This Feature Exhibition offers an introduction to the history and traditions of the Omizutori shuni’e ritual conducted every year in the first two weeks of March at the Nigatsudō Hall at Tōdaiji, gathering related works of sculpture, painting, historical documents, decorative arts, and archaeological findings. It has been held at the Nara National Museum every year since 1997 to great acclaim. The Omizutori ritual encompasses practices and rites shaped over the course of its long history. These are imbued with characteristics of the cultural and religious contexts in which they developed, among them the syncretic faith in deities of the Buddhist pantheon and kami worship referred to as Shinbutsu Shūgō. Largely inaccessible to the public, many practices and elements of Omizutori are shrouded in mystery; we hope that visitors will be able to gain a deeper understanding of its rites and traditions through this exhibition. 

Dates

Saturday, February 8th to Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Venue

The West New Wing of the Nara National Museum

Holidays

The museum is closed on Monday, February 10th; February 17th; and Tuesday, February 25th.

Hours

The museum is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*Last admission is thirty minutes before closing.
*During the period of the Omizutori ritual (March 1st to March 14th), the museum is open until 6:00 p.m. every day, and until 7:00 p.m. on March 12th, the day of the Kago Taimatsu.

Admission

General Admission	700 JPY
University Students	350 JPY

• Free of charge entry to disabled certificate holders and an accompanying caretaker (upon presenting the certificate).
• High School Students and below; those under the age of 18; those 70 and above: free
• For those bringing along with them a guest who is a high school student or under and/or under the age of 18, please enjoy a 100 yen discount on general admission and 50 yen discount on university students admission.
• Admission to this exhibition also grants entry to the permanent collection exhibitions of Buddhist masterworks from the museum’s collection; the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall; and the Chinese Ancient Ritual Bronzes Gallery. 

Organizers

The Nara National Museum, Tōdaiji, NHK Broadcasting Nara Station, and the Bukkyo Bijutsu Kyōkai (The Buddhist Art Foundation)