Nara Kōfuku-ji

Nara Kōfuku-ji

Kōfuku-ji is a temple located in Tōdaiji-chō, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Hossō school, one of the six schools of Nanto Buddhism, and is also one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto. It is said that the temple was originally founded as Kiyomihara-dera in 699 by the wife of Fujiwara no Kamatari on Mount Shigi. Later, it was relocated to the Umayasaka area of Nara Prefecture and renamed Umayasaka-dera; finally, when the capital was moved to Nara in 710, Fujiwara no Fuhito and others relocated the temple to its current location, naming it Kōfuku-ji.

Kōfuku-ji is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Cultural Properties of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara" and is one of Nara’s most famous religious and cultural tourism destinations. The temple grounds are lined with historic structures such as the Central Golden Hall, Eastern Golden Hall, Northern Octagonal Hall, Southern Octagonal Hall, Five-Story Pagoda, Three-Story Pagoda, Great Bathhouse, Great Buddha Hall, and the National Treasure Museum, all exuding a sense of historical grandeur. Among these ancient buildings, the National Treasure Museum stands out. Built in 1959, it was established primarily to house the temple's many national treasures and important cultural properties. The museum's collection includes the renowned Asura statue, a 16-foot tall seated Buddha head, a group of Buddhist statues, paintings, craftworks, historical documents, and other precious artifacts. To help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings, the exhibits are open to the public year-round.

Kōfuku-ji

Must-visit reason: One of Nara’s most famous temples

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia [Asia]

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Japan [Japan]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Nara Prefecture [Nara Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Nara City [Nara]

Address: 48 Tōdaiji-chō, Nara City

Type: Historical architecture / Temple

Recommended visit duration: About 1 hour

Phone: +81742-22-7755

Official website: http://www.kohfukuji.com/chinese_s.html

Opening hours:

9:00–17:00 (last entry at 16:45)

Admission information:

National Treasure Museum admission: Adults 600 yen, students 500 yen, children 200 yen. Eastern Golden Hall admission: Adults 300 yen, students 200 yen, children 100 yen. Combined ticket for National Treasure Museum and Eastern Golden Hall: Adults 800 yen, students 600 yen, children 250 yen.