Nara National Museum

Information

Nara National Museum exhibits a valuable collection of ancient works of art, particularly the selected masterpieces of Buddhist art. The museum's collections are housed in two buildings. The main building of the museum was built in 1895 as the first western-style building in Nara. The building is now designated as an Important Cultural Property. Inside the building is divided into two galleries, one is for Buddhist images and another one is for ancient Chinese bronze wares.
The museum's new annex has two wings. The eastern gallery has displays of sculptures, paintings and calligraphy. The western gallery, which is mainly used for special exhibitions, displays archaeological finds. The new annex is linked to the main building by a 150 meters long underground passage. This underground area is entrance free and there are a restaurant and a museum shop along the passage.
A special exhibition is held from late October to early November every year and the treasures of the Shoso-in Hall, which holds the treasures of Todai-ji Temple, are displayed here. The exhibits include highly valuable items related to the cultures along the Silk Road.

Opening Hours

9:30 - 17:00
9:30 - 19:00 (The last Friday of April - October)

Closed

Mondays (or the following day when it falls on a national holiday)
Year-end and New Year's holidays

Price / Entrance Fee

Regular Exhibition: 520 yen (General, Adult)
Regular Exhibition: 260 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

15 minutes walk from Kintestu-Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line

Address / Location

50, Noboriojicho, Nara-shi, Nara, 630-8213

Tweets

eeJAPAN @eejapan_jp - 2019-12-10: Nara Park 🗾🇯🇵
Nara Park (奈良公園, Nara Kōen) is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location… https://t.co/so5Wcu0faJ
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-12-06: First Lady Barbara Bush, with granddaughter Marshall Walker, places the star at the top of the National Christmas T… https://t.co/Pbq5sC3L9E
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-12-06: On December 15, 1983, Amy Benham, who suffered from Hodgkin's lymphoma, used her Make-A-Wish Foundation wish to hel… https://t.co/wHAJ90LFlf
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-12-06: President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton hold one another during the National Christmas Tree lighting… https://t.co/Uik9Y8LWAL
🍺 寝瓶 🍺 @Nevin_Thompson - 2019-12-06: @CitizenYan @David16982612 It depends on how thoroughly you want to explore Nara City. For example, the National Mu… https://t.co/oK2g5hQcP6
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-29: President George H.W. Bush participates in the presentation and pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey in th… https://t.co/faDHc4TvjW
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-29: President Gerald Ford reprieves a Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation on November 20, 1… https://t.co/AeK8XkNrGn
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-29: President Ronald Reagan receives the 36th annual Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey Federation on the Sou… https://t.co/Uiav38ZO1o
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-28: President John F. Kennedy laughs with officials at the presentation of a Thanksgiving turkey by the National Turkey… https://t.co/EYkeqzQyI4
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: A member of the National Turkey Federation presents a turkey to President Richard Nixon in the Rose Garden in 1969.… https://t.co/eACbWnypAo
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: First Lady Rosalynn Carter and her daughter Amy meet with “Purdue Pete” and the National Turkey Foundation during a… https://t.co/9plg2wHZ7r
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: President Dwight D. Eisenhower holds the neck of a 40-pound Thanksgiving dinner turkey presented to him by the Nati… https://t.co/8zXm4PH19n
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: President George W. Bush looks over Katie, the first female National Thanksgiving Turkey, in the Rose Garden in 200… https://t.co/lvd0Hnr7Yb
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: President Gerald Ford leans on a table in the Rose Garden for a closer look at the turkey presented to him by the N… https://t.co/dSHCNRrDBm
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: President John F. Kennedy laughs with officials at the presentation of a Thanksgiving turkey by the National Turkey… https://t.co/Bq8CmssyVW
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-11-27: President Ronald Reagan receives the 36th annual Thanksgiving turkey from representatives from the National Turkey… https://t.co/Q1cqnbA4lB
HI-JAPAN @YH_JPN_E - 2019-11-14: Nara #YouthHostel is conveniently located near several sightseeing spots. Visit Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha. W… https://t.co/ItEMkjH06S
Prisma @ImperialJPNfan - 2019-11-12: On November 9th, Princess Takamado (Hisako) visited the 71st Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures at Nara Nation… https://t.co/MMvfbHNWwY
Dr. Paula 💀 Curtis @paularcurtis - 2019-11-01: Though the monk artists for this scroll is not known, it is now held at the Nara National Museum. If you want to zo… https://t.co/mp05yiZeP8
奈良国立博物館 @narahaku_PR - 2019-10-30: Cultural Exchange Day for Foreign Students
To foreign students studying in Japan
#Nara_National_Museum offers you f… https://t.co/jnHs2cVFN0
Japan Travel @JapanTravel - 2019-10-29: Happening now at the #Nara National Museum: the 71st Annual Exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures!

Find out more:… https://t.co/JwTuK5ygmV
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-10-27: The National Christmas tree, an Engelmann spruce over 70’ tall, stands before the White House on December 19, 1972,… https://t.co/AUE9V1fgth
local partnership MOFA JAPAN @LocalMofa - 2019-10-16: Autumn 🍁: the best season for art🎨!
Special Exhibition 'Shosoin: Essential Treasures of Ancient Japan Passed Down b… https://t.co/aAOEVNy9hK
紡ぐ TSUMUGU: Japan Art & Culture @art_tsumugu - 2019-10-15: Treasures from the #Shosoin Repository in #Nara are now on display at the #Tokyo_National_Museum. This is a must-se… https://t.co/an08k1V47f
Paulina Kolata @PaulaKolata - 2019-10-14: A wonderful collection of Buddhist objects at @britishmuseum curated in collaboration with Nara Prefecture. Some wo… https://t.co/RTAI2zX7Ui
Jerrika Romero @Nano__Kitten - 2019-10-10: @MiloshTheMedic @norarengou Nara park
Gravesite of the 47 Ronin
Yoyogi park
The area surrounding mt Fuji
Any where… https://t.co/W0hgtOyr60
Brought to You @Brought_to_You - 2019-10-04: Museum-goers in London are getting a close-up look at some of Japan's national treasures. The British Museum is hos… https://t.co/5yIK0mii8J
NHK WORLD News @NHKWORLD_News - 2019-10-04: Museum-goers in London are getting a close-up look at some of Japan's national treasures. The British Museum is hos… https://t.co/xTL8eU7lMq
Wen-Yi Huang @WenYiHuang1 - 2019-09-24: Nara National Museum's exhibition 'Creatures of Faith,' featuring many #animals and mythical beasts appearing in… https://t.co/Wpn5yXoRPQ
ꕥ𝕗𝕦𝕓𝕦𝕜𝕚¹²⁷ꕥ @1plus2equals7 - 2019-09-16: @NCTsmtown_127 Todaiji and Nara National Museum❣️
ꕥ𝕗𝕦𝕓𝕦𝕜𝕚¹²⁷ꕥ @1plus2equals7 - 2019-09-16: @NCTsmtown_127 Todaiji and Nara National Museum❣️
tkasasagi @tkasasagi - 2019-09-14: Speakers from
1. Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
2. Historiographical Institute of the Uni… https://t.co/ztTBzjGdnc
White House History @WhiteHouseHstry - 2019-09-09: President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower hold their youngest grandchild, Mary Jean Eisenhower… https://t.co/jyZhweYwdY
EXARC @exarc_net - 2019-09-06: Visit to Heijō Palace near Nara (JP) today by a delegation from EXARC and ICOM.
Beautiful indoor and outdoor museu… https://t.co/eAXRijfCSt
Dag Wardenær @Dagwarden - 2019-09-05: @ButtstuffKaiju Nara is wonderful, as mentioned. The Tokyo national museum is top notch. Watch out for Nara deer th… https://t.co/2Z70lSITYf