It’s a bit out of the way but reachable by train. Love this old Nara temple. Don’t miss the moss garden, it’s magical. The atmosphere is calming, spend the time to soak in the serene environment and walk around the gardens. UNESCO Heritafe site that’s not inundated with crowds, one of the highlights of my Japanese trip.
One of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was my first time seeing a thousand-hand Buddha. All arms carved in wood.
It offers a piece of history in the nation building of Japan, especially Buddhism, before Kyoto (Heian-kyo) was established.
Toshodai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate) is an impressive architectural feature located at the entrance to Toshodai-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nara, Japan. Founded in 759 by the Chinese monk Ganjin, Toshodai-ji is renowned as a pivotal center for the introduction of Ritsu Buddhism to Japan, and the Namdaimon serves as a symbolic threshold to this historic and sacred site.
The Namdaimon exemplifies traditional Japanese Buddhist gate design, blending simplicity and grandeur. Constructed primarily of wood, the gate reflects the architectural elegance of the Nara period (710–794), with its harmonious proportions, tiered roof, and detailed carvings. It stands as a testament to the master craftsmanship of the era, embodying both structural strength and spiritual significance.
As visitors pass through the Namdaimon, they are greeted by an atmosphere of tranquility, signaling their transition from the secular world to the sacred precincts of the temple. The gate’s large, open design invites light and air, creating a welcoming and serene environment that complements the temple’s ethos of harmony and mindfulness.
The Namdaimon also serves as a prelude to Toshodai-ji’s treasures, including the Golden Hall (Kondō) and the Lecture Hall (Kōdō), which house magnificent statues and artifacts. While often overshadowed by these landmarks, the Namdaimon remains a vital part of the temple’s identity, standing as a symbolic guardian of its cultural and spiritual heritage, and an enduring connection to Nara’s historical legacy.
It is a nice and well kept buddisth temple relatively small in size. What I found to be a turn off was the price which is 1000 yen per person.
Compared to many other temples in Japan this one stood out to me. Overall there was not really something that stayed with me for that price. It might just be me but I would not recommend it as a visit.
What I also found strange and with all due respect was the fact that it was not possible to take pictures of the statues which were in fact the interesting part of the temple.
Beautiful Buddhist temple. Incredibly well taken care of. The Garden surroundings the temples were very nice well worth the visit. A very piecefull place.
If I am in Nara definitely will have to visit again
If you read English, make sure to get the brochure it gives a great overview of the history of the temple and also has a website off of the qrcode, these people thought about everything!
