Todai-ji Temple is located in Nara and was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan.

The temple grew so powerful that the capital was moved away from Nara in 784 in order to lower the temple's influence on government affairs.

Todaiji is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara.

The temple's main hall, the Big Buddha Hall, also known as Daibutsuden, is the world's largest wooden building, and houses one of Japan's largest bronze Buddha statues, which is 15 metres tall.

Todaiji's grounds are spacious and cover most of northern Nara Park, including a number of smaller temple halls and sites of interest around the Daibutsuden Hall.

Todai-ji is open 7:30 to 17:30 (April to October) 8:00 to 17:00 (November to March).

Entry fee: 800 yen per person.