Welcome back fellow adventurers! We are continuing the Nara adventures and will be talking about Todaiji Temple. If you’re interested in history, architecture, and/or Buddhism it’s a cool place to check out.
aka The Great Eastern Temple
Todaiji Temple is a large complex with a long and rich history, going back to the 8th century. That being said, it is one of the country’s most significant temples and a big landmark in Nara. A fun fact I read on Japan Guides while researching said in the 8th century it was the head temple and grew so powerful that capital was moved away from Nara so it wouldn’t have as large of an influence on the government of the time…
There are 20 (yep 20) different sites to see here. From the gates and the Great Buddha Hall to the Bell Tower and Kagami Pond, there’s so much to see it’ll be hard to get it all in during one visit. My tour was about an hour, so we saw a few of the main structures. If you have the ability to stay longer, you could see it all.
This info is from my experiences and the website. Credit where credit is due.
Accessibility of Todaiji Temple
While I was here, I kept an eye out for accessibility. I saw areas, however, it wasn’t clear where entrances were and things like that. I copied the directions from the website, so hopefully that will help if you need it. According to the Todaiji Temple (2023) website,
The wheelchair users can enter the corridor and the Great Buddha Hall from the slope on the left (west side) of the front entrance.
A flat stone path goes from the Nara prefectural car park (near the Great South Gate) & Taxi rank on the west side of the Great Buddha Hall directly to the entrance of the Great Buddha Hall providing easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Wheelchairs are also available for rent from the security office in front of the central gate of the Great Buddha Hall. (Advanced reservations are not necessary.)
Wheelchairs can be used between the Great Buddha Hall and the Nara prefectural parking lot (near the Great South Gate), but they must be returned to the security office.
The path that leads to Nigatsu-dō Hall is accessible to wheelchair users. However, the path from the security office to the hall is quite uneven and uphill so please be careful. Moreover, please understand that there are stairs leading to the top of the Nigatsu-dō Hall and these are not wheelchair accessible.
Parking
There is no parking at the temple, but there are paid lots nearby. You will have to walk from there to the temple. My group walked from Nara “Deer” Park to the temple.
Bathrooms
There are a few bathrooms on the grounds. Some are by the museum, Great Buddha Hall, and a few in areas we did not go. They are clearly marked on the map. I did not use the bathroom here, so I can’t speak to any of them, however, some are marked with the handicapped symbol.
My Experience at Todaiji Temple
Todaiji Temple is a cool place to visit, there is definitely a lot to see. I wish I would have been able to explore the grounds more, but we were on a time limit. Given it’s historical and religious significance, the temple is a busy place. The crowd, especially at the entrances, could be a lot, so keep that in mind.
The route that we took had some minor inclines and stairs. Like I said above, there are other options for those in need, it just wasn’t what our group did. Most of the stairs weren’t a big deal, however, getting through the South Gate required a big step, as well as into the Great Buddha Hall. With the latter, there were a few very large steps to climb and it was tough for me. As we know, that movement isn’t really an issue for me, but it took more effort than I expected.
Once I was inside (through the hoard of people taking photos in the doorway after being told not to do it) I was able to move at a more leisurely place and check out the statues. They are pretty. I am bummed that my photo of Buddha didn’t turn out. It caused people to back up the doorway for a reason.
By the time we got here, I was pretty spent. This was day four of walking my feet off, so I took the opportunity to rest when I could. I didn’t see any places to sit. Or at least places appropriate for sitting, so I took pressure off my feet how I could. Thankfully, I (and a couple of my new friends) were able to take a taxi to the station and sit a spell while we waited for the rest.
My rating
If I had to put a rating on this activity, I would say it fall into the easy to moderate category. While there are stairs and a pretty big incline, some of it is avoidable if you know where to go. I didn’t or I would have probably avoided those big stairs. It sounds like the incline is a thing no matter which way you go. Just use caution if you’re on wheels. There is a lot of walking, however, outside the changes in grade I mentioned before, it was relatively flat and easier to navigate.
Unfortunately, Cardybear did not come on the Japan adventures. I wanted to bring him, but he takes up my whole backpack. He was definitely there in spirit though.
Be safe out there and remember your passport! Seeyalaterbye <3
Also, if you feel called to help a sista out with her travels, check this out!
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