Neiraku Museum

The Neiraku Museum sits within Isui-en Garden and holds over 2000 art objects ranging from Chinese bronzes and mirrors to Japanese ceramics and tea ceremony tools. The building itself was designed by architect Kenzo Tohata and displays traditional Japanese architectural features with a distinctive regional roof style.

The museum was established to preserve an art collection built by three generations of the Nakamura family that survived the 1945 Kobe air raid. The creation of this institution reflects how the family safeguarded these artistic treasures for future generations.

The collection reflects centuries of artistic exchange between China and Japan, combining ancient Chinese bronzes and seals with objects used in Japanese tea ceremonies. These pieces together show how different traditions came together in the hands of collectors who valued both cultures.

The museum is about 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station and opens from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily except Tuesdays. Since it is set within a garden, visitors should plan to walk slowly and allow extra time to explore the surroundings.

The collection rotates between spring and autumn exhibitions due to limited display space, creating different experiences for visitors across multiple visits. This means each season offers a chance to discover artworks not shown during other times of the year.

Location: Nara

Inception: 1940

Architects: Kenzo Tohata

Official opening: 1958

Part of: Isui-en

Website: https://isuien.or.jp/en/museum

GPS coordinates: 34.68600,135.83714

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:25