Todai-ji Temple and the Great Buddha
東大寺
Nara Park · near Kintetsu Nara Station (20 min walk)
Todai-ji Temple and the Great Buddha in Nara Park. One of the world's largest bronze Buddha statues towers 15m inside a giant wooden hall, and kids love squeezing through the hole in a support pillar said to be the size of the Buddha's nostril.
Why children love it: One of the world's largest bronze Buddha statues towers 15m inside a giant wooden hall, and kids love squeezing through the hole in a support pillar said to be the size of the Buddha's nostril.
Honest drawbacks: It is a working temple that gets very crowded; the long approach and hall have limited seating and little to keep restless toddlers occupied.
- Best for
- Toddlers (2–4), Primary (5–11), Teens (12–17)
- Time to allow
- 1.5h
- Opening hours
- Daibutsuden open daily 7:30-17:30 (April-October) and 8:00-17:00 (November-March).
- Price
- Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden): adults 800 yen, children ages 6-12 400 yen. Combined ticket with the Todai-ji Museum 1,200 yen (adult).
- Booking
- Usually walk-in
- English
- ★★★☆☆
- Indoor / weather
- mixed
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