Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City, Photography museum in Takabatakechō, Japan.
The Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography holds roughly 80,000 photographs documenting landscapes, traditional practices, and the daily routines of people in the Yamato region. The building itself contains two levels, with exhibition spaces both above and below ground.
The museum opened in 1992 with a complete collection from photographer Irie Taikichi, who documented the Yamato region over many decades. His work captured both change and continuity across the area as it developed over time.
The museum holds glass plates from the Meiji and Taishō periods showing how people once lived and worked in their communities. These rare photographs offer visitors a window into traditional Japanese crafts and daily routines that have largely disappeared.
The museum is accessible from nearby transportation and offers plenty of time to walk through the collections during its regular daytime hours. Plan to explore both levels at your own pace without rushing through the exhibition spaces.
The building was designed by renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa, who cleverly incorporated underground exhibition spaces into the design. This underground layout helps protect the fragile vintage photographs from external elements.
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