A Visit to the Nara National Museum’s Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall

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Still Soaking In Nara’s History

Nara National Museum: Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall

My next stop was the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall at the Nara National Museum. It was completed in 1894 (Meiji 27) and designed by Katayama Tōkuma, who is also known for the Akasaka Palace.

It has that grand, dignified presence that makes you think, “This is Meiji-era Japan.” I imagine this was probably once the main entrance.

Nara National Museum, former main building / now the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall

These days, a newer entrance has been added on the side, and that’s where visitors enter.

Entrance on the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall side

There are four exhibition areas: the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall, the Bronzes Gallery, the East Wing, and the West Wing. It seems the admission ticket is shared for the permanent exhibitions.

The Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall, East Wing, and West Wing are connected by an underground passage. That said, this time I only visited the Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall.

Because the Niōmon Gate at Kinpusen-ji Temple is currently undergoing restoration, the over-5-meter-tall Kongō Rikishi statues that once stood there are now on special display here. They were incredibly powerful in person.

Apparently they were made between 1338 and 1339

Part of the museum still preserves its original interior from when it was first built, and that area was being used as a rest space. It was beautiful…