Okumura Commemorative Museum
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kintetsu-Nara Station · 10 min walk (Kintetsu Nara Line)
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 (closed Mondays, or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday; closed New Year holidays)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 20–30 min
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Run by a major construction company, this free museum offers a fascinating look at earthquake-resistant engineering alongside a surprisingly great rest stop. Visitors can try a seismic isolation simulator to feel how buildings withstand major earthquakes and enjoy panoramic views of Todai-ji Temple from the rooftop deck. It is a quick, engaging, and air-conditioned detour from Nara Park's main temples.
What Japanese guides note
Located along Noborioji Street across from the Nara National Museum and Himuro Shrine, this facility functions simultaneously as a corporate showroom, a licensed tourist information point, and a free rest space. Japanese sources note the second-floor rooftop deck as an uncrowded vantage point for viewing the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji and Mount Wakakusa. While rest facilities and tea dispensers are free to the public, visitors are expected to observe standard indoor gallery etiquette.
Details from local sources
- The facility was constructed on the former site of Okumura Corporation's Nara office and incorporates preserved elements of the original structure, including reused roof beams, tiles set into the courtyard water feature, and an untransplanted cherry tree. [source]
- A specialized exterior viewing trench allows visitors to view the building's active basement seismic isolation bearings through glass. [source]
- The ground-floor rest area provides visitors with a complimentary beverage dispenser dispensing hot and cold drinks, including local Yamato tea. [source]
- The building was designed with tiled roofs, charred cedar siding, and traditional lattices to comply with the architectural requirements of the Kasugayama Historic Landscape Preservation Area. [source]
Insider Tip
Head to the rooftop terrace for free green tea from the dispensers, clean restrooms, and a fantastic view of the Great Buddha Hall.
Frequently asked
Are complimentary drinks available inside the museum?
Yes. A free automated tea dispenser is located in the ground-floor rest lounge, serving complimentary hot and cold water as well as tea, which visitors can enjoy while sitting facing the inner courtyard garden.
What engineering exhibits are on display?
The museum features an interactive seismic isolation simulator comparing actual historical earthquake motions, working cutaway scale models of tunneling shield machines, and a viewing pit into the basement's seismic rubber bearings.
Is visitor parking available on site?
No. The museum does not have private parking. Travelers arriving by car must use commercial coin parking in the surrounding Nara Park area or take the Nara Kotsu City Loop Bus to Himuro Jinja / Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan.
What are the regular museum operating hours and closure days?
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday) and during the year-end and New Year holiday period. Admission is free.
Our Nara walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
