Todai-ji entrance fee at a glance
Four buildings charge admission: the Daibutsuden, the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the Todai-ji Museum. Each costs JPY 800 for visitors from junior high school age, roughly 13 years and up, and JPY 400 for elementary school children, roughly 6 to 12 years. A combined ticket for the Daibutsuden and the museum costs JPY 1,200, or JPY 600 for children.
The grounds, the Nandaimon gate and the walk up to Nigatsudo have no separate fee. All prices on this page are as posted for 2026 and can change. This is an independent guide: it does not sell tickets, and it is not the temple's own page.
Prices by building
Single entry, as posted for 2026.
| Ticket | From about 13 years | About 6 to 12 years |
|---|---|---|
| Daibutsuden | JPY 800 | JPY 400 |
| Hokkedo (Sangatsudo) | JPY 800 | JPY 400 |
| Kaidan-in | JPY 800 | JPY 400 |
| Todai-ji Museum | JPY 800 | JPY 400 |
| Combined: Daibutsuden and museum | JPY 1,200 | JPY 600 |
The combined ticket saves JPY 400 for an adult compared with buying the two separately (JPY 1,600). It covers only these two buildings. If you want all four, the combined ticket plus the Hokkedo and the Kaidan-in comes to JPY 2,800 for an adult. You buy the combined ticket at the Daibutsuden or at the museum. For children under about 6, ask at the ticket window.
Nara tours that include Todai-ji
If you prefer a guide, these Nara walks and day trips from Kyoto and Osaka show live prices and availability.
Opening hours by season
Hours differ by building, so the earliest and latest times do not apply to the whole site.
| Building | April to October | November to March |
|---|---|---|
| Daibutsuden | 07:30–17:30 | 08:00–17:00 |
| Hokkedo | 08:30–16:00 | 08:30–16:00 |
| Kaidan-in | 08:30–16:00 | 08:30–16:00 |
| Museum | 09:30–17:30, last entry 17:00 | 09:30–17:00, last entry 16:30 |
There are no regular closing days. The temple may close buildings for special events or emergencies, so check the day before if your plans depend on one hall. In summer, the Daibutsuden opens an hour before the Hokkedo and the Kaidan-in, which makes it the natural first stop. More on timing is on the best time page.
Groups, discounts and the audio guide
What changes the price, and what does not.
Groups of 30 or more
Per paid building, adults pay JPY 700, high school students JPY 500, junior high students JPY 400 and elementary students JPY 200. Individual teenagers pay the full adult price.
Disability rate
Visitors from junior high age pay JPY 400 and elementary school children JPY 200 with a disability card. Bring the card and ask at the window whether a certificate from your country is accepted.
Audio guide
The audio guide costs JPY 500 per person and has about 30 minutes of content, with German among the languages. It comes with a touch pen, earphones and a map, and it is handed out behind the Daibutsuden ticket gate. Hours are 10:00 to 17:00 from April to October and 10:00 to 16:30 from November to March, and it can be paused in bad weather. It is not an entry ticket.
Tours and audio guide →Other discounts
There is no general senior or student discount in the fee table. Pay the listed price unless the window tells you otherwise.
How to buy and what to expect at the gate
No booking, no queue ticket, cash in hand.
A normal visit needs no reservation, including for groups. You pay at the ticket window of the building you are entering, in cash. Credit cards and travel agency coupons are not accepted, so bring yen. Wheelchairs can be requested at the entrance of the Great Buddha Hall without a reservation, depending on availability. That does not mean every hall is step-free, so ask staff about the route.
The grounds are smoke-free, drones are not allowed, and bicycles and motorcycles are parked southwest of the Nandaimon and may not be pushed inside. Inside the halls, photos, sketching and flashlights are not allowed in the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the museum. In the Daibutsuden you may take personal photos on the visitor route, without tripods or group line-ups. The Daibutsuden page has the details.
Most visitors do the Daibutsuden first, then the Nigatsudo terrace, and only add the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in or the museum if they have time. Each hall is a separate fee, so choose the ones you care about. The museum and the Hokkedo both have their own pages. For the four-building route, the Great Buddha remains the main reason most people come.
Todai-ji tickets: frequently asked questions
How much is the Todai-ji entrance fee?
JPY 800 for adults and JPY 400 for children at each of the Daibutsuden, the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the museum, as posted for 2026. The combined Daibutsuden and museum ticket is JPY 1,200 and JPY 600.
Does the combined ticket include the Hokkedo and Kaidan-in?
No. It covers only the Daibutsuden and the Todai-ji Museum. The other two halls are paid separately.
Can I pay by credit card?
No. The ticket windows take cash. Credit cards and travel agency coupons are not accepted.
Is it free to walk around Todai-ji?
The Nandaimon gate and the walk up to Nigatsudo have no fee. The Nara Park around the temple is also free to enter. The halls with a ticket are the Daibutsuden, the Hokkedo, the Kaidan-in and the museum.
What are the opening hours?
The Daibutsuden is open 07:30 to 17:30 from April to October and 08:00 to 17:00 from November to March. The Hokkedo and the Kaidan-in are open 08:30 to 16:00. The museum is open 09:30 to 17:30 in summer and 09:30 to 17:00 in winter, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Do I need to reserve a time slot?
No time slots are required for a normal visit. Groups do not need to reserve either.