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Place to VisitZōshichō, Nara
Tōdai-ji
About
Tōdai-ji is one of Japan's most historically significant temple complexes, famous for housing the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), a colossal 15-meter-tall bronze statue. Standing inside the Daibutsuden, one of the world's largest wooden buildings, visitors are struck by the sheer scale of 8th-century craftsmanship. Expect to meet Nara's famous bowing deer roaming the temple grounds and approach the massive Nandaimon Gate, guarded by towering, fierce Kongo Rikishi statues.
Insider Tip
Avoid the crowds by arriving at 7:30 AM when the gates open, or walk behind the Great Buddha to find the wooden pillar with a luck-bringing squeeze-through hole.
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