Temple · Nara, Japan
Tōdai-ji Temple
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Built 800.
Photo: Wiiii via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Nara, Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Temple |
| Built | 800 |
| Area | Area: 3.279 km² |
| Coordinates | 34.6892° N, 135.8397° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Tōdai-ji Temple is known for
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan.
About Tōdai-ji Temple
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admired Tang dynasty. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE.
History
Todaiji is well known for the Nara Daibutsu, also known as "The Great Buddha of Nara," which is an image of the Buddha Birushana. The current Buddha was repaired after suffering significant damage in 1692. Under the leadership of Abbot Shunjobo Chogen (1121–1206), numerous structures at Todaiji were rebuilt in 1180 in the fashion of the Southern Song dynasty of China.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Tōdai-ji Temple website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Nara |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Osaka International Airport (ITM) |
| Distance from the airport | 23.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) · Osaka, Japan · 23.5 miles away
- Kobe Airport (UKB) · Kobe, Japan · 35.2 miles away
- Kansai International Airport (KIX) · Osaka, Japan · 38.4 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Japan
More temples
Frequently asked questions
What is Tōdai-ji Temple?
Tōdai-ji (東大寺, 'Eastern Great Temple') is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan.
Where is Tōdai-ji Temple located?
Tōdai-ji Temple is in Nara, Japan. Its coordinates are 34.6892° N, 135.8397° E.
How do I get to Tōdai-ji Temple?
The nearest town is Nara, and the nearest airport is Osaka International Airport (ITM), about 23.7 miles away (straight line).
When was Tōdai-ji Temple built?
Tōdai-ji Temple was built 800.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tōdai-ji — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q460367 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.todaiji.or.jp/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.