Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)｜NARA NATIONAL MUSEUM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is the Museum?: The Museum is located in Nara Park. Close to Tōdai-ji Temple, Kōfuku-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
The nearest stations are Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara Station.
What are the opening hours?: The Museum is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm. (Last admission 4:30pm)
On extended hours day, the Museum opens until 7:00pm (Last admission 6:30pm)
When is the Museum closed?: The Museum is closed on Mondays (when Monday falls on a national holiday, the Museum is open and will be closed on the following day. In the case of consecutive holidays, the Museum closes on the day after the holidays) and January 1.
However, the Museum may open temporarily in accordance with the surrounding events.
The Museum will be open throughout the period of the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures.
How much is the admission fee?: The admission fees to the Exhibition from the Permanent Collection (including Feature Exhibitions) are 500 (400) Yen for adults and 250 (200) Yen for high school/college students.
The figures inside the parentheses refer to the admission fees for a group of 20 or more people.
What is "group visits"?: The group admission fee is applied to a group of 20 or more people. Booking (in advance) is not required.
For more details, please call 0742-22-7771.
Where can we park our cars?: There is no public parking space for visitors. Please use the nearby parking lots.
　 Noboriōji tourist parking lot: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
　 Daibutsumae tourist parking lot: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
　 Takabatake tourist parking lot: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Visitors with walking difficulties who came by car, please inform the reception counter.
Are eating, drinking, and smoking allowed?: Food and drinks are allowed in the lounge located along the lower level passage (passageway connecting the New Wing and Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall).
Restaurant and vending machines for drinks are available along the lower level passage.
Smoking is not allowed inside the building. Ashtrays can be found at the terrace in front of the lower level passage and near the exits of the New Wing and Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall.
What should I do if I lost my belongings at the Museum?: Lost and found items will be handed to the police or disposed after a certain period of time.
If you lost your personal belongings, during or immediately after your visit, please contact the security station （0742-22-7771）.
Is the museum wheel chair accessible?: The Museum is wheel chair accessible. Elevators and accessible toilets are located in the buildings.
Wheelchairs are available free of change. Please inform the Museum staff when you arrive.
Are baby strollers allowed?: Baby strollers are generally allowed. However, for the safety of the child and other visitors, the Museum may restrict the use of baby strollers. In such cases, visitors are to carry their children instead.
Is admission with assistance dogs allowed?: Although pets are not allowed into the Museum, assistance dogs are allowed.
Can I use mobile phone?: Public phones can be found along the lower level passage.
Please turn your mobile phone to silent mode inside the building.
Using mobile phones inside the exhibition halls is not allowed.
What can we see at the Museum?: For the Exhibition from the Permanent Collection, you can see fine arts, written materials, and archaeological artifacts mainly related to Buddhism. Among these, Buddhist sculptures, such as the Buddha statues, are on display at all times in the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. Paintings, written materials, decorative arts, and archaeological artifacts are exhibited at the West Wing, but they may not be displayed when the West Wing is used for special exhibitions.
In other genres, Ancient China Bronzes are also exhibited at the Ritual Bronzes Gallery at all times.
At special exhibitions, you can find various cultural properties collected based on specific themes, ranging from Buddhism to other genres.
What is the upcoming exhibition schedule like?: For the Exhibition from the Permanent Collection, the display schedule is planned every three months. All exhibits will be listed on this website.
As for the Special exhibition, its schedule will be notified on this website as soon as the details are finalized.
For related information, please refer to the “Nara National Museum Newsletter” and the exhibition pamphlets.
When will the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures be held?: As for the schedule of the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures, the Museum will receive the finalized details from the Imperial Household Agency around July or August.
Please visit our website or check the newspapers for the latest information.
Is it possible to extend the duration of the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures?: The duration of this exhibition may be short compared to other special exhibitions, since the exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures must be held within two months from the opening of the Shōsōin Storehouse.
Before the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures starts, it takes a week for checking and packing at the storehouse, and another week for installation.
The same number of days are required after the exhibition ends, so the duration of the exhibition is limited to 17 days in principle.
Can the Museum exhibit more famous treasures at the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures?: The treasures to be exhibited at the Exhibition of Shōsōin Treasures are chosen by the Shōsōin Office of the Imperial Household Agency.
It is a practice that the same items will not be chosen again for the next 10 years after they have been exhibited.
Moreover, as there is a trend in recent years to present a full picture of Shōsōin, and focus on exhibiting treasures that have not been displayed to the public before, it has become more difficult to exhibit a large number of famous treasures.
What kind of collections are available to see at the Museum?: The collections are mainly cultural properties related to Buddhism, ranging from sculptures to paintings, written materials, decorative arts and archaeological artifacts.
http://www.narahaku.go.jp/gallery/index.html
Other groups of collections include the Ancient China Bronzes collection.
Are the famous works exhibited at all times?: Ancient cultural properties require extreme care for preservation purposes. In order to avoid exposure to light, as well as temperature and humidity changes, we have to limit the duration of exhibition from the time they are retrieved from the repository. Therefore, the famous works are not exhibited at all times.
As the exhibition schedule is planned upon the most appropriate duration for each piece of work, please double-check the exhibition schedule for the works you wish to view.
Isn’t it too dark in the exhibition hall/ display cases?: Many cultural properties are susceptible to light, which may cause color fade and deterioration of material. Therefore in order to preserve these objects, exposure to light must be restricted.
Accordingly, each exhibition hall has dimmer lighting than the display cases to create contrast that allows objects to be seen even under the dim light.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your understanding.
Isn’t it too cold/ hot in the exhibition hall?: In order to preserve cultural properties and prevent them from color fading and deterioration of material, maintaining temperature and humidity at a favorable level is essential.
The most favorable condition for preserving these objects is 20℃ with humidity of 60% (Temperature and humidity differences must be limited to ±5℃ and ±5% respectively).
Especially in summer and winter seasons, you may feel too cold or hot in the exhibition hall due to the temperature difference between inside and outside, so dressing accordingly is recommended.
How much time is needed for viewing?: The amount of time needed depends on each visitor, but it takes at least 30 minutes to view just the Exhibition from the Permanent Collection at the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. It may take about two hours in total to see all exhibitions including the ones at the New Wings.
Are there staffs to provide explanations?: Volunteer guides are stationed at the desks in the exhibition rooms. You can ask them for explanations. Group bookings are also welcomed.
Guided tour can also be arranged for groups from schools. In this case, please make a reservation in advance.
Is sketching allowed in the Museum?: Please check with the reception counter at the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall. Sketching with pencil is permitted only in the Permanent Collection at the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall and the Ritual Bronzes Gallery. Easels and chairs are not allowed. Sketching may not be allowed on some occasions, such as during peak hours.