
Todai-ji Nigatsu-do
Todai-ji Nigatsu-do
Nara, Japan
Hilltop hall, part of Todai-ji Buddhist temple, with sweeping views of Nara from its balcony.
Last updated: February 11, 2026
Overview
Hilltop hall, part of Todai-ji Buddhist temple, with sweeping views of Nara from its balcony.
Opening Hours
Visitor Reviews
**★★★★★ rosa — 2 weeks ago
Felt really peaceful up there. Even though we obviously weren’t alone, everyone was super quiet and respectful and enjoyed the view. Definitely less crowded than at the bottom of the park
**★★★★★ Wen Zhong Tan — 3 weeks ago
The temple is perched a little higher than the main temple, around 3 minutes hike, so you get a decent panoramic view. It is also not as crowded as other places. Its entrance has small stone pillars lined neatly along the stairs that other temples don't
**★★★★★ LI YAN — 2 months ago
Randomly finding myself here after exiting the main Buddha hall. You get a nice top down view of Nara from the temple up the stairs. No admission fees are required.
**★★★★★ Jacob Sherman — 4 months ago
This was one of the most atmospheric spots I visited in Nara. The walk up was memorable in itself - a long, steep staircase lined with stones inscribed with kanji dedications from worshippers. At the top stood the beautiful Nigatsu-dō Hall, founded in 752 CE by the monk Sanetada. Despite its age, it has survived almost entirely intact, with only the Raido chapel added later in 1200.
Across from the main hall, I stopped by a small building to get a goshuin. The rain had started coming down hard
**★★★★★ Marisa Limantara — 6 months ago
Went here to see sunset. A local man told us his best sunset photo was at 7:25pm and at 8PM the bell nearby will be rung (the bell is right before we go up the stairs where many vending machines are)
Also met a kind photographer, he showed us all his great shots of the sunset and some of a festival with fire! Super cool pic! If he ever approaches you (especially if u bring a camera, he probably approached us because I was taking pics using a camera) please compliment him! I thought the pictures










