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Nara National Museum

The Western-style Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall of the Nara National Museum behind a green lawn and pine trees
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
≈ ¥700; under 18 free
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Roughly 9:30–17:00
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Permanent collection
About ¥700; free under 18
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Closed
Mondays; 28 December–1 January
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Shosoin exhibition
Late October–early November, separate ticket
Highlight
Buddhist sculpture from the 7th–13th centuries
Getting there
15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara through the park
Coordinates
34.68370, 135.83640YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1894the year the original Western-style building was built
Sourceen.wikipedia
Leadingmuseum of Buddhist art in Japan
Sourceen.wikipedia
Shosointhe annual autumn show of imperial treasures
Sourceen.wikipedia
Underground passagelinks the old building with the new wings
Sourceen.wikipedia
≈ ¥700entry to the permanent collection
Sourcetravel guides
Under 18free entry
Sourcetravel guides
Mondayclosing day
Sourcetravel guides
15 minuteson foot from Kintetsu-Nara station
Sourcetravel guides

What is the Nara National Museum?

The Nara National Museum, Narahaku, is one of Japan's four national museums and the country's leading museum of Buddhist art. It stands in the middle of Nara Park, between Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji, so you'll meet deer on the way.

The permanent collection is in the original 1894 building, a Western-style hall now called the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall and itself an Important Cultural Property. It holds statues of buddhas and bodhisattvas from the 7th to 13th centuries, from Nara's temples and across Japan. An underground passage connects it to the new wings, which host temporary exhibitions.

Tickets and hours

According to 2026 guides, entry to the permanent collection is about ¥700, and free for visitors under 18. The museum opens roughly 9:30 to 17:00 and closes on Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday), as well as from 28 December to 1 January.

Temporary exhibitions in the new wings need a separate, pricier ticket that depends on the show. The museum's official site didn't load from our server, so check prices and dates before you go.

What to see

  • The Buddhist Sculpture Hall — the 1894 building.
  • Statues of buddhas and bodhisattvas from the 7th–13th centuries.
  • The Bronze Hall — ancient Chinese bronze vessels.
  • The new wings with temporary exhibitions.
  • The Shosoin exhibition — every autumn.
  • The tea house in the museum garden.

How to get to the Nara National Museum

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

  • Kofuku-ji is about 10 min away on foot.
  • Nara Park is about 11 min away on foot.
  • Todai-ji is about 16 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. From Kintetsu-Nara — about 15 minutes on foot east through the park.
  2. From JR Nara — about 30 minutes on foot, or a city bus.
  3. Bus — to the Himuro-jinja / Kokuritsu-hakubutsukan stop.
  4. From Kofuku-ji — about 5 minutes on foot.
  5. From Todai-ji — about 10 minutes on foot.

Nara museum or Tokyo National Museum

Nara museumyou are hereBuddhist artNara Park≈ ¥7001–1.5 hours
Tokyo museumAll Japanese artUeno ParkSeparate ticket2–3 hours

How long do you need?

Allow 1–1.5 hours for the permanent collection. The museum fits neatly between Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji, right on the route through the park.

It's a good place to escape rain or heat — the halls are cool and quiet. If you've seen Todai-ji's Great Buddha and Kofuku-ji's Ashura, the museum shows how Buddhist sculpture developed over six centuries.

The statues have English labels. Photographing exhibits is usually not allowed — watch for the signs at the entrance to each hall.

Is the Nara National Museum worth visiting?

Yes, if you're interested in Buddhist art: there's no collection of statues like it anywhere else in Japan.

The YesGo take: without an interest in sculpture, halls full of statues can feel repetitive. If you have one day in Nara, better to see statues in the temples themselves. And during the Shosoin show, expect queues of hours — go only for the show itself.

Before you go: checklist

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Museums: compare and choose

Museums and historic sights rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Todai-ji511 h 30 min¥80012 min walk
Kofuku-ji441 hgrounds free; museum ≈ ¥9008 min walk
Naramachi431 hFree18 min walk
Heijo Palace Site391 h 30 minFree3.8 km
Nara National Museumyou are here371 h 30 min≈ ¥700; under 18 free—
Kasuga Taisha371 houter area free; corridors ¥70019 min walk
Yakushi-ji321 h 15 min¥1,0005.1 km
Horyu-ji302 h 30 min≈ ¥2,00012.1 km

Nara in a day

Kofuku-ji in the morning, then the Nara National Museum, and Todai-ji's Great Buddha and the deer in the afternoon. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Kofuku-ji1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900
  2. 8 min walk from the previous stopNara National Museumyou are here1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥700; under 18 free
  3. 12 min walk from the previous stopTodai-ji1 h 30 min · ¥800
  4. 9 min walk from the previous stopNara Park1 h 30 min · free

4 places · about 5 h 59 min with walks · 29 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Kofuku-ji

Nara, Japan

1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 · 8 min walk

Nara Park

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · free · 12 min walk

Todai-ji

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · ¥800 · 12 min walk

Naramachi

Nara, Japan

1 h · free · 18 min walk

How to do it right

  • Closed on Mondays.
  • Free under 18.
  • Good in rain or heat.
  • Shosoin show — autumn, queues.
  • On the way: Todai-ji.

Questions

How much is entry to the Nara National Museum?

About ¥700 for the permanent collection; free under 18.

What are the opening hours?

Roughly 9:30–17:00.

When is it closed?

On Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday).

What is the Shosoin exhibition?

An annual autumn display of 8th-century imperial treasures.

How do I get there?

15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara through Nara Park.

How long do you need?

1–1.5 hours.

What's in the collection?

Buddhist sculpture, painting and bronzes.

What's nearby?

Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Nara Park.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Nara National Museum — the 1894 building, collection, Shosoin exhibition
  • 2026 travel guides — price, hours, closing day, 2026 Shosoin dates (unofficial; narahaku.go.jp didn't load on 09.11.2026)
  • Wikidata Q147312 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe building, collection and Shosoin exhibition are from Wikipedia. Price, hours and closing day are from 2026 guides, so they are marked 'being checked'. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

Top YesGo picks: Nara

Heijo Palace Site

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · free

Kasuga Taisha

Nara, Japan

1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700

Mount Wakakusa

Nara, Japan

1 h 30 min · ¥150

Yakushi-ji

Nara, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥1,000

Horyu-ji

Nara, Japan

2 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,000

All places: Nara →