Highlights
- **Thousands of lanterns** are lit across the Great Buddha Hall grounds in the evening, a river of small flames dedicated to the departed.
- The **Kannomado (観相窓) window** high on the front of the Daibutsuden is opened so the **Great Buddha's face is visible from outside** — a sight seen only on special nights.
- An **Obon memorial (万灯供養会)** for ancestors and the dead, held each year on **August 15** in the height of summer.
- The setting is **Todaiji's Daibutsuden**, home to the ~15 m bronze Vairocana Buddha and Japan's grandest wooden hall.
- Wild **sika deer of Nara Park** wander the approach at dusk — atmospheric, but keep bags closed and only feed shika-senbei.
Background & story
The Manto Kuyoe belongs to the Obon season, when Japanese families welcome and console the spirits of their ancestors. At Todaiji the memorial is expressed through light: thousands of lanterns are offered across the Daibutsuden precinct in prayer for the repose of the dead. On this one night the Daibutsuden's Kannomado window is opened after dark, letting the Great Buddha's face — normally hidden behind the hall's tall doors — look out over the flames and the visitors gathered below.
The Todaiji Great Buddha Lantern Service (Manto Kuyoe) 2026 lights about 2,500 lanterns before the Great Buddha on the evening of Saturday, August 15, 2026, during Obon. On this one night the Great Buddha Hall's observation window is opened so the Buddha's face is visible from the front approach. This page also has Todaiji's everyday admission fee and opening hours, the most-searched practical details.
2026 lantern service
- Date: August 15, 2026, evening (lanterns lit from about 19:00, hall open into the night).
- A quiet, candlelit Obon atmosphere — far calmer than the daytime crowds.
- The hall's observation window is opened so the Great Buddha's face can be seen from outside.
Admission fee & opening hours (Great Buddha Hall)
Verified from the official Todaiji site:
- Admission: Adult ¥800, child (6–12) ¥400.
- Hours: Apr–Oct 7:30–17:30, Nov–Mar 8:00–17:00.
- The Manto Kuyoe evening has separate extended hours; standard daytime admission applies.
Access
- Where: Todaiji Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden), Nara Park.
- Nearest: about a 20-minute walk, or a bus to "Daibutsuden Kasuga-Taisha-mae", from Kintetsu Nara Station (JR Nara is a little further).
Tips for visitors
For the Manto Kuyoe, arrive before dusk to walk Nara Park while it is light, then see the lanterns as the sky darkens. On a normal visit, mornings are quietest and the deer are most active.
Official: todaiji.or.jp. Admission and standard hours verified from the official site; confirm the Aug 15 evening schedule there closer to the date.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 20 minutes' walk or a bus to Daibutsuden from Kintetsu Nara Station. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- The Manto Kuyoe evening service itself is a religious observance and is generally viewed from the precinct; on ordinary days, Daibutsuden admission is ¥800 adult / ¥400 child, or a joint Daibutsuden + Todaiji Museum pass ¥1,200 adult / ¥600 child (as of July 2026). Confirm any special-evening entry arrangements on the official site.. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, solo-goers
Good to know
This lantern evening is a special Obon night, but Todaiji is a working temple every other day of the year: normal Daibutsuden hours (7:30–17:30 Apr–Oct, 8:00–17:00 Nov–Mar) and the ¥800 adult admission apply on ordinary daytime visits (as of July 2026) — see our **Todaiji visitor guide** for the full breakdown of what the ticket covers. Come early to walk **Nara Park** in daylight first; the deer are wild and most active before dusk, so read our **Nara deer guide** before you buy shika-senbei. Confirm the exact 2026 evening timing on the official site (todaiji.or.jp/en) before you travel, as Obon schedules can shift.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Todaiji's Manto Kuyoe lantern evening in 2026?
- August 15, 2026, in the evening -- an Obon memorial held every year on this date at Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) in Nara.
- What is the Kannomado window?
- It's a window high on the front of the Daibutsuden that is opened only on this one special night, letting visitors see the Great Buddha's face from outside the hall -- normally it's hidden behind the tall doors.
- How much is Todaiji admission on an ordinary day?
- ¥800 for adults and ¥400 for children (Daibutsuden only), or ¥1,200 / ¥600 for a joint Daibutsuden + Todaiji Museum pass, as of July 2026. The lantern evening itself is a religious observance generally viewed from the precinct -- confirm any special-evening entry arrangements on the official site.
- How do I get to Todaiji?
- About a 20-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, or take a bus to Daibutsuden.
Getting there
Todaiji Great Buddha Hall — 406-1 Zoshicho, Nara City, Nara