Tōdai-ji

★ 4.6 (18K+ reviews) • 25K+ booked
Overview
Things to do
Hotels

Tōdai-ji Tickets & Tours

Kyoto Kimono Rental - Traditional Kimono Experience & Japanese Makeup & Photography Service (Provided by Okimono-ya Kiyomizu Store)
Klook's choice
Cultural experiences • Kyoto

Kyoto Kimono Rental - Traditional Kimono Experience & Japanese Makeup & Photography Service (Provided by Okimono-ya Kiyomizu Store)

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English guided
7+ hrs
4.7 / 5
(3.9K) • 40K+ booked
£ 13.60
40% off select options
Nara Kimono Rental & Photo Shoot Experience | Kimono Rental Misaki
Cultural experiences • Nara

Nara Kimono Rental & Photo Shoot Experience | Kimono Rental Misaki

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
4.9 / 5
(61) • 500+ booked
£ 15.55
Kyoto and Nara Day Tour(Optional upgrade to Wagyu “Kobe Beef” lunch)
Klook's choice
Tours • From Kyoto, Osaka

Kyoto and Nara Day Tour(Optional upgrade to Wagyu “Kobe Beef” lunch)

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English guided
Free cancellation
4.4 / 5
(3.8K) • 70K+ booked
£ 30.55
Save £ 13.10
Osaka Kyoto & Nara Full-Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary
Tours • From Osaka

Osaka Kyoto & Nara Full-Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
5.0 / 5
(13) • 50+ booked
£ 245.25
Save £ 61.30
Kyoto Nara Day Trip │ Kiyomizu-dera Temple + Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine + Nara Park (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
Tours • From Osaka, Kyoto

Kyoto Nara Day Trip │ Kiyomizu-dera Temple + Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine + Nara Park (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)

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Hotel pick-up
Instant confirmation
4.7 / 5
(3.5K) • 50K+ booked
£ 33.65
Save £ 14.40
[Kyoto & Nara & Uji Day Tour] Nara Park Cute Deer & Fushimi Inari Taisha Thousand Torii Gates & World Cultural Heritage Todai-ji & Byodo-in & Uji Matcha Food Street & Uji River & Uji Park & Asagiri Bridge Day Tour
Klook's choice
Best of Kyoto & Nara: Kiyomizudera, Nara Park, Todaiji & Much More
Tours • From Osaka

Best of Kyoto & Nara: Kiyomizudera, Nara Park, Todaiji & Much More

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English guided
Free cancellation
4.8 / 5
(198) • 2K+ booked
£ 38.70
Save £ 16.59
Nara & Uji Day Trip: Nara Park & Todai-ji Temple & Uji & Genji no Yu Onsen | Depart from Osaka
Tours • From Osaka

Nara & Uji Day Trip: Nara Park & Todai-ji Temple & Uji & Genji no Yu Onsen | Depart from Osaka

Hotel pick-up
Instant confirmation
4.5 / 5
(329) • 4K+ booked
£ 38.70
Save £ 16.59
Kyoto Coast Fairytale Journey: Sea Train & Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya One-Day Tour
Tours • From Osaka

Kyoto Coast Fairytale Journey: Sea Train & Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya One-Day Tour

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
4.7 / 5
(309) • 2K+ booked
£ 38.39
Save £ 16.46
Kyoto Dream Illumination Autumn Foliage Day Tour - Kinkaku-ji & Arashiyama (Includes Night Maple Train - Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
Tours • From Osaka, Kyoto

Kyoto Dream Illumination Autumn Foliage Day Tour - Kinkaku-ji & Arashiyama (Includes Night Maple Train - Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)

English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
4.6 / 5
(13) • 200+ booked
£ 64.29
Save £ 27.56

Where to stay in Tōdai-ji

Onyado Nono Nara
Hotels • Nara

Onyado Nono Nara

Instant confirmation
4.8 / 5
(1.1K)
From
£ 52.39
Nara Royal Hotel
Hotels • Nara

Nara Royal Hotel

Instant confirmation
4.2 / 5
(1.0K)
From
£ 30.52
Smile Hotel Nara
Hotels • Nara

Smile Hotel Nara

Instant confirmation
4.0 / 5
(290)
From
£ 15.26
Piazza Hotel Nara
Hotels • Nara

Piazza Hotel Nara

Instant confirmation
5.0 / 5
(820)
From
£ 32.42
Hotel Nikko Nara
Hotels • Nara

Hotel Nikko Nara

Instant confirmation
4.4 / 5
(1.0K)
From
£ 38.43
Mikasa Ryokan
Hotels • Nara

Mikasa Ryokan

Instant confirmation
4.6 / 5
(256)
From
£ 167.17
£ 168.86
AB Hotel Nara
Hotels • Nara

AB Hotel Nara

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(240)
From
£ 29.49
Nara Washington Hotel Plaza
Hotels • Nara

Nara Washington Hotel Plaza

Instant confirmation
3.8 / 5
(439)
From
£ 32.81
HOTEL ZEN narahourai
Hotels • Nara

HOTEL ZEN narahourai

Instant confirmation
From
£ 55.56
Nara Ryokan
Hotels • Nara

Nara Ryokan

Instant confirmation
4.5 / 5
(141)
From
£ 48.95
£ 50.67
Mountain Home Lodge in Deer Park
Hotels • Nara

Mountain Home Lodge in Deer Park

Instant confirmation
5.0 / 5
(35)
From
£ 53.48
HARUYA Naramachi - Hostel
Hotels • Nara

HARUYA Naramachi - Hostel

Instant confirmation
4.3 / 5
(202)
From
£ 27.27
£ 28.44

More to explore

Osaka to Nara Express Train by Kintetsu
Rail passes • Nara (From Osaka)

Osaka to Nara Express Train by Kintetsu

Book now for today
Instant confirmation
4.6 / 5
(37) • 2K+ booked
From
£ 5.69
Nara Departure | Private Car Charter to Lake Biwa, Ise & Surrounding Areas
Car charters • Nara

Nara Departure | Private Car Charter to Lake Biwa, Ise & Surrounding Areas

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
5.0 / 5
(2)
£ 225.19
One-Michelin Star Kaiseki - Musoan in Nara
Food & dining • Nara

One-Michelin Star Kaiseki - Musoan in Nara

Free cancellation
5.0 / 5
(3) • 50+ booked
£ 65.59
Obana - Japan Kaiseki in Nara
Food & dining • Nara

Obana - Japan Kaiseki in Nara

Free cancellation
5.0 / 5
(2) • 50+ booked
£ 11.60
Tsukumo Michelin Starred Kaiseki in Nara
Food & dining • Nara

Tsukumo Michelin Starred Kaiseki in Nara

Free cancellation
£ 207.35

Tōdai-ji Reviews

Po *******
2026-09-06 03:19:48
Fantastic 5.0
We were the first guests to arrive for our 9:30 AM reservation, but we got to the shop at 9:20 AM. The ladies at the front desk were incredibly kind and spoke Chinese. Since we arrived early, we were able to start choosing our kimonos and sashes right away, and then head upstairs for styling. The Japanese stylists on the second floor who helped with dressing, makeup, and hair were also very friendly. The kimonos available were all super beautiful, with various fabrics, making it so hard to choose! The lady on the first floor also helped us pair the perfect sash and accessories, and her aesthetic sense was spot on. (Plus, the stylist on the second floor was super fast; my hair was done in no time!) Overall, it was quick and professional, and the experience was excellent. If we ever come back to Kiyomizu-dera, we'll definitely visit again!
SSU ********
2026-09-13 15:03:57
Fantastic 5.0
The rental store’s location is very convenient, just 4 mins by walk from Nara Kintetsu station. The staffs are professional and friendly. They have various kind of beautiful kimono and accessories. I booked kimono rental for couple plus 30 mins’ photograph shoot via Klook. The stylist is pretty efficient and kind. The photographer is good at guiding us to make nice postures. I’m satisfied with the service and pictures. The price is fair. It’s really worth for the money! I highly recommend people to experience the beauty of Nara with them ☺️❤️
Klook User
2026-10-17 22:40:50
Fantastic 5.0
We really enjoyed our tour, our tour guide Rick was really helpful and gave lots of tips and was very clear where the meeting points where to get back on the bus and even sent a WhatsApp pin 20 minutes before. It was a great day, very organised and it went really quick as we had a lot of fun.
Klook User
2026-10-10 10:25:32
Fantastic 5.0
We had a wonderful one-day tour from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara with Harry Qiu from Wish Travel. He arrived promptly, tailored the itinerary to our needs, and gave us time to enjoy Nara and Kyoto at our own pace. We visited Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto and the surrounding areas. Harry also accommodated our last-minute request for my daughter to wear a traditional kimono, bringing us to a shop with beautiful options and reasonable prices. Despite our limited time, he found a charming, less-crowded shrine nearby for a memorable photoshoot. His driving was safe and comfortable, and he communicated fluently in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Friendly, flexible, and knowledgeable, Harry made our trip truly special. We highly recommend Harry Qiu to anyone seeking a personalised tour of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara.
J*******
2026-09-03 06:43:36
Fantastic 5.0
Absolutely loved this tour! Such a fun and well-organised day exploring Nara, Uji and Kyoto. Our guide, Lee, was friendly, knowledgeable and made the whole experience so enjoyable. We saw beautiful places, ate great food and made amazing memories. Highly recommend this tour—definitely worth it! 🇯🇵✨
Klook User
2026-10-17 18:24:38
Fantastic 5.0
If you're traveling a big international trip like we did and were a little nervous trying to figure out all the train systems this is a great option! We based in Osaka for a few days and wanted to see Kyoto and Nara while we were here. We figured we'd be a little overwhelmed trying to get over to Kyoto/Nara so we last minute decided to book a bus tour to the big spots we wanted to see. This was such a great tour! Harid was our tour guide and he was fabulous! You coukd tell he loved what he did. He was always willing to answer our groups questions and keep us informed of each next stop and expectations. We didn't book the lunch but he gave us a good recommendation of where to eat while the rest of the group did the lunch included. He even helped take photos for everyone when needed.
Klook User
2026-07-04 12:02:46
Fantastic 5.0
a lovely afternoon and tour guide was super helpful and guided us personally back to the correct station .. many thanks
김 **
2026-10-19 02:43:24
Fantastic 5.0
Our guide Louis was extremely kind. Even though it was a day for English and Chinese-guided tours and we were the only Korean couple, he kindly guided us in Korean and even sent explanations via KakaoTalk, so we had a very comfortable and pleasant trip. Not to mention the scenery and our overall satisfaction haha. Thank you once again. Highly recommended a million times!
Anthonhell *******
2026-07-20 12:21:54
Fantastic 5.0
It’s been a very hot and humid weather but tour is worth it.

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FAQs about Tōdai-ji

When is the best time to visit Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara?

How can I get to Tōdai-ji Temple from Nara Station?

What should I wear when visiting Tōdai-ji Temple?

Is there a special time of year to experience unique events at Tōdai-ji Temple?

What are the transportation options to Tōdai-ji Temple from major cities like Osaka and Kyoto?

Are there any local dishes I should try while visiting Nara?

What to know about Tōdai-ji

Discover the awe-inspiring Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan, a magnificent Buddhist complex that stands as a testament to ancient architectural brilliance and spiritual devotion. Home to the world's largest bronze statue of the Vairocana Buddha, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a unique blend of history, culture, and serene beauty, making it a must-visit destination for travelers. Just an hour's express train ride from Kyoto, this magnificent temple complex promises a journey through Japan's rich history and culture.
406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8587, Japan

Remarkable Landmarks and Must-Visit Sights

Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden)

Step into the Great Buddha Hall, home to the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. This hall, once the largest wooden building in the world, is a testament to ancient Japanese architectural prowess.

Nandaimon Gate

Marvel at Japan’s largest temple entrance gate, the Nandaimon, with its towering wooden pillars that set the stage for the grandeur that awaits inside Tōdai-ji.

Todaiji Museum

Opened in 2011, this museum showcases rotating exhibitions of religious art and cultural treasures from the temple's vast collection.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Tōdai-ji Temple, established in 752, is a symbol of Nara's historical importance as Japan’s first fixed capital. The temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting its profound cultural and historical value.

Architectural Marvels

Tōdai-ji's architecture reflects the influence of Chinese Tang dynasty temples. The complex originally included two towering pagodas, a library, lecture hall, and monks' quarters. Today, visitors can still marvel at the intricate designs and historical structures that have been preserved.

Local Cuisine

Savor the local delicacy, gyumabushi, a regional variant of gyudon (beef and rice bowls), at nearby restaurants like Mimaya. For a unique twist, try deer curry, a specialty in some parts of Japan.