Nara travel

Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo) · Gangoji Temple · 元興寺(極楽坊)

Add Gangoji (Gokurakubo) to a Naramachi lane walk for a temple visit. Inside the grounds, you can see the temple buildings including Gokurakudo Hall.

Official sources Official temple access Official sources

Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)
663highland · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source

Visitor information

Address

奈良県奈良市中院町11番地

11, Chuincho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, 630-8392, Japan

View on the map

Address source Address source

Admission

Regular admission costs JPY 700 for adults, JPY 500 for junior and senior secondary students and JPY 300 for primary-school students. Autumn exhibition admission costs JPY 800 for adults, JPY 600 for junior and senior secondary students and JPY 400 for primary students. Groups of 30 or more pay JPY 600, or JPY 700 during the exhibition. Exhibition admission replaces the regular fee; do not add both.

Admission source

Opening hours

Gangoji opens from 9 am to 5 pm, with admission until 4:30 pm. Special exhibitions and annual events may change access and fees.

Opening-hours source

What to see at Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Gokurakudo alongside a lane walk

Enter Gangoji from Naramachi to see buildings including Gokurakudo Hall. Set aside temple visiting time during your lane walk; admission to the grounds is paid.

Nara City tourism association hours and fees Nara Prefecture tourism: Naramachi streets and walking access

How to get to Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Gangoji (Gokurakubo), 11 Nakaincho, Nara City, is about 20 minutes' walk from JR Nara or 15 minutes from Kintetsu-Nara. These times cover the walk to the temple; allow extra time to reach the admission desk and explore Naramachi lanes.

Official temple access Nara City tourism association hours and fees

Get directions

Before you visit

Check map names and addresses together

Gangoji (Gokurakubo) is at 11 Nakaincho, Nara City. The Gangoji pagoda site in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple; check the address as well as the name on maps.

Official Gangoji guidance distinguishing two temples Official temple access

Autumn 2026 exhibition: 24 October–15 November

Adult admission for the 24 October–15 November 2026 autumn exhibition is JPY 800. This includes admission and replaces the regular JPY 700 fee; it is not an additional charge. For other dates, check the applicable fee and exhibition guidance.

Official Nara Prefecture Gangoji autumn 2026 exhibition Nara City tourism association hours and fees

Questions about Gangoji Temple (Gokurakubo)

Are Gangoji (Gokurakubo) and the pagoda site the same place?

No. Gokurakubo is at 11 Nakaincho, Nara City; the pagoda-site Gangoji in Shibashinyacho is a separate temple. Check that your map destination is 11 Nakaincho.

Official Gangoji guidance distinguishing two temples Official temple access

Official sources

Reviewed on: