The Nandaimon at a glance
The Nandaimon is the Great South Gate and the main gate of Todai-ji. The building you see today is 25.46 m high from the top of its stone base, and it stands on 18 large pillars that are each 19.058 m long. Its ridge was raised in 1199, and the gate and its two guardian figures were finished in 1203.
The gate is built in what is called the Daibutsu style, a way of building that the monk Chogen brought in after Chinese models of the Song period when he rebuilt the temple. The gate and the guardians are National Treasures. There is no separate fee to see them: the Nandaimon is not on the list of buildings that charge admission, which are the Daibutsuden, the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the museum.
The two guardians
Kongo Rikishi, also called Nio.
Size
The two figures are each a little over 8.4 m high. They stand at the gate, which is the entrance to the grounds.
Makers
The figures were made under the direction of the sculptors Unkei and Kaikei, with the help of their workshops. Tradition says they were completed in 69 days, a figure that is part of the story of the temple rather than a measured fact.
Not inside the hall
The guardians belong at the gate. They are not inside the Daibutsuden. If you go in there, you will see the Great Buddha, not these figures.
Date
The gate and the guardians were finished in 1203, during the rebuilding after the fire of 1180. See the history page for the order of events.
Nara tours that include Todai-ji
Guided walks in Nara and day trips from Kyoto and Osaka that start at the Nandaimon, with live prices and availability.
Using the gate in your route
It sits on the way in, so most visitors pass it first.
If you walk from Kintetsu Nara, the route runs east along Noborioji and takes about 20 minutes to the temple. You reach the Nandaimon at the start of the grounds, then continue to the Daibutsuden. Allow extra time for the walk to the eastern halls, such as Nigatsudo and the Hokkedo.
By city loop bus, the stop near the temple is Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae, and the walk from there is about 5 minutes. Do not mix it up with the stop further north called Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan. More routes are on the getting there page.
Bicycles and motorcycles
There is no car park at the temple itself. Bicycles and motorcycles are left southwest of the Nandaimon, and even pushed bikes may not be taken into the grounds. The grounds are smoke-free and drones are not allowed.
Deer at the gate
Wild animals, protected as a natural monument.
Deer often wait around the Nandaimon. They are wild animals, so do not crowd, grab or tease them. Feed them only the crackers made for the purpose, never paper, plastic or other litter, and keep small children close. The rest of the deer rules, the park and the surrounding sights are covered by the Nara Park guide on the deer of Nara. For what lies beyond the gate, continue to the Daibutsuden, and check tickets and hours for the fees.
What to look at
Details that reward a slow minute at the gate.
Start with the pillars. The 18 large pillars are each 19.058 m long, which gives an idea of the timber that went into the structure. Then look at the roof and the way the weight is carried, which is typical of the Daibutsu style that Chogen introduced from Song China. Step back far enough to see the whole front, and then walk close to see the guardians. Both are National Treasures, and they were finished in the same year as the gate.
The gate is also a good place to pause before the rest of the visit. Everything beyond it is at a larger scale again, from the Daibutsuden to the Buddha inside. For a calm start, come at opening time in the morning.
Gate, hall and Buddha in numbers
How the three headline structures compare.
| Structure | Key measurement | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nandaimon | 25.46 m high from the stone base | Ridge 1199, finished 1203 |
| Guardian figures | A little over 8.4 m each | 1203 |
| Daibutsuden | 48.742 m high, 57.012 m wide | Present hall dedicated 1709 |
| Great Buddha | 14.98 m without the pedestal | Dedicated 752 |
The gate is the first of these you meet, and it sets the scale for the rest. A standard half-day route through Nara allows about 50 minutes for the whole of Todai-ji, so a quick look at the gate and its guardians fits into even a short visit. If you have more time, read about the Great Buddha before you go in, and plan when to come around the opening hours of the halls.
Nandaimon Gate: frequently asked questions
What is the Nandaimon?
The Nandaimon is the Great South Gate, the main gate of Todai-ji. It is 25.46 m high from its stone base, and it has two huge guardian figures inside.
When was the Nandaimon built?
The ridge was raised in 1199, and the gate and the guardian figures were completed in 1203.
Who made the guardian statues?
The figures were made under the direction of Unkei and Kaikei, with their workshops. They stand a little over 8.4 m high.
Do I need a ticket for the Nandaimon?
No separate fee is charged for the gate. The Daibutsuden, the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the museum each charge admission.
Are the guardians inside the Great Buddha Hall?
No. They stand at the Nandaimon, the gate at the entrance of the grounds. The Great Buddha is in the Daibutsuden.