Kohfukuji Temple is located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and is a Buddhist temple with a history of over 1,300 years, known for its Five-storied Pagoda.
Kohfukuji Temple is also designated as one of the cultural properties that constitute Nara’s World Heritage Site.

Eastern Golden Hall at Kohfukuji Temple
Eastern Golden Hall

The Five-storied Pagoda, which is a symbol of the ancient capital of Nara, as well as the Northern Round Hall, Three-storied Pagoda, and Eastern Golden Hall are designated as National Treasures at Kohfukuji. The temple also has a total of 47 other national treasures, including the famous Japanese statues of Ashura and the standing wooden statue of the Thousand-armed Kannon.

Kohfukuji Temple Five-storied Pagoda light up
Five-storied Pagoda will be lighten up after dark

Many of these are designated Important Cultural Properties as well as National Treasures, and the National Treasure Gallery, where valuable cultural properties are on display, is well worth seeing.

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About Kohfukuji Temple

Central Golden Hall at Kohfukuji Temple
Central Golden Hall

Kohfukuji Temple is the head temple of the Hosso School, which spread from the Asuka(592-710) to the Nara periods(710-784).

In 669, Yamashinadera Temple, the predecessor of Kohfukuji Temple, was built in Kyoto and is still used as another name for Kohfukuji Temple.
In 710, when the capital was relocated to Nara, the temple was moved to its current location and renamed “Kohfukuji Temple”.

It was a clan temple of the Fujiwara clan, which was once one of the most powerful families in Japan, and its main halls and towers were built by the emperor, empress, and Fujiwara clan.
Since the Heian period (794-1185), the temple has been frequently destroyed by fire, but has been rebuilt each time, backed by the power of the Fujiwara clan.

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INFORMATION

NAME

Kohfukuji Temple (興福寺)

BUSINESS DAY

Every day

ADMISSION

National Treasure Hall Adults: 700yen, High and Middle school students: 600yen, Elementary school students: 300yen. Eastern Golden Hall Adults: 300yen, High and Middle school students: 200yen, Elementary school students: 100yen. Combined Ticket (National Treasure Hall and Eastern Golden Hall)) Adults: 900yen, High and Middle school students: 700yen, Elementary school students: 350yen. Central Golden Hall Adults: 500yen, High and Middle school students: 300yen, Elementary school students: 100yen.

ADDRESS

48 Noboriojicho, Nara City, Nara 630-8213

ACCESS

5 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
15 minute walk from JR Nara Station.
Next to Kenchōmae (bus stop).

STATION INFO

Kintetsu Nara Station
Kintetsu Nara line

(JR) Nara Station
JR Nara line

Kenchōmae (bus stop)
City loop bus

LINK

https://www.kohfukuji.com/english/