Todaiji in Nara (Nara): Opening Hours, Cash-Only Tickets and the Great Buddha Hall
Todaiji is home to the Great Buddha of Nara (Nara), seated inside the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsu-den). It is a short walk through Nara Park, past plenty of deer. Two practical points catch visitors out: each hall charges its own entry fee, and payment is cash only. This guide covers hours, tickets and the temple's house rules, based on Todaiji's own pages (checked October 2026).
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- Opening hours by season
- Which halls charge, and the joint pass
- Cash only, no reservations
- Drones, smoking, pets and lockers
Opening hours
Todaiji says it is open every day unless there is a special event or an emergency. Hours change twice a year:
- Great Buddha Hall: 7:30 to 17:30 (April to October), 8:00 to 17:00 (November to March).
- Hokke-do (Sangatsu-do) and Senju-do at the Kaidan-in: 8:30 to 16:00.
- Todai-ji Museum: 9:30 to 17:30, last admission 17:00 (April to October); 9:30 to 17:00, last admission 16:30 (November to March).
Tickets: one per hall, cash only
According to the admission page, the Great Buddha Hall, Hokke-do, Kaidan-do and Todai-ji Museum each charge their own fee: 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children aged 6 to 12. A joint pass for the Great Buddha Hall and the museum costs 1,200 yen (600 yen for children aged 6 to 12).
- Cash only. Todaiji's FAQ says credit cards and travel agency coupons can't be used for entry tickets. Bring yen in cash.
- No reservations needed, even for groups; buy tickets on the day at the ticket window.
- Audio guide: 500 yen, in 9 languages including English, Chinese and Korean, rented about 15 meters past the Great Buddha Hall ticket gate (from 10:00).
Not sure you'll have enough cash? Plan an ATM stop before you walk up to the temple.
House rules
| Topic | What Todaiji says |
|---|---|
| Drones | Flying drones is prohibited across the whole temple grounds, for visitor safety and to protect cultural properties. |
| Smoking | The grounds are completely non-smoking, and there is no smoking area. |
| Pets | Allowed only in the Great Buddha Hall, in a carrier or held in your arms. Not in the other halls. |
| Parking | Todaiji has no parking lot; use nearby paid parking. Bicycles and motorbikes go to the bicycle parking southwest of the Nandaimon gate. |
| Lockers and wheelchairs | Coin lockers are behind the museum ticket office. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Great Buddha Hall ticket window, first come, first served. |
The deer gather along the approach to the temple's main gate. If you plan to feed them, read how to feed and meet the deer of Nara (Nara) safely first. For bowing and praying at temples and shrines, see shrines vs temples and how to pray.
Quick checklist
- Bring cash: 800 yen per hall for adults, or 1,200 yen for the hall and museum together.
- Check the season's hours; the Great Buddha Hall closes at 17:00 from November to March.
- Leave the drone at the hotel, and keep snacks away from the deer on the approach.
Next door in the park: the stone and bronze lanterns of Kasuga Taisha.
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Hours and fees can change for special events. Please confirm on the official pages below.
