Museums in Nara

Nara Prefecture's museums offer a diverse look at the region, from the Ikoma Furusato Museum to the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara. Visitors can find museums covering a range of interests.

Not sure where to start? Read our guide to the 20 best

Ikoma Furusato Museum

Ikoma Furusato Museum

Explore Ikoma's history in a beautiful 1933 building, a National Registered Tangible Cultural Pr...

The Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture

The Museum, Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture

Explore ancient artifacts and archaeological discoveries at Japan's oldest research institution.

Nakano Museum of Art

Nakano Museum of Art

Nakano Museum of Art showcases Japanese modern art collected by Nakano Kanji, housed in a unique...

Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City

Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City

Photography museum in Nara City, dedicated to Irie Taikichi, showcasing his works and modern arc...

Nara City Museum of Art

Nara City Museum of Art

A city art museum in Nara, hosting special exhibitions and a citizen's gallery.

Naramachi Museum

Naramachi Museum

This free private museum preserves Naramachi's history through folk materials and antiques.

Nara Prefecture Complex of Man'yo Culture

Nara Prefecture Complex of Man'yo Culture

Explore Japan's oldest poetry at this free museum, library, and research complex.

Nara Prefectural Museum of Folklore

Nara Prefectural Museum of Folklore

Explore traditional Nara life and historic folk houses at this open-air museum.

Nara Prefectural Museum of Art

Nara Prefectural Museum of Art

See Japanese art from Nara's top artists, just a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.

Neiraku Museum

Neiraku Museum

Neiraku Museum houses a private collection of East Asian art, sharing admission with Isuien Gard...

Kyū Yagyū-han Karō Yashiki

Kyū Yagyū-han Karō Yashiki

Explore a samurai's retirement home, now a museum, offering a glimpse into 19th-century life.

Shōhaku Art Museum

Shōhaku Art Museum

See exquisite Japanese paintings by the Uemura family, spanning three generations of artists.

Yanagisawa Bunko Museum

Yanagisawa Bunko Museum

Yanagisawa Bunko Museum preserves historical documents of the Yanagisawa clan, offering a glimps...

Kashihara City Insectarium

Kashihara City Insectarium

See over 1,000 insect specimens and a butterfly house at this natural history museum.

Sabō Haseji

Sabō Haseji

A historic garden cafe, restaurant, and printmaking museum near Hase-dera Temple.

The Museum, History of Katsuragi

The Museum, History of Katsuragi

Explore Katsuragi City's history through archaeological finds and folklore exhibits.

Katsuragi City Sumo Museum “Kehayaza”

Katsuragi City Sumo Museum “Kehayaza”

Explore sumo's origins and artifacts at this museum, a short walk from Taimadera Station.

Forest and Riverhead Museum Genryūkan

Forest and Riverhead Museum Genryūkan

This modern museum introduces Kawakami's natural world, history, and ecology, and is a departure...

Nara National Museum

Nara National Museum

Nara National Museum: a top museum for Buddhist art, including National Treasures.

Tenri City Kurozuka Kofun Museum

Tenri City Kurozuka Kofun Museum

See a life-size tomb chamber model and ancient mirror replicas for free.

Tenri University Sankōkan Museum

Tenri University Sankōkan Museum

Explore global cultures and archaeology at this museum, home to important cultural properties.

Museum Yamato Bunkakan

Museum Yamato Bunkakan

This museum showcases East Asian ancient art, including National Treasures, in a notable modern...

Tomimoto Kenkichi Memorial Museum

Tomimoto Kenkichi Memorial Museum

This museum, now a hotel, showcases the birthplace and works of potter Tomimoto Kenkichi.

Asuka Historical Museum

Asuka Historical Museum

Explore excavated artifacts from the Asuka region, including Important Cultural Properties, at t...

Kashihara Children's Science Museum

Kashihara Children's Science Museum

An interactive science museum in Nara featuring physics experiments and space simulators designe...

Museums elsewhere

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