Description
A good view of the temple can be seen from the nearby tomb of Empress Shotoku, whose wishes were fulfilled when 'the Great Eastern Temple' was established in 765. Now one of Nara's top seven, in those days it was a major complex.
Beginning with a fire in 846 (notwithstanding the revitalizing help of the priest Eison who changed Saidai-ji to the Shingon sect during the Kamakura period) it has been gradually reduced to the Aizendo, the Shio-do and the Hondo, all of which date to mid-Edo period reconstruction.
Admission: JPY400