Before You Visit Tōdai-ji: Every Cost, and What's Worth It

Tōdai-ji, home to the Great Buddha of Nara in one of the world's largest wooden buildings, is the highlight of a day among Nara's deer. There's the Great Buddha Hall ticket, a combo with the museum, other halls on the grounds and deer crackers on the way. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need the most expensive one to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right time, whether that's a quiet 8 am or a crowded late morning.