The largest wooden temple in the world houses the 15 m bronze Great Buddha; adult admission ~600 ¥.
Tōdai-ji is one of the most impressive monuments in Japan and a must-see in Nara. Its Daibutsuden, the Hall of the Great Buddha, is the largest wooden building in the world and houses a bronze statue of the Vairocana Buddha 15 metres tall, cast in the 8th century. The scale of the complex, surrounded by sika deer that roam freely, is overwhelming. Founded in the year 728 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the temple was the centre of Japanese imperial Buddhism. The tour of the interior lets you see up close the colossal figure, several bodhisattvas and a famous pillar with a hole at its base: it is said that whoever manages to pass through it will attain enlightenment. Admission to the Daibutsuden costs 600 ¥ for adults. The outer grounds, including the Nandaimon (south gate with large wooden guardians), have free access. The temple opens from 07:30 to 17:30 in summer and from 08:00 to 16:30 in winter. To avoid the crowds, the ideal is to arrive first thing in the morning or at dusk. From Kintetsu Nara station it is reached on foot in about 20 minutes crossing the park, or by bus to the Daibutsuden Kasugataisha-mae stop. Wear comfortable clothes and have some loose change handy to buy shika-senbei crackers and feed the deer along the way.
