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Todai-ji Sorin (Pagoda Spire)

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Japan

Todai-ji Sorin (Pagoda Spire)

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Todai-ji Sorin (Pagoda Spire)

Recommended by 29 hikers out of 32

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Location: Japan

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Best Hikes to Todai-ji Sorin (Pagoda Spire)

4.7

(30)

434

hikers

1. Kasuga Taisha – Nigatsu-dō Hall loop from 奈良

9.04km

02:24

100m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(56)

258

hikers

2. Nara Park Deer – Kasuga Grand Shrine loop from 近鉄奈良

19.4km

05:34

470m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.8

(18)

216

hikers

3. Nigatsu-dō Hall – Kasuga Grand Shrine loop from 奈良

16.7km

04:41

320m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Horst

April 9, 2024

A sorin is basically the spire ("set of treasures," if you want to get technical) that sits atop a pagoda. About 1200 years ago, there was a 7-story pagoda at Todai-ji. This sorin was made for a replica pagoda and exhibited at the 1970 EXPO. It stands over 10m tall, which makes me wonder how something like this could have ever stood atop a pagoda of that size. Amazing.

Todai-ji, the Great Eastern Temple, was commissioned by Emperor Shomu in the early part of the 700's. It is the head temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism, but used to be the head of all the Buddhist temples in Japan until it was moved from Nara to Nagaoka in order to limit their influence in governmental affairs (the court was located in Nara and then in Kyoto, close to Todai-ji). The original complex contained two 7-story pagodas, the largest ever in Japan. Although those are gone, Todai-ji is a wealth of national treasures.

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Elevation 110 m

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Monday 15 December

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Location: Japan

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Todai-ji Sorin (Pagoda Spire)

1. Kasuga Taisha – Nigatsu-dō Hall loop from 奈良

2. Nara Park Deer – Kasuga Grand Shrine loop from 近鉄奈良

3. Nigatsu-dō Hall – Kasuga Grand Shrine loop from 奈良

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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