Nara — ancient capital

Inside the Great Buddha Hall at Todai-ji, behind the statue of the Great Buddha, stands a single wooden pillar with a square opening at its base. It is said that this opening is exactly the same size as the nostril of the Great Buddha of Nara—a hole matching the dimensions of the colossal statue’s nostril, which rises to about 15 meters in height.

Since ancient times, it has been believed that passing through this opening brings good fortune and happiness, and even today many visitors attempt to squeeze through. The opening is skillfully designed so that children can pass through easily, while adults must make a greater effort. It is also believed that, since the pillar is located in the northeast (“demon’s gate”) of the hall, it served as an exit for evil spirits.

In the corner of this vast and majestic space—one of the largest wooden structures in the world, home to one of the most impressive bronze statues on earth and hundreds of tons of bronze and gold—there is a modest, human touch: a small feature before which every visitor quietly bows and makes a wish for good luck. Here, one feels the warmth of Nara’s faith and the depth of the city’s thirteen-century-old traditions.