Tōdai-ji
Good to know
- Best time to go
- March–May and October–November
- Budget
- $
- Accessibility
- limited
- Coordinates
- Open in maps
An eighth-century Buddhist temple complex housing the Great Buddha Hall, claimed to be among the world's largest wooden structures. Inside stands a 15-meter bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha, commissioned by Emperor Shomu in 743. A wooden pillar with a hole at its base has become a ritual attraction: passing through the opening, sized to match the nostril of the statue, is said to bring enlightenment.
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