Todaiji Nigatsudo

Most visitors of Todaiji Temple often visit only the main attraction Daibutsuden, the hall that houses the famous bronze Nara Buddha, and skip the temple complex’s smaller halls. Although they lack the grandeur of the main hall, the smaller halls are equally intriguing and beautiful masterpieces, and the most notable of all is the tall terrace Nigatsu-​do.
Literally translated as «February Hall», Nigatsu-​do is located on east of Daibutsuden on one of Nara’s tallest points. This hall houses the Buddhist goddess of mercy Kannon in a Shinto-​esque form and hosts the famous firework festival in February — Hence the namesake. However, even if you are not there to see the firework, you should not miss seeing this interesting building but also the spectacular vantage that this building offers.
Don’t be alarmed by the stone pillars! They are not tombstones; they are solid testaments to the philanthropists who donated to the temple construction.
In a small neighborhood of many halls including the Sangatsu-​do, or March Hall that houses one of the National Treasure ranked statues, Nigatsu-​do possesses a serene environment that is a stark contrast to Daibutsuden’s festive surrounding as only the few dedicated and knowledgeable made the effort to see this.
If you are planning to walk from Todaiji Temple to Kasuga Shrine or vice-​versa, why not take a scenic detour to see this?