What other travelers are saying about Toshodai-ji Temple
An incredibly ancient temple where you can see the traces of history etched into the wooden beams. Inside the main hall stands a magnificent and awe-inspiring Great Buddha that truly moves the heart. There’s a small trail at the back leading to a memorial site for the Sixth Patriarch. It’s not the easiest place to reach, but absolutely worth the trip.
The temple is renowned for its classical Chinese Tang dynasty architectural style, evident in the layout and design of the main hall (Kondo) and the lecture hall (Kodo), which are among the best-preserved examples of this period in Japan.
Visitors can explore several important cultural properties, including the Golden Hall (Kondo), the Lecture Hall (Kodo), and a statue of Ganjin, which is a designated National Treasure. The temple grounds also feature beautiful gardens and smaller ancillary buildings.
Toshodai-ji Temple is accessible by public transport from Nara city center. Visitors can take a bus from JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station to the temple. Alternatively, a pleasant walk from these stations through the historical parts of Nara is also an option.
Photography and video recording are generally allowed on the temple grounds, but they may be restricted inside the buildings that house sensitive artifacts or during special ceremonies. Always look for signs indicating these rules or ask temple staff for guidance.
Toshodai-ji hosts several Buddhist ceremonies and cultural events throughout the year, including memorial services commemorating the arrival of Ganjin in Japan.
It’s a bit out of the way but reachable by train. Love this old Nara temple. Don’t miss the moss garden, it’s magical. The atmosphere is calming, spend the time to soak in the serene environment and walk around the gardens. UNESCO Heritafe site that’s not inundated with crowds, one of the highlights of my Japanese trip.
It is a nice and well kept buddisth temple relatively small in size. What I found to be a turn off was the price which is 1000 yen per person.
Compared to many other temples in Japan this one stood out to me. Overall there was not really something that stayed with me for that price. It might just be me but I would not recommend it as a visit.
What I also found strange and with all due respect was the fact that it was not possible to take pictures of the statues which were in fact the interesting part of the temple.
A serene and sacred oasis, completely different from the many temples so crowded that have effectively reduced themselves to tourist traps.
The historic walkway outside also beats Gion.
