Where to stay near Todai-ji
Todai-ji sits on the eastern edge of Nara, next to Nara Park. You can stay in Nara itself, close to the temple or near the stations, or base yourself in Kyoto or Osaka and visit on a day trip. The right choice depends on how early you want to start and how much you want to carry.
A bed in Nara pays off mostly in the morning. From April to October the Daibutsuden opens at 7:30, and a short walk from your hotel gets you there at the start of the day. This page gives locations and walking times only. It has no room prices or availability, so check those on the booking page.
Areas compared
Choose by how you arrive and when you want to start.
| Base | To Todai-ji | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Near the temple and Nara Park | A short walk | An early start, a view of the temple |
| Near Kintetsu Nara | About 20 minutes on foot along Noborioji | Trains to Osaka and Kyoto |
| Near JR Nara | City loop bus, then about 5 minutes on foot | JR trains |
| Kyoto or Osaka | About 35 to 50 minutes by Kintetsu train, then a walk or bus | Seeing several cities from one bed |
Day trips and tours around Nara
Walks in Nara, temple visits and day trips from Kyoto and Osaka, with live prices and availability.
The areas in detail
What each base means for your visit.
Near the temple and Nara Park
This base gives the shortest walk to the Daibutsuden. You can be at the ticket counter when it opens at 7:30 from April to October, or at 8:00 from November to March. The park lies on your doorstep too, so read the Nara Park hotel guide for more places in the area.
Opening hours and seasons →Near Kintetsu Nara
The station is the end point for trains from Osaka-Namba and Kyoto. From the exit you walk east along Noborioji and reach the temple in about 20 minutes. This base suits you if you arrive late or leave early with luggage. The old town has its own page on Naramachi.
Getting there →Near JR Nara
The city loop bus links JR Nara with the temple area. Get off at Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae and walk about 5 minutes. Check the current timetable, because the first buses will decide how early you arrive.
Kyoto or Osaka as a base
A day trip works well. A Kintetsu train from Osaka-Namba takes about 40 minutes and costs JPY 680 to Kintetsu Nara. On a sample timetable the express from Kyoto takes 48 minutes for JPY 760. You then reach the temple later in the morning than a Nara guest does. For the trains, see Nara from Kyoto and Nara from Osaka.
A hotel near the temple
One example with its location and practical details.
Hotel New Wakasa
The hotel is at 1 Kitahandahigashi-machi in Nara. It is about 10 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi from Kintetsu Nara, and about 5 minutes on foot from Todai-ji and Nara Park. The roof garden has a view of Todai-ji. That view does not apply to every room, so check the walk on a map for your own route.
Parking
Hotel parking is free from check-in to check-out, and other hours cost extra. Do not mix it up with the public car parks near the temple, which charge a day rate. If you arrive by car, ask the hotel about the amount outside the stay.
What is not included
A hotel near Todai-ji does not give you temple tickets or night access to the grounds. You pay entry at the temple in cash, as every visitor does.
Entry and opening hours →What to check before you book
A few things to know before you plan.
The walk, not the map distance
Look at the route from the hotel to the Nandaimon and to the Daibutsuden. The grounds are large, and the halls on the eastern side add more walking.
The Nandaimon →Prices, taxes and cancellation
Room rates, taxes, check-in and check-out times and cancellation terms differ by hotel and date, and they change. Read them on the booking page for your dates.
Luggage and early arrival
If you reach Nara in the morning, ask whether the hotel can hold your bags. Bicycles and motorbikes may not be pushed into the temple grounds and are parked southwest of the Nandaimon.
Evening visits
The main halls close in the afternoon. The Nigatsudo can normally be visited at any hour, but during the Omizutori in March the temple closes access at times.
Omizutori →
Hotels near Todai-ji: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay for Todai-ji?
A hotel near the temple and Nara Park has the shortest walk. Kintetsu Nara is about 20 minutes on foot and connects to Osaka and Kyoto by train.
Is there a hotel within walking distance of Todai-ji?
Hotel New Wakasa at 1 Kitahandahigashi-machi is about 5 minutes on foot from Todai-ji and Nara Park. Check the exact route for your day.
Can I stay at the temple?
Book an ordinary hotel in Nara and pay temple entry at the counter in cash. A hotel stay does not include temple tickets.
Is it better to stay in Nara or visit from Kyoto?
Staying in Nara gives you an early start at the Daibutsuden at 7:30. A day trip from Kyoto takes about 48 minutes on the express, so both work.
Does the hotel have parking?
Hotel New Wakasa offers free parking from check-in to check-out, with other hours charged separately. The public car parks near the temple charge a day rate from JPY 1,500.