Special Exhibition Celebrating the Nara National Museum's 130th Anniversary and Tenri University's 100th Anniversary Voyage Around the World

Heritage of Beauty and Wonder

This summer marks a rare convergence of milestones in Nara’s museum landscape. The Nara National Museum commemorates its 130th anniversary, while Tenri University celebrates a century since its establishment. To honor these occasions, both institutions present a special exhibition entitled “Voyage Around the World: Heritage of Beauty and Wonder.” This exhibition offers a curated journey across 6,000 years of human achievement, bridging continents and centuries through objects of art, ritual, and daily life.

Pre-open special guest, Naoki Ishikawa - renowned photographer and mountaineer

Running from July 26th to September 23rd, 2025, the exhibition occupies the New East and West Wings of the Nara National Museum. Visitors can expect a rotation of surprises—not only through the artifacts on display but also in the rhythm of museum opening hours. Note that the museum closes on select Mondays and one Tuesday, and extends its evening hours on Saturdays and during the mid-August period. The final entry is permitted thirty minutes before closing.

This exhibition is the result of a very special collaboration between the Nara National Museum and the Tenri University Sankokan Museum, with the support of key cultural partners and corporations.

The Museums - Guardians of Heritage

Nara National Museum

Nara National Museum stands among the four national museums of Japan, renowned for its unparalleled assemblage of Buddhist art. The institution, established in 1895, upholds a dual architectural legacy: the historic original hall and a modern wing, joined by an underground passage. Within these halls reside works designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Assets.

Throughout the year, the museum hosts special exhibitions, including the perennially anticipated Shosoin-ten, which draws public attention to the treasures of Todai-ji Temple and the imperial courts of the 8th century. Each iteration brings new highlights to light, drawing collectors, scholars, and the general public alike.

Tenri University Sankokan Museum

Founded in 1930 as a repository of overseas materials, the Tenri University Sankokan Museum holds a collection that now exceeds 300,000 artifacts from around the world. Its permanent exhibitions stretch across three floors, displaying around 3,000 objects at any one time. These range from archaeological finds to ethnographic and transport-related materials.

The museum maintains an active calendar with three to four temporary exhibitions yearly, as well as workshops, concerts, and public lectures. While photography is usually prohibited, special arrangements have been made for this occasion to document and share the breadth of its offerings.

Details of the Special Exhibition

“Voyage Around the World: Heritage of Beauty and Wonder” unfolds across three thematic sections:

• The Crossroads of Civilizations

• The World of Gods and Mystical Wonders

• Reminiscence of the 20th Century

  
  

Visitors will encounter approximately 220 artifacts, primarily archaeological and ethnographic in nature. Among them are objects unique to the Tenri University Sankokan Museum collection and several works unveiled to the public for the first time.

The exhibition does not simply display relics—it maps a narrative of cultural exchange and transformation, encouraging visitors to consider the interconnectedness of past and present. Fixtures and details concerning admission are set to be announced by the museum, encouraging would-be attendees to check the museum’s website for updates.

Organized by the Nara National Museum and Tenri University Sankokan Museum, with the cooperation of prominent partners and sponsors, this exhibition is both an anniversary celebration and an invitation: an opportunity to traverse the past from the vantage point of two institutions deeply rooted in Nara’s historical and cultural fabric.

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The New East and West Wings of the Nara National Museum

Hours: 9:30 to 17:00. Open until 7:00 PM for every Saturday and during Tuesday, August 5th to Friday, August 15th. Last entry is thirty minutes before closing

Closed: Monday July 28, Monday August 4, Monday August 18, Monday August 25, Monda, September 1, Monday September 8 and Tuesday September 16.

Official website

Thank you for reading Special Exhibition Celebrating the Nara National Museum's 130th Anniversary and Tenri University's 100th Anniversary Voyage Around the World

For a detailed look at more the museums that can be found up and down the prefecture, check out our 3 part series on Nara's Best Museums

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Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn