# Tōdai-ji, Japan: what it is and when to go > Tōdai-ji is a Japanese Buddhist temple in Nara (東大寺). Interests: History. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 19 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. It has articles in 43 Wikipedias: it is one of the fifty best-known places in Japan on this site. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/todai-ji/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Japanese Buddhist temple in Nara · History - **Local name:** 東大寺 - **Where:** Japan · 630-8211, 奈良市, 奈良県 - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 62 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Nov-Mar Mo-Su 08:00-17:00; Apr-Oct Mo-Su 07:30-17:30 - **Price:** Gratis - **Website:** [todaiji.or.jp](https://www.todaiji.or.jp/) - **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site - **Coordinates:** 34.68823, 135.84016 ## What it is and where Tōdai-ji is a Japanese Buddhist temple in Nara (東大寺). It has articles in 43 Wikipedias: it is one of the fifty best-known places in Japan on this site. It is in [Nara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nara/), where this site lists 51 more places to see, 889 m from the centre. Its coordinates are 34.68823, 135.84016; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 62 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.688233%2C135.84016) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.688233%2C135.84016) - **Protection:** UNESCO World Heritage Site It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Tōdai-ji is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 55 | | February | Best time | 10 h 45 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 53 | | May | Best time | 13 h 49 | | June | Possible | 14 h 19 | | July | Possible | 14 h 07 | | August | Possible | 13 h 18 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 06 | | November | Best time | 10 h 09 | | December | Possible | 9 h 41 | In June there are 14 h 19 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Hokke-dō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sangatsu-hall/): History · Temples · 365 m - [Nigatsu-dō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nigatsu-hall/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 393 m - [Tamukeyama Hachimangū](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tamukeyama-hachimangu/): Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 414 m - [Shōsōin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/the-shosoin-repository/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 424 m - [Himuro Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himuro-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan · 485 m Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: History - [Mount Fuji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/monte-fuji/): volcano in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Himeji Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himeji-2/): Japanese castle complex - [Hiroshima Peace Memorial](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cupula-de-genbaku/): architectural structure - [Itsukushima Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/santuario-itsukushima/): Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan Every Japan place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Tōdai-ji? It is a Japanese Buddhist temple in Nara (東大寺 in the local language). It has articles in 43 Wikipedias: it is one of the fifty best-known places in Japan on this site. ### When is the best time to visit Tōdai-ji? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 19 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 41. ### How do you get to Tōdai-ji? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 62 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.688233%2C135.84016) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Hokke-dō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/sangatsu-hall/), [Nigatsu-dō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nigatsu-hall/), [Tamukeyama Hachimangū](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tamukeyama-hachimangu/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1134669589), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460367), CC0. More about Tōdai-ji on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E5%A4%A7%E5%AF%BA). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).