Museum Yamato Bunkakan

Museum Yamato Bunkakan is an art museum in Nara that displays a collection of approximately 20,000 Asian art objects, including sculptures, ceramics, prints, textiles, paintings, and calligraphy. The exhibition features works from various Asian periods and cultures that rotate regularly throughout the year.

The museum was founded and opened in 1960 by Kintetsu Corporation to make a private art collection accessible to the public. Art historian Yukio Yashiro directed the institution in its early years and shaped its direction.

The museum holds two national treasures, including scenes from Nezame Monogatari Emaki, a handscroll depicting Japanese courtly life through detailed illustrations. These works allow visitors to experience the aesthetic values and artistic techniques that shaped a past era.

The museum sits in a quiet neighborhood and is easy to locate by following local signs. Visitors should allow enough time to explore the rotating exhibitions and the surrounding garden.

The museum's garden is planted monthly with blooms that reflect the changing seasons and complement the architecture designed by Isoya Yoshida. This seasonal rotation makes every visit a different visual experience.

Location: Nara

Inception: 1946

Founders: Oita Torao, Isamu Saeki

Architects: Isoya Yoshida

Official opening: October 1, 1960

Website: https://kintetsu-g-hd.co.jp/culture/yamato

GPS coordinates: 34.69540,135.75672

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:59