Todai-ji
Todai-ji houses the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden), one of the largest wooden buildings in the world despite being a reduced reconstruction of an even larger original, containing a 15-meter bronze seated Buddha statue completed in 752 as a national project intended to unify the country spiritually after a series of disasters and epidemics. A wooden pillar inside has a hole through its base said to be the same size as one of the Buddha statue's nostrils, and squeezing through it is said to guarantee enlightenment, a challenge popular with children and flexible adults alike.
The temple sits within Nara Park, so the walk there typically passes through areas thick with the park's free-roaming deer, and the complex extends further uphill to Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do for those with time to continue exploring.
Todai-ji FAQs
About 15 meters tall, one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Japan, housed within the Daibutsuden, one of the world's largest wooden buildings.
A hole through the base of one wooden pillar is said to match the size of one of the Buddha statue's nostrils; squeezing through it is a popular tradition said to guarantee enlightenment.
Yes, a paid admission for the Daibutsuden hall containing the Great Buddha.
About 1-1.5 hours for the main hall, more if continuing to Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do.
Yes, it's one of the main sights within the park, alongside Kasuga Taisha and Kofuku-ji.
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