Tōdai-ji

Best experience in Nara! I was so amazed at the history of this temple! Seeing all the sites made me feel so small from the grandness of what I observed! I would 100 percent recommend that everyone visits here if they came to visit the deer! This made the trip to Nara so memorable! I would also recommend visiting the museum to get more insight into the history of the contraction and story behind the tempe!

Tōdai-ji in Nara is one of Japan’s most iconic and spiritually significant temples—a place where history, architecture, and nature blend into something truly unforgettable. As the centerpiece of Japan’s first permanent capital, Nara, Tōdai-ji reflects the power and devotion of ancient Japan—and still leaves modern visitors in awe. Built in the 8th century during Nara’s time as Japan’s capital, Tōdai-ji served as the head temple for all provincial Buddhist temples across the country. Its creation was a monumental national project symbolizing unity and faith. At its center is the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden)—once the world’s largest wooden building, and still overwhelmingly massive even today. Inside sits the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a 15-meter bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha, so large and serene that it practically radiates stillness and strength. Tōdai-ji isn’t just about architecture and spirituality—it’s also famous for its free-roaming deer, considered messengers of the gods in Shinto belief. They wander peacefully through Nara Park, bowing for treats and interacting gently with visitors. The mix of sacred wildlife and historic grandeur makes the area uniquely charming and unlike anywhere else in the world.

I had Asian Art as part of my course, and we studied Tōdai-ji in-depth during my research on Japanese art and architecture. To finally see the subject matter face-to-face was a truly surreal experience. The feeling can only be described as “Wow.” The entire complex is remarkably well preserved, carefully managed, and fully deserving of its designation as a Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visiting Tōdai-ji is not only an opportunity to witness one of Japan’s most historically significant temples, but also a meaningful way to connect with the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage. It’s well worth your time and stands as one of the must-see destinations when visiting Nara, Japan. I highly recommend including it in any first-time or repeat itinerary.

The sheer size of the statues is incredibly impressive and leaves you in absolute awe. The outdoor area surrounding the temple is also beautiful and not too crowded. In general, it’s quite peaceful—even on the weekend, there was hardly any waiting time. I would definitely recommend a visit and would love to come back again.

Todaiji Temple is an unforgettable and truly majestic destination. Its enormous scale is what immediately strikes you; the buildings are simply gigantic, leaving a lasting impression. The highlight is undoubtedly the Great Buddha housed within the main hall, an incredible feat of ancient craftsmanship. Beyond that, be sure to explore the temple's various gates and structures, such as the impressive Bell Tower. This place is an absolute must-see in Nara; its grandeur and unique features make it stand out from any other temple.

An awe inspiring building and statue, we were blown away when we saw the building and the statue inside. I highly recommend getting the joint ticket to see the museum as well before you go in. It gives context to how important the space is. The gardens around it are also pretty and of course filled with deer. This is a must see!

Very impressive temple with a gigantic Buddha statue. Despite the crowds, it was peaceful and gives a sense of quiet. The wooden models of the temple as it evolved through history are excellent. The ticket queue was short and toilets clean. There are free English tour guides before the temple (who are learners who read out text but do so in a very pleasant and cheerful way and did not accept any money). Worth visiting.

What a unique and impressive place to visit. Just the walk up to the temple humbled you due to it immense size. It was busy but not too busy, mainly thanks to the designated walking route and space to walk the path. The Buddha is impressive and huge. We really much appreciated visited this place. Would definitely visit it again.

After weaving our way through the herds of wild sika or shika deer in Nara Park, we visited this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is famous for its nearly 50-ft tall bronze Buddha Vairocana statue and its home (Daibutsu-den or Great Buddha Hall) to national treasures and cultural assets. Located in the city of Nara, Japan, the Tōdai-ji Buddhist complex was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples which opened in 752 CE. The construction of the temple was to imitate Chinese temples from the admired Tang Dynasty. It was built by the people from the Three Kingdoms of Korea and a Silla person was in charge of the overall construction. The giant bronze Buddha statue (Nara Daibutsu or "The Great Buddha of Nara) was designed by a Baekje person and the stone lion statue built by a Chinese person. We were impressed by the sheer enormity of the structures, statues, and detailed woodwork, which were built centuries ago without modern-day construction equipment. Also, more than 2.6 million people contributed rice, wood, metal, and labor to construct the Great Buddha statue and its Great Hall. Although Buddhism is significant in Japan, it is not an indigenous religion like Shintoism. Buddhism was introduced to Japan from India through China and was declared compatible with Shintoism in the 6th Century. A visit to Todai-ji Temple is a must-see excursion.

We had no plans for our day trip to Nara, but upon finding Tōdai-ji, we knew we would be visiting. No pictures will do justice to the majesty of this Buddhist temple. Over 1,000 years old, it's awe-inspiring to admire all of its history, gorgeous architecture, and cultural relevance. There's no chance you won't enjoy your visit here. Quiet and peaceful. Be respectful as this is still an active temple. The entrance fee was pretty inexpensive. I believe it was around 800yen per person. And 100% worth it.

Tōdai-ji is just breath-taking! The sheer size towering like a mountain over us mere visitors just simply awe-inspiring. Even with all the visitors today, the temple engulfs the landscape. The details of the construction are not to be missed, as examples of the master craftsmenship in woodworking are at display here. This large building houses the Great Buddha Statue, one of the largest Buddha indoor statues in the world. It must be 4-6 stories tall, and along with its two companion are a real presence. You can't help but to be in awe, especially once you learn that this temple was rebuilt 2 more times, each time growing larger in size. One of the real highlights of our trip to Japan

The Great Buddha of Nara is an absolute must-see! This colossal statue is seriously impressive, like jaw-droppingly huge. Standing there in its presence, you can't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. It's not just a statue; it's a testament to Japan's rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship. Don't miss out, pictures do not do it justice. You do need tickets to go in but they are really inexpensive. They also have a museum that's really quick to get through but you learn a good amount of history about the great Buddha. The museum is a short 5 minute walk from Buddha, there is a good discount if you buy tickets to the museum & Buddha together. I believe to visit each place on its own it's ¥800, but if you buy the package it's ¥1200.

Worthwhile to go see in Nara. And can see deer here too. Wildest thing is it's the world's biggest wood building with the biggest bronze Buddha. Near to see when in Nara. BTW you can just get in line and buy Buddha ticket from the line. Don't need to prebuy. Was 800 yen per person.

Historic Buddhist temple with impressive statues inside. Well maintained. Breath taking at first site. Little touristy, would have liked to learn more about its importance in history. I felt all the vendors made it feel a bit more like Disney than a historic relic. I'm sure it's tough to strike the right balance.

Situated in Nara within Nara Deer Park, Todaiji Temple is a very impressive temple that was constructed during the Nara Period. It was commissioned by Emperor Shomu to bring peace during a particularly tumultuous period of Japanese history. There are quite a few towering statues here, including the largest Buddha statue in Japan; towering at over 49 feet tall! And guarding the gates of Todaiji Temple are two Nio guardians, each over 26 feet tall and constructed meticulously of carved wood pieces. Skillfully pieced together to form the towering giants we see today. Housing the giant Buddha statue, the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is no less impressive in its architecture and sheer size. It is actually one of the world's largest wooden structures, despite being 30% smaller than its original size after being rebuilt after burning down twice in its lifetime. Within the Daibutsuden, you'll notice one of its massive, wooden columns has a hole roughly the same size as the Buddha's nostril. It is said that if you manage to squeeze yourself through the hole, then you'll gain enlightenment in the next life. There is an admission fee to enter the Great Buddha Hall. At the time of this review, it is 600 yens for adults, and 300 yens for Elementary School kids. There are also quite a few deer hanging around outside the temple. And they will quickly swarm you if they discover you have some deer cookies (can be purchased from nearby vendors) in your possession.

So very many temples, but this one definitely stands out due to the massive and genuinely impressive guardian statues. We just happened upon it while roaming Nara, just as we were heading out. To approach the temple and stand below the gate and guards was undeniably cool.

One of the most impressive shrines I've seen in Japan. However anything impressive is going to draw some crowds! Then again everywhere in Japan seems crowed in Japan. Still a true sight to see.

Nothing to say other then, "Absolute Must." A jewel of Japan, located in Kyoto the Todaiji Temple is/was the largest wooden structure in the world. Rebuilt a few times due to fire, today, it is "smaller" then the original but still impressive. This temple houses the venerable Vairocana Buddha, the largest bronze statue of Vairocana in the world (A Main Buddha) flanked by Guan Yin and Sky Jewel (Akasagarbha) Bodhisattvas. Here you can learn and feel true truth, be closer to learning detachment, feel true peace, and love. From Kyoto station, you can find bus maps/signs on taking the local bus to the temple and many surrounding tourist attractions such as Nara Park where you will find the bowing deer. So many things to see, do, and eat, based around the temple, a full day should be spent here and surrounding areas to see the jewel of Japan!

The Great Buddha Hall aka Todaiji Temple was built in the Nara period (710 - 794 AD) and founded by Bishop Roben. The bronze Buddha is 50 feet tall! Just imagine how gigantic the building (temple) has to be to house this Vairocana Buddha! Vairocana Buddha = Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun. Many people from all over the world come to visit! It's absolutely amazing! It's also cool that there are wild deer along the way. After we lit incense, bowed, and said a prayer, we had time to buy special senbei (round flat crackers) and feed the deer! They were a bit aggressive when food was in sight. We were also warned about loose paper such as tissues, packages, and money which the deer may want to grab and eat. Deer are revered as special messengers. They will bow back to you when you bow to them!

Yes, Todaiji is a stunning temple that alone is worth a day trip to Nara from Osaka or Kyoto because of the massive size of the bronze Buddha statue (the largest in the world). First completed in 749 AD, the Todaiji temple reflected the growing and powerful influence of Buddhism in the Imperial court at Nara. After exiting the main building, it's worthwhile to wander east up the hill and explore the park before taking a long walk to the Kasuga Shrine. Photographs do not accurately convey the grand scale of the bronze Buddha statue (as you look up) or the pleasant walk through gates to reach the interior complex. It's a serene setting, except for the deer. Personally, I would stay away from the deer unless you have crackers to feed them. They can snip at people who leave snacks in their pockets.

Todaiji is the world's biggest bronze Buddha Statue. It has survived two massive fires and is still standing in good condition today. The temple that houses the bronze Buddha is not the original temple that was originally built. The original temple is bigger than the current one. This place was super busy when we came. Lots of tourist and tour guides surrounding the temple. Also there are the spiritual deers living around the temple. The deers will bow to you if you give them food. There is a small admission fee to go into the temple. Very impressive Buddha temple.

Imho, this was the grandest Temple. It boasts of huge Buddhas, a beam that had a hole in it and if you can go from one end and crawl out of the other end, then Buddha will bless you. They call this Buddha Nostril. Naturally I had to do it. Found out I'm claustrophobic. I completed the mission but still...lol. This is one of Japan's favorite and top five temples. Believe me, there are a lot.

HUGE TEMPLE! It used to be one of the largest wooden structures. There is a fee to get into this temple but it was pretty cheap. There are GIANT Buddha's inside this temple along with other statues. When I went, there were a bunch of students on field trips visiting this temple so it was quite crowded. Something interesting inside was a huge pole that had a hole in it at the bottom. Although I wasn't sure what the hole was for, people were in line taking turns trying to crawl through this hole which was pretty fun to watch. All in all, one of the coolest temples I have visited. It was great that it was in Nara where a bunch more temples were. Most of these temples close around 5 PM so plan your day early so you can get through as many as possible. Fair warning, watch out for deer poop when you're walking around here, theres mines everywhere lol.

Worth a visit! Having visited many temples around Japan throughout my trip, I was feeling a little "temple-ed out" and wasn't sure if I really wanted to pay to see another one. I'm so glad I did! The first moment I stepped into Todaiji's main hall, I gasped in awe. Actually, it sounded more like a collective gasp of awe - I entered through the large door with dozens of other unexpecting visitors and everyone seemed to have the same surprised reaction. From the outside you don't notice or see the big bronze Buddha, but once you realize it's in front of you, the immense size is breathtaking. The temple also has several smaller Buddha statues around the hall and a healing Buddha (Binzuru statue) next to the entrance. It's believed that if you rub a certain body part on the Binzuru statue, you'll cure any illnesses in the corresponding part of your body. I honestly wasn't expecting much from this temple but left so impressed with the Buddha statue alone. Worth the small fee to visit.

Todaiji remains one of my favorite temples and places to visit whenever i am in Kansai. Nara is usually on everyone's day-trip list and it's no surprise given the friendly (albeit hungry) deer that roam the park leading up the world's largest indoor bronze Buddha. You can easily access this temple from one of the two train stations serving Nara. Todaiji is about a 20-30 minute walk depending on which station you get off on. All you need to do is follow the signs and deer droppings that you'll inevitably step on as you get closer and closer to the temple. The large Buddha is housed inside the temple. For a small fee, you gain access to the temple grounds where you may light up an incense, provide an offering for luck, crawl into a hole-in-a-pillar meant for a child but nonetheless attracts all the tourists, and purchase some charms for home. I'm happy to say that my longest lasting charm is in fact from Todaiji when I came here years ago, and it still remains one of the best. Although there will be a lot of people on any given day, don't let that deter you from visiting the Buddha. It's a peaceful reminder of how ancient and beautiful Japanese civilization remains.

Beautiful temple. This is a "must see" temple - large wooden gate over 25' tall, large wooden guardians set into each side of the gate doors, and I mean INSIDE the gate wall. These two guardians are menacingly big! Transformer size if you know what I mean. If I was an evaluation spirit - I would be intimidated if I tried to spook this temple... turn around, go away. Moving on... Then you walk up to the impressive mostly original wooden temple housing three Buddha statues with the center one being the largest at over 20' tall and wide. All wood and painted. A Mystical Figurine is located outside to the right of the temple entrance. Rub the figure and your ailing body part and the pain goes away according to legend. Walk around the grounds outside the gate and you have the famous docile Nara deer. They can get aggressive so be careful. You can buy wafers at 150JPY cash to feed them. Don't be surprised if you get nudged by one looking for a wafer. Conclusion - Go here!

Before I start... According to their website, Todaiji Temple Cultural Center and the Todaiji Temple Museum are scheduled to be closed beginning this month due to repairs: 4/16/18 - 9/14/18 I brought my daughter here to see the deers, but to also visit the temple for myself. The deers were everywhere, all the way up to the gate of the Great Buddha Hall. There were a lot of vendors/carts selling packs of deer rice crackers for 150yen, but don't let the innocent Bambi look fool you. These guys are used to being fed and will approach you without any hesitation. My daughter got scared since she couldn't separate the crackers fast enough as the deers marched towards her. She gave me the rest of the crackers and I threw them one by one into the mouths of the ruminant mammals with ninja star like precision -- okay, not really, but I quickly walked through the deer crowd and fed each one along the way until the crackers were gone. We entered from the left side of the gate to the Great Buddha Hall to pay for admission. Adult admission (including junior high and high school students) was 600yen, and elementary school student was 300yen. We got the temple/museum set admission, which was 1000yen for adult (junior high/high school) and 400yen for elementary. The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den) was amazing. Everything from the hall to the statues were so big, and the fact that it was originally built in the 8th century, made it even more extraordinary. Although the current one standing today was rebuilt during the Edo period, still, how in the world did these people build something so huge in a time where there were no machines? The gates and statues here are understandably designated as either a National Treasure or Important Cultural Property. My daughter was like "eh" but I came out feeling enlightened.

The Buddha is HUGE. As you walk up to the temple complex, you'll go by the temple's museum, where they have a couple of castings of a hand and head out front. Which are *huge*. And that's just the hand/head mind you - it's easy to lose perspective when you're inside the temple itself... Anyhow, don't skip this - the entry fee is well worth every penny. So, just go... (And yes, there are deer on the walk to the complex. Right by it too...)

A visit to Nara Park and the Buddha at Todai-ji Temple makes for a lovely morning or afternoon, and that's if you only go to the Buddha. There is much more to see and do and you could easily spend a day or two or three in Nara. I went on a cool, overcast November day as the leaves were just starting to turn. They are a bit late this year, due to recent unseasonably warm weather. Took the #2 Loop Bus (the yellow bus) from stop #2 at the JR Nara Station East. The bus terminal is just downstairs from the train station. The fare is 210 yen per trip, or you can buy a day pass in the station. JR pass does not work. Exact change is needed, but if you don't have it, tell the driver. I had a 500 yen coin and he was able to get change for me. Nothing over 1000 yen, though, can be changed. Multiple other passes, such as Suica and PASMO also work. Pick up a very handy map in the station before heading out. They have help and a very useful map in English. You can also book half- or full-day tours here. The bus comes every 10 minutes. Note that buses 70, 72 and 97 also go here. I believe the bus is accessible to those who use wheelchairs, but I would check first. There are plenty of taxis at the bus terminal, too, and I don't think it would cost too much as it is not far away. JR Nara Station East is stop 1 of 19; the third stop is Kintetsu Nara Station. On this bus, enter in front and pay. Exit at the back. Todai-ji is stop 7, about 10 minutes' ride. Walk away from the bus, back in the direction you just came from. Immediately you will see deer everywhere. Cross the street at the stoplight. On the left you will see shops that are at the start of the pedestrian walkway to the temple and the Buddha. The walk isn't very long, and it's flat. The center walkway is smoother than the stones around it. There are benches along the way, along with more deer. You can buy deer crackers to feed them, or buy people crackers and other food. Apparently plenty of humans have accidentally chowed down on the deer crackers. They're senbei, so maybe they're not bad. . . Some of the deer will pursue you if they think you have food. They may nudge your phone or bag or pocket. Nothing aggressive, although there were plenty of shrieking schoolgirls who made it seem they were being attacked. Remember, these are wild animals, which means they smell, and they leave deer scat around. You might step in some. About halfway in is the bus parking and immediately the numbers of people will swell. There is a large intermediate structure here. The museum is just after this. It has a gift shop and coffee shop. You'll see a little lake on the right with an old boat. I sat down on a bench by the lake next to an uncle. He was tossing bread onto the lake. Giant, dark carp (koi) floated to the surface, gasping for the food. I was happy to watch but Uncle was kind enough to give me bread crusts to tear up and throw in the water. Once you get to the temple, buy tickets on the left. Enter there, or follow the signs to the right, then left, all the way back to the accessible side entrance. Some work was being done outside, and it blocked the view of the temple and courtyard. Note that the courtyard is not accessible. I ended up just looking at it from inside the temple. There were no handrails so I would have had to find someone's hand to hold. I'm sure it would not have been a problem but I did not feel like imposing. The temple was crowded with school groups, tours groups, tourists, and worshippers, as a service was taking place at the time of my visit. I think it would be incredible to experience it with few people and when it's quiet, but even with the noise and people, it was awesome. I'd like to scold the school group escorts, though, for not instructing/enforcing the proper behavior of the kids inside the temple. Screaming and yelling and running are fine outside, but not in a temple. There's quite a lot to see here, not just the giant Buddha. The structure itself is remarkable; take time to gaze at the walls and ceiling. There is some wooden seating available in front. You could run in and run out, and "do" this site in no time, but I suggest a leisurely time. Stop and smell the deer poop (it's actually not that bad). Then I suggest going back and boarding the bus at the same stop so you can complete the loop and/or head off to your next destination. And while the loop goes to a lot of places, you'll need the 70, 72, or 97 to get to Toshodaji Temple and Yakushiji Temple, and other sites in this area. Right next to JR Nara Station East and the bus terminal is a fully-stocked grocery store, Super Market Kohyo. In fact, there's an escalator in the store that takes you to/from the train station. Brilliant.

x4* Tōdai-ji Temple Buddhist Huge Buddha flanked by soldiers Bell tower Deer all over the place; concessions to feed them; watch out for the deer sh*t; deer also may snip at you p.s. the deer sometimes eat plastic wrappers or paper; need to be watchful

Tōdai-ji Temple: People from Kyoto look down on people from Nara. At least that's what our guide told Jamie W. and me when we decided to make a brief stop in Nara on the way to Osaka. It's kinda like when Leonardo DiCaprio gave Lady Gaga the sideways shade when she bumped into his chair walking up to get her Golden Globe. The two things Kyotoites can't throw shade on, however, are the world's largest wooden building and the world's largest bronze Buddha statue because both things are here in Nara at Tōdai-ji. You can't miss it because it would be like going to Agra without seeing the Taj Mahal, Pisa without seeing the Leaning Tower, or New York City without seeing Katz's Delicatessen. OK, Katz's you could miss but not Tōdai-ji. It dates back to 728 and has been rebuilt at least twice since then because, well, it's made of wood. As you walk on the pathway toward the main gate, Nandai-mon (photo: http://bit.ly/203AR5z), you are surrounded by wild Sika deer who are looking for the round crackers called shika senbei, which are sold by the vendors. The etiquette is to bow in front of the deer and wait for the deer to bow back though it may take a few attempts before reciprocation occurs (photo: http://bit.ly/1TZtGaV). They can get understandably peeved if you tease them with a cracker if you don't provide it as a reward, but they don't bite...much. Over 1,200 roam freely on the grounds, so you won't be lacking for hungry deer. Once you get to the gate, you will see the guardian deities called kongorishiki, giant sculptures that keep the temple safe from tourists like me (photo: http://bit.ly/1J6iKI6). When you finally come upon the Great Buddha Hall, the building looks increasingly massive as you get closer (photo: http://bit.ly/1UTBLxY). There used to be two gigantic pagodas flanking the temple, but they were destroyed by an earthquake. The Daibutsu, the Great Buddha, is what you come here for, and he greets you with the most serene look, all 450 tons of him. He sits nearly fifty feet high with just his hand spanning nearly eighteen feet (photo: http://bit.ly/1KgNtgs). It took nearly 2.5 million people to help build him and the temple, so the least you could do is say hi if you're in the area.

Utterly breathtaking. The town of Nara in Osaka is a must see when touring Japan. So many things are memorable, including the fact that deer are considered sacred and roam the streets freely. Being an animal lover, this was such a highlight for me. You will find several vendors who sell biscuits so you can hand feed the deer! It is so serene to see the animals all over the land. The Todai-ji Buddhist temple (The Great Buddha Hall) was phenomenal. It contains the largest bronze cast of the Great Buddha in Japan, standing 50 feet tall and weighing 500 tons. There are several other large statues in the Hall and it was mesmerizing to see them all and wonder how in the world they were made. The Hall holds the record of being the largest wooden structure in the world. Don't forget your camera when visiting!

The path to Todaiji was amazing in itself: a long alley of food and dessert stalls, deer roaming amongst the people, and a beautiful park to the side. However, it was impossible to prepare for the immensity of the actual temple itself. You have to pay 600 yen per adult and 400 yen per child as admission, so I was skeptical as to how much there was to see inside, but once you step inside you are greeted by the staggering statue of an overwhelmingly huge Buddha. Now, my friend and I had been hiking all day. The stairs up to the temple are tall and cumbersome to walk for those of shorter stature, so at first I was content to sit this experience out from sheer stubbornness. After all, you can barely see anything inside from the pathway. Going in though, it's impossible to say how breathtaking it was to stand in front of such a holy and venerable figure. It makes you feel small in a way that may make you consider your place in the cosmic universe, if even for a moment. There is no other experience that communicated to me just how holy the Buddha was considered. Definitely go, it's a wonderful experience.

It's a majestic Buddhist temple, with more than a thousand years of history, part of which is under renovation. You could try to climb through the hole in the pillar, which means good health and good fortune.

Definitely worth a stop on your tour of Japan. I went here with a student group. There is a big of a walk from the parking lot to the temple. There are many bathrooms at the entrance (when we were there they were filled to capacity with small Japanese children). The Temple is crowded at any time school children may be visiting. Don't expect to see Buddha alone. It's going to be a group experience. As you approach the temple you will see a large bronze (very old) in the courtyard. Also, outside the temple you will find a healing statue of a man who stayed here to help humans- rather than becoming enlightened and leaving. The statue wears red- and if you touch the statue on any part of its body that corresponds to an afflicted part of your own body, you might b healed. Inside the temple you come face to face with Buddha- or face to toe, really- it's a giant Buddha, with guardians and other figures. I liked the column with the hole in it- which children try to fit through- and which brings good luck. There is so much here- it's visually overwhelming. And once you are outside of the temple, beware the killer deer of Nara (I made that up- they're really just annoying and aggressive.) Think goats will eat anything? So will these deer. They'll eat your clothes, Try out your purse, and bite you on the butt if you don't give them a cookie fast enough. I ended up throwing my cookies in the air in order to get away. We saw people being chased by deer all over the place (you can find Youtube videos of this- just look up "chased by deer in Nara". Still, it's an experience you would not want to miss. So go.

I've lost count of the number of times I've been to this temple, showing this to visiting family and friends. This is probably one the main attraction in central Nara. The very big Buddha statues no matter how many times I've seen it always amazes and impress me. Definitely worth a visit when visiting Nara.

Todai-ji Temple was our main destination on a quick day trip to Nara, while on the way from Kyoto to Osaka. We took a taxi from Nara Station, then walked towards the temple. We first walked through the giant Nandaimon Gate and saw the temple in the distance. As we got closer, the massive size of it became apparent, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. After paying admission, we walked down the path and into the temple, greeted by one of the largest bronze Buddha's on the planet. It's surrounded by other large statues and it's very impressive. You can also try to squeeze through a hole in a wooden column. It was funny watching people try to squeeze through. The surrounding landscape within the temple boundaries are very nice and serene, a complete opposite with the deer running around outside the boundaries. =)

Wasn't aware myself until today when I was doing my research before departing for Todai-ji temple, that it is holding the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha of Vairocana, while also serves as the headquarter of Buddhism in Japan. Don't be scared when you see many deers wandering around the walkway, as they are regarded as the messengers of gods. If you would love to get a closer interaction with those "messengers", by all means go and buy some rice crackers for them, so that they will chase you and fight for those crackers. Be careful though, as the deers could attack people in various ways, and it could easily get hurt. Definitely a fun experience in Nara, don't miss out!

We visited the temple as part of a one-day tour with JTB. The tour spends half day in Kyoto and half in Nara, so it's a great option if you don't want to walk the 25,000 steps that we did in a typical day in Kyoto. The temple is grand and worth seeing. The grounds are clean and not smelly, and there isn't a lot of deer poop. Our tour guide says it's because there is some enzyme cleaning up after the deers. Not sure if that's true but we didn't see groundskeepers roaming around either. Highly recommend as a side trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

This Buddhist temple is magnificent. What a wonder to see, and gorgeous inside and out. The Great Budda of Nara resides inside the temple, sitting at over 50 feet tall. It is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, and amazing to see. Very crowded at this tourist site, but so worth it to come! :) Get your cameras ready... More photos here: https://ourwelltraveledlife.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/osaka-nara-and-kobe/

Wow! I did not expect this. Every temple review is like "best temple ever!" so I took this one with a grain of salt. I wasn't that excited to see yet another temple. BUT this temple is truly magical simply because of its sheer size. As you turn the corner from the ticket booth, you see this epic wooden temple. Tickets are 600 JPY for entrance into the temple (Great Buddha Hall). It is absolutely worth going in, because then you get to see the giant bronze Buddha housed inside the giant temple. The Buddha's head alone is about 18 ft tall! Other treasures include: - Healing disciple of Buddha that looks a little creepy looking but is supposed to heal the part of the body that you touch on the disciple - Hole in a pillar that is supposed to be the size of Buddha's nostril and will bring eternal enlightenment We didn't get the Todaiji Museum pass for an extra 400 JPY. Easy access on the JR line to Nara station. About a 40 min walk from the station to the temple but you can enjoy the nice walk through Nara park and seeing the wild deer.

Spent a few hours here while on a tour. You could probably burn a full day or more if you really wanted to. The temple itself is grand! The bronze buddha is equally amazing. the temple grounds are immaculate and picturesque. One note, the park is overrun with the sacred deer. They look pretty cute, but are actually quite aggressive if you have food. You can buy deer crackers from various vendors along the way. Be careful if you allow you small children to feed them.

Words kind of don't describe how incredible this place is. Much more than a day trip to feed the deer with the kids, the temple here is so darn compelling. The size alone will take your breath away, but the interior components and the setting are equally glorious. Absolutely worth the reasonable fee to get in and see the giant buddha, plus the other amazing statues in the temple. An easy day trip from Kyoto, I highly recommend taking in all the sights of Nara but particularly the Todai-Ji Temple. It really will make you feel as if you've experienced something truly amazing in Japan and it was one of the highlights of our trip.

The World's largest wooden building, that houses a 50 foot tall golden statue of Buddha. It doesn't matter what your religion is, or what you believe in. This is an architectural masterpiece and a gargantuan work of art that will make you stop and marvel at. I was in awe.

Of all the Buddhist temples I have visited, Todaiji - Eastern Grand Temple - is by far the most impressive temple in both the scale of the temple architecture and the grandeur of those whom the temple houses. This is where the famous Daibutsu (Great Buddha), the world's largest bronze statue, is at. Built more than a millennium ago, Todaiji was one of Japan's seven most powerful Buddhist temples at the time. Although the much larger original complex was burned down and reconstructed at a reduced scale, the main hall Daibutsuden still held the record of the world's largest wooden structure until it was surpassed only recently by modern structures. However, as equally impressive if not more is the massive bronze statue within. Nara Buddha, known as the Daibutsu, is perhaps one of the most iconic symbols in Japanese Buddhism because of its history and grandeur. At a towering 15 meters, Daibutsu is so massive that his nostril is said to be large enough for a child to crawl through and nearly consumed all of Japan's available bronze at the time. On his sides are also a pair of large lacquered wooden Bodhisattva statues and two of unpainted wooden Shitenno (Four Heavenly Kings) - the other two were never constructed because of depleted funds. Although not as nearly the same scale as the central Buddha, each individual statue in this main hall is a remarkable Buddhist artwork to admire! If you have time though, don't just visit Daibutsuden! Whether you are walking toward Kasuga Shrine or not, take the scenic uphill route to the smaller halls of Todaiji, one of which is Nigatsu-do (February Hall) which has the pavilion that overlooks Nara. If you love Buddhist arts, the museum is going to make your day even after seeing the unbelievable marvel of Daibutsu! However, even if you do not appreciate Buddhist art, Todaiji's massive scale starting from its colossal south gate is enough to awe. Especially if you are in the western Japan area, this is a marvel that you cannot miss!

About 20 - 30 mins walking from Kintetsu-nara Station, Japan, pending on which way you go. I did a bit of an L shape walking pattern which will lead you on a path along park grounds and museums. A long the way you will see grandma's selling deer biscuits and warning signs on what and what not to do about the deer that can be found all about the city. The deer are not house pets and will bite and ram and kick, but I didn't witness anything serious. You can buy deer feed along the way or at the temple, you will always find one that is hungry at the Temple, the ones in the parks along the way seem more well fed due to the tourists coming through. If you have kids, don't let them crawl around on the cement ground path ways. I witnessed a lot of tourist kids do this and then the non-supervising parent comes back with food and gave some to their dirty handed kids to eat something. Yes, the deer pee and poop all along the pathways - especially in the park. Inside the temple is a large Buddha, perhaps the biggest I've ever seen.. but the things inside the temple itself felt like...half tourist area, and half souvenir shop. There is more souvenir shop stands outside of the temple on the path to exiting but the ones in the Temple are better. Though I would say the temple grounds could be explored more greatly, the main temple get crowded. But the grounds are what could lead to a more adventurous discoveries.

1 of my favorite areas in the entire Japan. Todai-ji is filled with history and Buddhism. With the biggest wooden building on the planet and one of the largest sitting wooden daibatsu's it's hands down one of the best places to visit in Japan. I love it here it's only about a 30 minute ride on a train from Kyoto station but feels like it's on another side of the country and the city life is nonexistent here. Please make your way to this place to me it's ranked number 1 area to visit while in this beautiful country

Eventually, all temples and shrine start to look very similar to each other so we only checked out this place from the outside and took some photos. We felt that was enough and do not regret going inside. This IS a very popular temple so I do recommend that you still come here and admire the building from the outside. It is definitely gorgeous!

I left my heart in Nara This is truly magical and spiritual. In the park of Nara deer are free and come to eat from your hands to the cookies that you can just buy it there at the stalls. (One also gave me a kiss!) A magical experience. Transcend park, two portals and join the temple with the cosmic Buddha, huge and peaceful in front of you. Incense intoxicates you, and if you like you can make the attempt to move from a hole at the base of a column: if you can have a good chance in this life to attain enlightenment. I do not know whether to believe, but I have crawled in there: D ----------------------------------------- Ho lasciato il mio cuore a Nara Questo è un luogo veramente magico e spirituale. Nel parco di Nara i cervi sono liberi e vengono a mangiare dalle tue mani i biscotti che per poco puoi comprare lì alle bancarelle. (Uno mi ha anche dato un bacio!) Un'esperienza magica. Oltrepassi il parco, due portali e raggiungi il tempio con il Budda cosmico, enorme e pacifico di fronte a te. Incenso che ti inebria, e se ti va puoi fare il tentativo di passare da un buco alla base di una colonna: se ci riesci hai buone possibilità in questa vita di raggiungere l'illuminazione. Non so se crederci, ma io ci sono strisciata dentro :D

If you don't see anything else in Nara this buddha is a must see. It's HUGE in fact one of the largest in Japan. Make sure to light an incense before you enter and also wash your hands. There are many cool charms for sale in the gift shop inside the temple too. The charm I bought has really brought me good luck. I loved all of the deer in Nara Park as well and it's fun to pet them and feed them Shika Sembei!

The view of the massive Buddha was absolutely breathtaking. I found it to be the equivalent of the Lincoln Memorial in DC, but more magnificent :) totally worth the $5 entry fee. This is a must see if you're already in the area.

This temple is home to the world's largest wooden buildings and one of the largest Buddhas you will ever see. So large, in fact, that his head has fallen off a few times during earthquakes. Since it's Japan and they're used to that, they just put it back on and carry on with their business. You have to fend off some very aggressive deer, who assume that every human is there to feed them. You also have to be on the lookout for deer poop, which of course is everywhere. This is a beautiful building and temple and there are others nearby that are filled with truly ancient treasures, some more than 1000 years old. Nara is definitely worth a visit, and Todai-ji is the crown jewel.

awesome place to visit. amazing architecture and history of this temple. such a great walk up the road from the subway station, through the deer park. the deer are so cute. there is a fee once you get up to the temple. but so many things to see and take pictures of outside the temple and of course when you get in. one really neat thing that you can do once you get into the temple, is to write/paint on a roofing tile. to commemorate the occasion and for your memories of being in such a place. it is actually to help with temple restoration. it costs 1,000 yen for one tile. they ask that you write the date, your name address and country where you are from and also a wish, if youd like, to be secured forever there at the Todaiji Temple. really cool idea.it is said that this will bring eternal happiness also. not much else i can write for a review about this place. i just hope that you enjoy it as much as we did.

The deer are fun (not too aggressive, IMO), and the park and temple are beautiful. You were probably going to come here anyways.

Todai-ji is just as impressive as the Taj Mahal. This is the world's largest wooden building and houses the world's largest bronze buddha. It is shockingly massive, gorgeous, with surrounding foliage and ponds to give you outstanding views. Inside, the sitting bronze buddha is similarly impressive. Admission into the temple is miniscule, and you can spend as much time as you like inside. It was crowded, but not overwhelming. The gates walking up to the main temple house two incredibly massive statues - the Nio gate guardians. These are super impressive. The entire compound and the surrounding Nara Park offer a multitude of other small temples and shrines along with harmless, wild deer that roam the area.

Really beautiful place. Great little hike and the gardens are gorgeous as are the sand sculptures

Beautiful, but very crowded. We almost didn't go in due to the high admission fee and the huge crowds, but we're glad we did. We enjoyed the outlying temples as much or more than the main hall with the giant Buddha though.