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Toda-Ji temple is located near Nara Park and houses the largest Bronze Buddha in Japan. The temple complex includes a series of shrines and temples as is common in Japanese temples/shrines where Shinto and Buddhist buildings share the same ground.
After spending time with the deer walking up to the temple a leisurely walk around the grounds leads to many different shrines and temples. Inside the temple itself is the large bronze Buddha as well as smaller items to look at. You can purchase Ema, Fortunes, and get Calligraphy done by Buddhist nuns in the temple and at the approach to the temple itself.
When to go
In late March and early April the parks Sakura trees are in bloom. The park also has plum trees that bloom just before the Sakura trees bloom. The park is open year round.
What is nearby?
Nara has a lot of shrines and shops around the park and between the park and the train stations.
How to get there?
Toda-Ji Temple is located in Nara Park. From Osaka if you have a JR Rail Pass you can take the Yamatoji Line to Nara Station. Or if you want a quicker route not on JR you can take the Kintetsu-Nara Line from Osaka-Namba Station to Kinetetsu-Nara Station. This puts you closer to Nara Park.
From Kyoto you take the Nara Line to Nara Station from Kyoto Station. The Nara line passes by Fushimi Inari shrine which is a nice stopover either out to or back from Nara via Kyto.
The address is:
406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8211, Japan
Hours of Operation
The park is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily
Cost
The Great Buddha hall is ¥ 500, a combined ticket for both the Buddha hall and the museum is ¥ 1,000.
Website
http://www.todaiji.or.jp/english/index.html
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Cheers,
Dave…