Getting to Todai-ji at a glance
The temple lies at 406-1 Zoshicho in Nara, on the eastern side of the city next to Nara Park. Most visitors arrive by train at Kintetsu Nara or JR Nara and then walk or take a city bus. The temple has no car park of its own, so drivers use public car parks nearby.
The easiest start is Kintetsu Nara. From there you walk east along Noborioji and reach the temple in about 20 minutes. Allow more time if you plan to see the halls on the eastern side, because the grounds are large.
How to get to Todai-ji
Your options from the station.
| Route | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk from Kintetsu Nara | About 20 minutes | Free | East along Noborioji |
| City loop bus from JR Nara or Kintetsu Nara | Bus ride plus about 5 minutes on foot | Check the current fare | Get off at Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae |
| Gurutto bus | – | JPY 250, child JPY 130 | Mainly weekends and holidays |
| Taxi | – | – | Drop-off in front of Sashizudo, west of the Buddha hall |
Our picks: day trips from Kyoto
Bus tours from Kyoto that include Todai-ji, so you do not need to plan the trains yourself.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nara and Uji bus tour from Kyoto
Air-conditioned bus with Wi-Fi, an English-speaking guide, Todai-ji and Byodoin entry, a matcha experience in Uji and audio headsets.
Check availability →
Nara and Kyoto bus tour from Kyoto
An air-conditioned bus and an English-speaking guide. Todai-ji entry and lunch are included only with the Nara morning or the full-day option; drinks are extra.
Check availability →Tours that include transport to Todai-ji
Day trips from Kyoto and Osaka and walks in Nara, with live prices and availability.
On foot and by bus
The two usual ways from the stations.
Walking from Kintetsu Nara
Leave the station and head east along Noborioji. The walk takes about 20 minutes and leads you toward the Nandaimon, the great south gate. From the gate it is a straight approach to the Daibutsuden, the hall of the Great Buddha. The halls in the east of the grounds need more walking on top of that.
The Nandaimon →City loop bus
A loop bus connects the stations with the temple area. The outer loop is route 2 and the inner loop is route 1. Get off at Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae and walk about 5 minutes. Do not mix it up with the stop Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan, which lies further north. Check the current timetable before you go, because intervals vary.
The Gurutto bus
The Gurutto bus costs JPY 250 for adults and JPY 130 for children per ride. It runs mainly on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, with some weekday exceptions. You can pay in cash, with a CI-CA card or with a nationwide transport IC card. Do not plan around it on an ordinary weekday.
By taxi
Taxis let passengers out in front of Sashizudo, west of the Buddha hall. That saves the walk from the station if you have luggage or limited mobility.
The Daibutsuden →By train from Kyoto and Osaka
Both cities connect to Kintetsu Nara.
From Osaka-Namba
A Kintetsu train takes about 40 minutes and costs JPY 680 one way to Kintetsu Nara. That fare is the base ticket, so the figure does not include a supplement for a limited express.
From Kyoto
On a sample timetable, the express takes 48 minutes and costs JPY 760. The limited express takes 34 minutes and costs JPY 760 plus a JPY 520 supplement, JPY 1,280 in total. These are examples for one date, not a promise of departures every day.
Tours and day trips →Planning the day
For a trip from either city, see Nara from Kyoto and Nara from Osaka. More about arriving in the city is on the Nara Park page.
Parking and other vehicles
Public car parks near the temple.
| Day | Day rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary weekdays | JPY 1,500 |
| Ordinary weekends and holidays | JPY 2,000 |
| 9 to 13 and 16 to 20 November 2026 | JPY 2,500 |
| 24 to 31 October and 1 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22 November 2026 | JPY 3,000 |
These rates apply to the car parks at Noborioji, Takabatake and in front of the Daibutsuden from 1 October 2026, with a rate calendar through 31 March 2027. The old hourly system is gone, and passing midnight adds another day rate. At Noborioji the first hour is free on weekdays, and cars enter from 6:00 to 22:00. Tour buses pay JPY 6,000 when they park and JPY 3,000 for a drop-off stop only. Space is not guaranteed on busy autumn weekends, so a train is the safer choice.
Bicycles and motorbikes stay southwest of the Nandaimon, and pushing them into the grounds is not allowed. The grounds are smoke-free and drones are banned. Wheelchairs can be requested at the entrance of the Buddha hall, subject to availability.
Plan the rest of your trip
What to read next.
Getting to Todai-ji: frequently asked questions
How far is Todai-ji from Nara station?
From Kintetsu Nara it is about 20 minutes on foot along Noborioji. From JR Nara you can take the city loop bus and walk about 5 minutes from the stop Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae.
How do I get from Kyoto to Todai-ji?
Take a Kintetsu train to Kintetsu Nara. On a sample timetable the express takes 48 minutes for JPY 760 and the limited express takes 34 minutes for JPY 1,280 in total.
How do I get from Osaka to Todai-ji?
Take a Kintetsu train from Osaka-Namba to Kintetsu Nara, about 40 minutes for JPY 680 on the base fare, then walk or take a bus.
Is there parking at Todai-ji?
The temple has no car park of its own. Public car parks nearby charge a day rate from JPY 1,500 on ordinary weekdays and JPY 2,000 on weekends, with higher rates on peak autumn days.
Does the Gurutto bus run every day?
No. It runs mainly on weekends and holidays, with some weekday exceptions. The fare is JPY 250 for adults and JPY 130 for children.