Todai-ji
東大寺
Established in 738, this Nara temple houses the largest bronze Buddha statue and serves as headquarters of the Kegon Buddhist school.
〒 630-8587How to get there
近鉄奈良Kintetsu Kyoto Line · Kintetsu Nara Line20 min walk from the station
Todai-ji, also known as the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan. Established in 738 CE, the temple was one of the Seven Great Temples and was officially opened in 752 CE. Over the centuries, Todai-ji has undergone multiple renovations, with the most notable being the reconstruction of the Great Buddha Hall in 1709. This hall houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana, also known as the Daibutsu. Todai-ji is also the headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", which includes seven other temples, shrines, and sites in Nara.
Getting There
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Places nearby
Great Buddha Hall
The central hall of Todai-ji temple rebuilt in the Edo period, standing as the world's largest wooden structure after multiple destructions and reconstructions.
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Hokke-do
Todai-ji's oldest building, constructed between 740-747 and originally dedicated to a Kannon statue, later renamed for the annual Lotus Sutra ceremony.
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Kofuku-ji
Eighth-century Buddhist temple in Nara, chief sanctuary of the Fujiwara clan and one of Japan's Seven Great Temples, featuring historic pagodas.
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Seventh-century Buddhist temple in Nara, built in Chinese style and ranked among the Seven Great Temples, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Dadado-no-onihashiri
Masked demons swing blazing torches through a temple hall in an ancient winter ritual performed twice daily, seeking protection from misfortune and ancestral blessings.
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