What other travelers are saying about Kofuku-ji Temple
Kōfuku-ji is a historic Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, founded in 669 CE and closely linked to the powerful Fujiwara clan. It is best known for its elegant five-story pagoda, one of the tallest wooden pagodas in Japan. Located near Nara Park, Kōfuku-ji features important halls and a museum that houses valuable Buddhist art. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. (source : ChatGPT)
The temple complex boasts several iconic structures, including the Five-story Pagoda, which is the second tallest in Japan, and the Three-story Pagoda. Additionally, the National Treasure Museum and the Eastern Golden Hall are among the must-see attractions within the temple grounds, showcasing a vast collection of Buddhist statues and artifacts.
Kofuku-ji Temple is easily reachable by public transportation. The nearest train station is Kintetsu-Nara Station, from where the temple is just a short walk away. Alternatively, JR Nara Station is also nearby, offering easy access to visitors coming from different parts of Japan.
Yes, Kofuku-ji Temple hosts several festivals and special events throughout the year. One of the most notable is the Chu-gen Mantoro (Lantern Festival), held in mid-August, where hundreds of lanterns light up the temple grounds, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere.
Photography is generally permitted on the temple grounds, allowing visitors to capture the beauty of its historical buildings and serene landscapes. However, photography may be restricted inside certain buildings or during specific ceremonies, so it's advisable to look out for signs or ask for permission.
One of my recommendations for your visit to Nara. It’s on the mid-way between Nara JR station and the Todai-ji temple, a must visit place (my opinion). Just that the pagoda is being renovated. The view will be a lot more complete with the pagoda. ^^
I first visited this place in 2014. My friends and I enjoyed interacting with the deer.
They’re tame and generally good natured. A cautionary note is posted for the visitors though-the deer is a wild animal so be vigilant especially during mating season (autumn, if I recall correctly) so the males are more aggressive. There are available deer biscuits for sale, which, is the only food they should be fed with. From my past experience, they’re likely to eat anything within their mouth’s reach so be careful!
We didn’t visit the temple itself. Instead, we just “played” with the deer, fed them and posed with them. Overall a fun experience despite the foul poop smell. The park provides plastic covers for shoes to prevent “untoward accidents” of stepping on poop. There are also lots of snacks sold along the sidewalks in case one gets hungry.
We had lunch in one of the restaurants just across the park which was really convenient.
Small temple on top of a hill. I visited this temple after visitwd the shopping street and Susawa pond. There are few deers here as well. It was not crowded when I visited. It is a Buddhist temple famous for its thousand years long history.
The ticket is 900Y for both hall. I only visited the Central Golden Hall which is 500Y.
To be honest, there's not much to see here. There are Buddha statues inside, but that's pretty much it. Compared of other temples. So, I give a rate of 3 stars.
The location is right next to everywhere else you are visiting in Nara which is a good thing. There's a train station nearby, Kintetsu-Nara station in case you're visiting directly from Kyoto or elsewhere.
