Irie Taikichi Memorial Nara City Museum of Photography
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kyōbate Station · 26 min walk (JR Sakurai (Man-yō Mahoroba) Line)
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays (or next weekday if Monday is a holiday), day following national holidays if a weekday, exhibition change periods, and Dec 27–Jan 3
- Admission
- ¥700 (adults), free (students and children under 16)
- Time needed
- 45–60 min
- Best time to go
- Second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 14:00 for the curator-led gallery commentary
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Designed by renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa, this striking museum is dedicated to the evocative post-war Nara photography of Irie Taikichi. Built largely underground to preserve the historic skyline of the surrounding Takabatake district, it features a glass-walled pavilion reflecting the sky and a serene rock garden. Inside, you will find quiet galleries showcasing stunning black-and-white landscapes, ancient Buddhist statues, and traditional festivals of Nara.
What Japanese guides note
Japanese guides emphasize visiting the museum as part of a historical walk through Takabatake, combining it directly with adjacent Shin-Yakushiji Temple and the mud-and-tile walls (dobei) of the former residential quarter. Walking from central Nara stations takes nearly 30 minutes, so regional transit guidance recommends taking the Nara Kotsu outer-loop bus to the Wariishichō stop and walking 10 minutes east. Visitors should check exhibition schedules in advance, as the facility closes entirely for collections rotations between scheduled shows.
Details from local sources
- Along with Irie Taikichi's 80,000 photographic works, the museum preserves 1,025 glass plate negatives by pioneer Buddhist art photographer Kudo Risaburo, designated national registered tangible cultural properties in 2008. [source]
- The building incorporates permanent artworks into its architecture, including the ceramic wall mural 'Kasei' by painter Kenkichi Sugimoto and the metal water sculpture 'Suien' by Shugoro Hasuda. [source]
- Exhibition curators conduct in-person gallery commentary and artwork explanations on the second and fourth Saturday of every month starting at 14:00. [source]
- A dedicated 39-car parking lot sits 100 meters south of the building, providing free parking for museum visitors for the first hour. [source]
Insider Tip
Step outside into the surrounding Takabatake neighborhood after your visit to see traditional clay-walled samurai residences.
Frequently asked
How do you reach the museum from Kintetsu-Nara or JR Nara Station?
Take the yellow Nara Kotsu Outer Loop bus (市内循環外回り) from platform 1 at Kintetsu-Nara Station or platform 2 at JR Nara Station. Get off at Wariishicho (破石町) and walk east through the Takabatake residential streets for approximately 10 minutes following local directional signs.
What are the museum admission fees?
General admission for adults is ¥700, discounted to ¥500 for Nara City residents with identification. Enrolled students and visitors under 16 years of age enter free of charge. Visitors holding a recognized government disability certificate and one accompanying caregiver also receive free admission.
Can you visit the museum shop or cafe without paying admission?
Yes. Visitors can enter the ground-floor museum shop and cafe area freely without purchasing an exhibition ticket. Admission fees apply only when entering the lower-level galleries and special exhibition rooms, allowing passersby on the Takabatake walking route to stop in exclusively for art books or refreshments.
What historical attractions are located directly beside the museum?
The museum sits immediately west of Shin-Yakushiji Temple, famous for its eighth-century main hall and circle of Twelve Heavenly Generals statues. The preserved former residence of novelist Naoya Shiga and historic earthen wall pathways are located within a five- to six-minute walk north through Takabatake.
Our Nara walking tours
On the same walk
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