Tōdai-ji in Japanese — 東大寺
Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Nara Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 東大寺, read とうだいじ. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
東大寺
| Kana | とうだいじ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Tōdaiji |
| English | Tōdai-ji |
| Category | Buddhist temples |
| Location | Nara, Nara Prefecture 奈良市 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 東大寺
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 奈良市, 奈良県.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
Temple names are read in ways that surprise even Japanese speakers, and the same characters can be read two different ways in two different cities. Handing over the kanji removes the guesswork; the reading on this page is the local one.
Nearby places of the same kind
- 興福寺 — Kōfuku-ji, Nara
- 元興寺 — Gangō-ji, Chūinchō
- 唐招提寺 — Tōshōdai-ji, Nara
- 薬師寺 — Yakushi-ji, Nara
- 法隆寺 — Hōryū-ji, Ikaruga
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 東大寺?
東大寺 is read とうだいじ, romanised Tōdaiji. English-language sources usually write it Tōdai-ji. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Tōdai-ji to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 東大寺 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Tōdai-ji?
For a well-known Buddhist temple the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This Buddhist temple is in Nara, Nara Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.