Nara National Museum

Built in 1895, the National Museum is the city’s most famous museum and houses numerous significant works of art. The most famous one of the Nara period of the 8th century. Permanent collection includes several galleries dedicated to archaeological finds. As well as beautiful exhibitions of sculpture, paintings, and calligraphy. I would suggest collections of essential religious items, including numerous Buddhist statues and paintings. English language guides are available. If you are a big fan of museums like i am, you should visit the Nara Prefecture Museum of Art, located in Nara Koen Park. You can enjoy a variety of permanent displays of traditional Japanese art forms and regularly scheduled exhibitions of art from across the globe.

Address: 50 Noboriōji-chō, Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8213
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (extended hours on Fridays, Saturdays and other selected days);
Admission: 520 yen (includes admission to both wings of the museum)

Access: is located in Nara Park, a 15 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. 30 minute walk from JR Nara Station. Alternatively, it can be reached by bus from either station. Get off at the Himuro Shrine/National Museum bus stop next to the museum.
Official site: www.narahaku.go.jp/english/index_e.html

Hōryū-ji Temple

Horyuji Temple (法隆寺, Hōryūji) was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku. Horyuji is one of the country’s oldest temples and contains the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures. It was designated a world heritage site in 1993. Horyuji’s temple grounds are separated into two main precincts, the Western Precinct (Saiin Garan) and the Eastern Precinct (Toin Garan).

Enclosed by roofed corridors, the Western Precinct is home to the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures: the central gate (Chumon), the main hall (Kondo) and a five-story pagoda. Built sometime in the Asuka Period (538-710) and have not suffered destruction ever since. Although they have undergone renovations multiple times over the centuries.

The central gate is guarded by Japan’s two oldest statues of Kongo Rikishi, the pair of muscular deities often seen flanking large temple gates. The main hall houses some of Japan’s oldest statues of Buddha, rare creations surviving from the Asuka Period. Visitors can witness the evolution of Japanese Buddha statues by visiting the nearby great lecture hall (Daikodo). Which exhibits statues from the Heian Period (794-1185) and have lost the more Indian appearance of earlier creations.

You can find The Eastern Precinct on the eastern side of the temple grounds, a five-minute walk from the Western Precinct. In its center stands the octagonally-shaped Yumedono (Hall of Visions), which is dedicated to Prince Shotoku and houses a life-sized statue of the prince surrounded by statues of Buddha and various monks.

Gallery of Temple Treasures

was built in 1998 to exhibit a part of the temple’s huge art collection. Various statues of Buddha as well as Buddhist relics, artwork & paintings are on display inside. The entrance to the treasure hall is located towards the back of the complex near the Eastern Precinct.

Chuguji Temple (中宮寺, Chūgūji)

is a separate temple located just behind Horyuji’s Eastern Precinct. Chuguji is worth a visit for its celebrated main object of worship, a beautifully carved statue of a sitting Buddha who puts his right leg on his left and smiles gently.
! you need a separate ticket for entry to Chuguji Temple.

If you can’t visit Horyuji in person, you can see a collection of the temple’s religious objects. Ordinarily, that is on permanent display in Tokyo at the Horyuji Homotsukan building of the Tokyo National Museum.

Access: Horyuji is located about 12 kilometres outside of central Nara
By train: From JR Nara Station, take the frequently departing Yamatoji Line to Horyuji Station (12 minutes, 220 yen). From there it is a 20-minute walk or short bus ride by bus number 72 to the temple (190 yen one way, departures every 20 minutes). Get off at the Horyujisando bus stop.
By bus: From JR or Kintetsu Nara Station, take bus number 98 to Horyuji-mae. The one-way ride takes about one hour and costs 770 yen. There is one bus per hour. The bus line from Horyuji back to central Nara is No.97.
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from early November to late February)
Admission:1500 yen