Visit Nara

This bold modern design of this museum, the work of the famed architect Kisho Kurokawa, stands out in the midst of a traditional neighborhood. The museum is dedicated to photographer Irie Taikichi, who documented Nara during his long career. There are beautifully printed, large-scale images of Nara festivals and the daily life and rituals at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, captured over a 50-year period. There are also periodic exhibitions by contemporary photographers. Upstairs is a small cafe with basic snacks like pizza toast and cakes.