🗺️ Todai-ji東大寺

Tōdai-ji was built during the Nara period (710 - 794 AD), making it over 1,200 years old. Under the prayer of Emperor Shōmu, the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) was constructed within the temple, and the eye-opening ceremony was held in 752. It took nearly 40 years to complete and perfect the temple complex, making it a representative temple of Nara. After the capital moved out of Heijō-kyō, the temple continued to be carefully protected and maintained its prosperity. However, in 1180 and 1567, the Great Buddha Hall and most of the temple buildings were destroyed by fire during wartime. Later, during the Kamakura and Edo periods, the temple was rebuilt with the cooperation of many people. The Great Buddha Hall, which houses the famous "Nara Great Buddha" (Daibutsu statue of Vairocana), is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. In addition to the Great Buddha Hall, there are many other national treasure buildings worth seeing, such as the oldest building in Tōdai-ji, the Hokkedō (March Hall), and the largest sanmon (mountain gate) in Japan, the Nandaimon. Additionally, the "Shōsōin" located to the west of the Shōsōin is also a major highlight. Visiting the "Shōsōin," which has survived two wartime disasters, offers a glimpse into the architectural style of the temple at the time of its construction. In 1998, Tōdai-ji was registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara," alongside "Kasuga-taisha" and "Kōfuku-ji."

The temple built during the Nara period is registered as a World Heritage site. The main deity enshrined in the Great Buddha Hall is the statue of the Nara Great Buddha, known affectionately as "Nara Daibutsu." It houses many national treasures and important cultural properties, including one of the largest wooden structures in the world, the Great Buddha Hall. Visitors can explore the history of Todai-ji Temple and view cultural properties such as statues and crafts at the Todai-ji Museum.