Trip Planner:   Asia  /  Japan  /  Kansai  /  Nara Prefecture  /  Nara  /  Nara National Museum

Nara National Museum, Nara

4.3
#1 of 21 in Museums in Nara
Architectural Building · Hidden Gem · History Museum
Understand Buddhist art’s deep impact on Japanese history and culture at Nara National Museum, nestled in a scenic park of Japan’s former capital city. The museum specializes on the development of various Buddhist styles and features an impressive collection of sculptures from the Asuka, Nara, Heian, and Kamakura periods, the most complete in the country. Set in a modern, Western-style, Meiji-period building, the museum also boasts a large collection of paintings, scrolls, calligraphy, sutras, mandalas, and masks, telling an informative story about Buddhism itself. Located in Nara Park, the museum lies a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara station. With our online itinerary creator, Nara attractions like Nara National Museum can be center stage of your vacation plans, and you can find out about other attractions like it, unlike it, near it, and miles away.
Create an itinerary including Nara National Museum
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

Tours to Nara National Museum

FROM $922 BOOK WITH VIATOR KYOTO & NARA by Minivan Toyota HIACE 2019 Customize Your Itinerary
5.0
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Tours from $922 »
FROM $786 BOOK WITH VIATOR Osaka and Nara by Land Rover Discovery Sport 2018 Customize Your Itinerary
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Tours from $786 »
FROM $884 BOOK WITH VIATOR OSAKA and NARA by Toyota ALPHARD 2019 Customize Your Itinerary
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Tours from $884 »

Nara National Museum reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
481 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By Kai C
    I wasn;t sure if the admission (Y500) was worth the visit. It was, even though the New Museum was closed.The main building has amazing collection of statues of Kamakura, Nara, Heian Buddhas and...  more »
  • By YTCHENG
    Nara National Museum held special exhibitions periodically. Entry fee required but the artifacts displayed thereat were valuable. Worth the visit.  more »
See more on TripAdvisor »

Plan your trip to Nara

  • Get a personalized trip
    A complete day by day itinerary
    based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Book it
    Choose from the best hotels
    and activities. Up to 50% off
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place.
    Everyone on the same page.

Popular things to do in Nara

Todai-ji Temple ©
World heritage site
Todai-ji Temple
4.7
Duration: 1 hour
Nara Park ©
Wildlife Area
Nara Park
4.5
Duration: 2h 30 min
Kasuga Grand Shrine ©
Religious Site
Kasuga Grand Shrine
4.4
Duration: 1h 30 min
Todaiji Temple Cultural Center ©
Specialty Museum
Todaiji Temple Cultural Center
4.0
Duration: 30 minutes

Side trips from Nara

Mt. Koya ©
Mountain
Mt. Koya
Koya-cho
4.6
Duration: 2h 30 min
Byodoin ©
Historic Site
Byodoin
Uji
4.4
Duration: 1h 30 min
Koyasan Okunoin ©
Cemetery
Koyasan Okunoin
Koya-cho
4.8
Duration: 1 hour
Osugi Canyon
Canyon
Osugi Canyon
Odai-cho
5.0
Duration: 4 hours

Historic Sites in Nara

Kofuku-ji Temple
World heritage site
Kofuku-ji Temple
4.2
Duration: 30 minutes
Nigatsu-do Temple ©
Religious Site
Nigatsu-do Temple
4.6
Duration: 30 minutes
Todaiji Keidaicho
Historic Site
Todaiji Keidaicho
4.8
Duration: 1 hour
Akishinodera Temple ©
Religious Site
Akishinodera Temple
4.4
Duration: 1 hour

Hidden gems in Nara

Toshodai-ji Temple ©
World heritage site
Toshodai-ji Temple
4.5
Duration: 1 hour
Walking tour
Walking tours
4.9
Duration: 1 hour
Japan Tour Adventure in Nara
Beer Tasting / Tour
Japan Tour Adventure in Nara
5.0
Duration: 1 hour
Daibutsuden
Religious Site
Daibutsuden
4.9
Duration: 1 hour

Museums in Nara

Naramachi Mechanical Toy Museum ©
Specialty Museum
Naramachi Mechanical Toy Museum
4.1
Duration: 1 hour
Kofuku-ji Temple National Treasure Hall ©
History Museum
Kofuku-ji Temple National Treasure Hall
4.2
Duration: 30 minutes
Okumura Commemorative Museum ©
Specialty Museum
Okumura Commemorative Museum
4.1
Duration: 1 hour
Heijo Palace Museum ©
History Museum
Heijo Palace Museum
4.0
Duration: 1 hour

Nearby attractions in Nara

NARAWALK
Walking tour
NARAWALK
4.9
Duration: 1 hour
Nara Visitor Center & Inn ©
Visitor Center
Nara Visitor Center & Inn
4.8
Duration: 30 minutes
Nara Japanese Cooking ©
Cooking Class
Nara Japanese Cooking
5.0
Duration: 2h 30 min
Nara Craft Tours ©
Nightlife
Nara Craft Tours
5.0
Duration: 1 hour

Featured attractions

Nara Wellness Tourism ©
Wine Tour / Tasting
Nara Wellness Tourism
4.5
Duration: 2 hours
Saho River ©
Water Body
Saho River
4.8
Duration: 1h 30 min
Isuien Garden ©
Garden
Isuien Garden
4.3
Duration: 1 hour
Nara National Museum
Architectural Building
Nara National Museum
4.3
Duration: 1h 30 min

Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.

Trips to Nara National Museum by other users

17 days in Japan BY A USER FROM CANADA Tokyo Nara Osaka 12 days in Nara, Kyoto & Osaka BY A USER FROM THAILAND Nara Kyoto Osaka 42 days in Japan BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND Tokyo Sendai Aomori 27 days in Japan BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Fukuoka Nagasaki Himeji 59 days in East Asia BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Hiji-machi Beppu Yufu 17 days in Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Osaka Kyoto Tokyo