sits at the park's eastern edge, and general worship at the main sanctuary needs no ticket. Feed the deer only the crackers sold in the park. There are no litter bins, so take your rubbish with you.
Tickets and tours
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What's on at Todai-ji
Upcoming events at Todai-ji, from the weekly Osaka events calendar.
Butsumyo-e at Nigatsu-do
東大寺 二月堂 仏名会
Time 08:30 to about 12:00
A service in which monks recite the names of the Buddhas of the three worlds and confess the year's wrongdoing. It runs from 08:30 to about 12:00.
Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0 New Year Visit to the Daibutsuden at Todai-ji
東大寺 大仏殿 初詣
Time 00:00 to 08:00
The middle gate of the Daibutsuden opens at midnight on New Year's Day and entry is free until 08:00. The doors at the front of the hall are opened so visitors can see the Great Buddha's face. A bonfire near Kagamiike pond is lit around 23:00 on New Year's Eve, braziers burn along the approach and the stone lanterns around Nigatsu-do are lit.
Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0 Shushoe at Todai-ji
東大寺 修正会
Time 13:00 Station Kintetsu-Nara Station, about 20 min walk
The New Year service at the Daibutsuden on 7 January starts at 13:00 and lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes.
Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0 Setsubun at Nigatsu-do, Todai-ji
東大寺 二月堂 節分
Time about 10:00, about 14:00, 18:00
Old charms are burned from about 10:00. Beans are thrown from the Nigatsu-do stage at about 14:00 after a service, then beans and bells from a stage in front of the Hokke-do, where visitors can catch them. A star-offering service is held at 18:00 under the lamps.
Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0 Shuni-e (Omizutori) at Todai-ji
東大寺 修二会（お水取り）
Station Kintetsu-Nara Station, about 20 min walk
A fortnight of Buddhist rites at the Nigatsu-do from 1 to 14 March. Giant torches are carried up the stairs each evening, at 19:00 on most nights, 19:30 on the 12th and 18:30 on the 14th. The water-drawing is on the night of the 12th, around 1:30 on the 13th. Todai-ji says it is a religious service, not an event, and asks visitors to respect that.
Tetsuhiro Terada, CC BY 2.0 Smaller local events nearby
Butsumyo-e Buddha Names Ceremony Festival
Mon 14 Dec · Todai-ji Nigatsudo, Nara
A ceremony at Nigatsudo Hall in which the names of the Buddhas are recited with repeated bows.
08:30 to 12:00 · Map · Source: Todaiji · 仏名会
Roben-ki Memorial Service Festival
Wed 16 Dec · Todai-ji Kaizando, Nara
A memorial service starting at 8:30 at the Kaizan-do, after which the hidden Buddha is shown. The Shunjo-do is also open on this day.
Map · Source: Todaiji · 良弁忌
Nearby
Good to know
- What is the address of Todai-ji?
- 406-1 Zoshi-cho, Nara, Osaka (in Japanese: 奈良県奈良市雑司町406-1).
- What are the opening hours of Todai-ji?
- 1 Nov to 31 Mar: Daily 8:00 to 17:00. Rest of the year: Daily 7:30 to 17:30. Great Buddha Hall hours. The address is the temple office's.
- How do I get to Todai-ji?
- The nearest station is Kintetsu-Nara. Todai-ji is in Nara, Osaka.
- How much does Todai-ji cost?
- Todai-ji is cheap, marked ¥ on the site's price scale.
- How long do you need at Todai-ji?
- Plan for 1-2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Todai-ji?
- Right at opening.
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