[2025 Nara Attraction] Travel Guide for Todai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate) (Updated Mar)

Across the road from the hotel is Namdaemun, which is great for sweeping the streets. The price here is a little more friendly than Myeongdong. Myeongdong is mainly a tourist area. #I miss #travel abroad #affordable hotels

#Osaka Attractions The South Gate of Todaiji Temple stands tall in Nara City. As the largest mountain gate in Japan, it is 25.46 meters high and majestic. This national treasure was built during the Kamakura period (beams were laid in 1199 and completed in 1203), and was rebuilt by Master Jōgen in the "Great Buddha" style of the Song Dynasty. The roof of the Rumu House is supported by 18 21-meter-high pillars. The design without a skylight showcases the beauty of the structure, making people marvel at the wisdom of ancient craftsmen. The two 8.4-meter-tall Vajra Warrior statues inside the gate were completed within 69 days by Yunqing and Kuaiqing. They stare at each other and guard the gate for a thousand years. Standing at the door, I felt the weight of history and the greatness of human power. The silent wood and stone seemed to whisper about the past wars and renaissance, which was very moving. Transportation: Take the city bus from JR or Kintetsu Nara Station to "Daifudian Kasuga Taisha-mae" and walk for 5 minutes #Todaiji Temple South Gate #Nara Tourism #Vajrapani Statue #Historical Beauty

#japantrip #kyoto #thingstodo #culture #nara #osaka #buddhastatues #summer Stepping into Todaiji Temple is like entering a piece of history—this iconic Nara landmark is home to the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. The sheer scale of the temple’s massive wooden hall, one of the largest of its kind, is breathtaking. As you wander through the grounds, you’ll also encounter the friendly, free-roaming deer of Nara Park, adding a unique charm to the experience. Whether you’re a history buff, a spiritual seeker, or simply in awe of grand architecture, Todaiji Temple is an unforgettable stop in Japan!

Continuing from the previous episode: 📍Todaiji Temple - The Magnificent Great Buddha and Numerous Souvenir Shops After leaving Nara Park, we headed straight to Nara's most iconic landmark - Todaiji Temple! The architecture here is incredibly massive, and stepping inside, you'll be struck by its grandeur. The main attraction inside is the gigantic Great Buddha of Nara, which is several times larger than you can imagine! Looking up at the Buddha's serene expression gives you a sense of peace, and just standing there, you can feel the solemn atmosphere it brings. But aside from the Great Buddha, there's another highlight - the souvenir shops! Outside Todaiji Temple, there are many shops selling souvenirs, from cute deer-themed items to various unique trinkets. It's super fun to browse through, and it's definitely a great place to buy souvenirs. 📍Higashimuki Shopping Street - Nara's Food Paradise The last stop is Higashimuki Shopping Street, one of the busiest shopping streets in Nara, filled with unique snacks and souvenirs, making it a foodie's paradise! From Nara's local persimmon leaf sushi to various cute deer-themed snacks, you'll want to buy something every few steps 😃. The shopping street isn't long, but the atmosphere is great. After a full day of sightseeing, coming here to grab a bite and buy some souvenirs is the perfect way to end your Nara trip. It's truly awesome! In conclusion, Nara is the perfect combination of history and adorable deer! This trip to Nara, from world-class historical sites to deer roaming the streets, and ending with a culinary feast, is highly recommended! If you're visiting Kansai, you must spend a day in Nara. Its unique charm will make you happy, satisfied, and bring home a bunch of cute souvenirs!

#japantrip #nara #narapark #japan #travel #thingstodo #myitinerary Nara Park and the deer are probably the only reason for many to visit Nara. It takes approximately 1 hour from Osaka to Nara by car and many would do it for a day trip (we stayed in Nara for a night). The Nara Park is huge and would require a bit of walking so be prepared to dress up accordingly. As soon as you arrive at the Park, you will find the wild deer roaming around (with some begging for treats). Aside from that, you will probably smell an unpleasant animal manure stench. To complete your experience in Nara Park, grab a stack of Grain Crackers to feed the deer for 200Yen, but mind you- some deer will attack you so play smart. For us- we looked for the younger and clumsy ones and we were not attacked. We did witness some tourists being attacked (not seriously). Walk to one end of the Nara Park and you will find Todai-Ji Temple- one of the largest wooden structure and famous temples in Japan. We did not get to explore further as the temple was due to close (we visited at around 4PM local time) but suggest to take some photos at the pond right in front of Todai-Ji.

If you have visited Shanxi and followed Liang Lin's footsteps to admire the ancient buildings, but you are still not satisfied... Cross the border ~ First stop, Nara, Japan In 710 AD, Heijokyo (now Nara) was built, [equivalent to one-fourth the size of Chang'an City], and its overall layout imitated that of Chang'an City. The Nara period was the peak period of Japan's imitation of the Tang Dynasty. A large number of envoys were sent to the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty culture was systematically inherited. In 745 AD, the fourth year of the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Shomu of Japan, in order to pray for peace, followed the edict of Wu Zetian in the early Tang Dynasty and built Dayun Temple (now Todaiji Temple), which became the general management center for temple affairs in Japan. Todaiji Temple With a history of more than 1,200 years, Todaiji Temple has been destroyed many times by fire and earthquake, and the existing buildings can be traced back to 1709. The Great Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. It is truly gigantic! The existing Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple is 57 meters long, about 50 meters wide and about 49 meters high. It should be noted that the Great Buddha Hall was dismantled and repaired during the Meiji era (with steel truss supports added), but it is still recognized by UNESCO as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world today! By the way, there is a very thick pillar in the Great Buddha Hall with a hole underneath. Many people are drilling into it, especially students (who seem to be local Japanese students). Legend has it that this symbolizes that "the exam must be passed successfully." South Gate The South Gate has a double-layered hip roof, about 50 meters wide and 25 meters high. It was built in 760, but was destroyed by fire and restored and rebuilt during the Kamakura period (1199). This is a pure Song Dynasty building, with an entirely wooden structure supported by 18 21-meter-high wooden pillars. It was built by craftsmen invited from Ningbo during the Southern Song Dynasty (more similar to the ancient architectural style in Zhejiang and Fujian). What impressed me most were the tall and mighty Vajrapani statues on both sides of the door. They were made of cypress (reminiscent of the strongmen in Longmen Grottoes), and were very well carved, with their muscle lines and expressions showing a strong momentum! Shosoin Shosoin stands quietly behind Todaiji Temple. Every autumn when the treasure house is exposed, some of the treasures will be exhibited at the Nara National Museum with a special theme for only two weeks. During the war, Mr. Liang Sicheng protected Kyoto and Nara as a scholar. The US military bombed all over Japan, but unfortunately did not affect these two cities. As he said: "It is not only the ancient capital of Japan, but also a cultural treasure of all mankind."